Monthly Archives: September 2021

Good Bible Interpretation, Reasons to Believe

CONTEXT-PART 5-A STRING OF PARABLES

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Last time, we observed the lavish act of love by “a sinful woman” for Jesus (Luke7). She poured an alabaster flask of fragrant oil on the feet of Jesus and used her hair as a towel to soak up tears and an expensive box of perfume, The outpouring of her heart and the fragrant perfume filled the room with the sweet smell of her fondness for Jesus.

It became an awkward moment for the guests at the house of one of the Pharisees. The Pharisees, in particular , squirmed because Jesus seemed to be unaware of this woman’s sins. Jesus perceived their discomfort and he began the first parable recorded by Luke. The message of the parable was this: Whosoever has been forgiven much, loves much (v.47). The Pharisees had just as much to be forgiven, but their traditions and pride kept them back from seeking the payment of their debt through Jesus.

For Mary, she went away with her burden of debt removed. Her sins were forgiven. It would change her life forever.

What I like about the story is how this woman (likely Mary of Magdalene) shook up the formality of the moment by an act of love. As followers of Christ, our love for Jesus will make people uncomfortable. Lavish acts of love make people aware of their own condition . It may lead them to seek to know the Lord of love we worship. Your light of love is not to be covered up, but exposed for all the see…even if it makes them uncomfortable.

It is from this starting point that many parables are recorded by Luke. They are occasional and spread out through the first 11 chapters of the Luke, Then a turning point occurs at the end of Chapter 11. Jesus scolds the Pharisees for their religious hypocracy. He uses very direct language and begins each sentence with the word “woe”:

“But woe to you Pharisees! For you tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass by justice and the love of God. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone. Woe to you Pharisees! For you love the best seats in the synagogues and greetings in the marketplaces. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like graves which are not seen, and the men who walk over them are not aware of them.”

Luke 11: 42-44

Then Jesus turns to the Lawyers and tells them the truth about their hypocrisy. Here is just a snippet:

“And He said, “Woe to you also, lawyers! For you load men with burdens hard to bear, and you yourselves do not touch the burdens with one of your fingers. 

Luke 11:46

This very direct sincere disclosure of their deepest sins angers them. They begin to turn on Him:

And as He said these things to them, the scribes and the Pharisees began to assail Him vehemently, and to cross-examine Him about many things, lying in wait for Him, and seeking to catch Him in something He might say, that they might accuse Him. Luke 11: 53-54

Then Jesus turns to his disciples and gives them warnings:

He began to say to His disciples first of all, “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, nor hidden that will not be known. Luke 12: 1-2

Even here, Jesus uses the symbol of leaven, light and darkness. But what is important to note is that Jesus accelerates the use of parables. Partly because the Pharisees and Lawyers are looking to trap Him in his words so they can begin a smear campaign (accuse Him).

Beginning in this chapter, Jesus tells at least 18 more parables. Chapter 15 and 16 are all parables! There is another reason Jesus used parables besides cloaking the truth in stories and symbols as we will discover next time.

Good Bible Interpretation, Reasons to Believe

context-part 4-A parable of extravagence

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In our last study (Part 3), we discovered a good way to understand Jesus’ parables. It is quite simple. The point is usually found at the end of the story. It is almost like reading the last chapter of the book. But if you do that alone, you miss or fail to appreciate the ending details as we will see in the parables recorded in Luke.

In the first four chapters, Luke records the lineage and the calling of the disciples, etc. In chapter 5, Jesus speaks plainly to the multitudes in his first sermon on the mount. In Chapter 6, Jesus gets crossways with the “righteous” Pharisees about the Sabbath. Their non-scriptural application of religious/cultural rules leads Jesus to proclaim Himself as the “Lord of the Sabbath.” This means, He created a literal day of rest and knows how it should be honored. Jesus’ conclusion about the Sabbath is: “It is lawful to do good on the Sabbath” and to “save life” Matthew 12:12, Luke 3:4

In chapter 7, Jesus heals the Centurions Servant and raises the Widow of Nain’s son. In the same chapter, a sinful woman washes the feet of Jesus, and her sins are forgiven. Luke tells us this was Mary, also called Magdalene (Luke 8:2). This incident with Mary sparks the first parable in the book. The story of the creditor and two debtors is given to Peter (and the crowd in the house) to help them understand a principal of God’s kingdom. Here is the truth at the end of the parable:

 “Therefore I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little.”

Luke 7: 47.

This truth is simple and to the point. The more the sins, the more the love for the One who has the power and authority to forgive. But let’s now read the entire parable:

 “There was a certain creditor who had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty.  (In today’s US dollars, this is about $3,700 and $1,850, respectively. A significant sum in those days. ) And when they had nothing with which to repay, he freely forgave them both. Tell Me, therefore, which of them will love him more?

Simon answered and said, “I suppose the one whom he forgave more.”

And He said to him, “You have rightly judged.” Then He turned to the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave Me no water for My feet, but she has washed My feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head. You gave Me no kiss, but this woman has not ceased to kiss My feet since the time I came in. You did not anoint My head with oil, but this woman has anointed My feet with fragrant oil

“Therefore I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little.”

Luke 7: 41-47

In this parable, Jesus begins with a story that is likely not an actual event, but a story about forgiveness of debt and the feeling of joy that comes from it. The more that was owed, the greater the feeling of burdens lifted. What a great experience of joy when debt is no longer part of our life!

My wife and I recently became totally debt free. We don’t owe any loans, credit cards, or mortgages. It has allowed us to take a deep breath and remove many worries. But the point in this parable is not only about literal debt, but rather it is about spiritual debt!

Mary loved Jesus for His compassion and non-judgmental attitude toward her. This likely preceded her sins being forgiven. Because it is not until after the parable is spoken and explained that Jesus forgives her sins and says,

“Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.”

Verse 48

Because she had “many sins.” Her feeling of great appreciation and love for Jesus must have grown even more when she heard those words that her debt of sins (primarily prostitution) was removed.

In my lifetime, I have observed that the “worst of sinners” often make the best evangelists for God. Their witness is dramatic and effective. They can’t keep their joy of forgiveness to themselves.

In the very next chapter 8, the number of women who minister to Jesus grows. They provide Jesus and the twelve with their own possessions (8: 1-3). Included among them was this same Mary whose sins were forgiven.

“…Mary called Magdalene, out of whom had come seven demons.”

Luke 8: 2 last part

It is no wonder that Mary was extravagant with her love for Jesus and serving Him! She even gave to Jesus and His apostles her own possessions!

It is not God’s will that we are burdened by a mind heavy with the guilt of sin and helplessness. No matter what our sins may be or how many times we indulged in them, Jesus can give forgiveness and power over the demons of sin. A great feeling of freedom will come, and you cannot contain yourself in your service to God! Your possessions will belong to God.

This is the deep message of this simple parable.

In our society, today, pornography, adultery, fornication, and perversion are rampant and even justified. It is the sin of an indulgent self-centered society that ignores God. But with it comes guilt for many. For those who feel this burden of guilt, they can have the assurance of peace in their life through Jesus’ promises to “not condemn.” He has the ability and right to forgive sins and to provide the motivation and power to overcome the sins which “so easily ensnare us.”

“And Jesus said to her, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.”.” John 8:11

You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. 1 John 4:4

Do you want that feeling of joy, peace, and energy to serve Jesus? Do you want to be free from the power of sin? Cast all your burdens of sin and doubt upon Him. Sin is burdensome, but forgiveness is more powerful to the heart and soul. It will give you joy and peace that cannot be found anywhere else in this world.

How does one practically “cast all their burdens onto Jesus?” It always begins with praying to the Savior who hears your heart. Tell Him you have sinned and cannot bear the results and consequences. Ask for forgiveness and tell Him,

“I trust You to do what You have promised. “

Then believe you have forgiveness and stay close to Him (daily and moment by moment) through prayer, reading His word, and being active for His kingdom. A real experience is not inward, but rather it reaches out to those who need Him in one way or another.

My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

John 14:27

Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. 1 Peter 5: 6-7

In our next study, we will look at a string of parables from the book of Luke and list the point of each. There is one parable in particular that has been greatly misunderstood because of tradition and an attack on God’s character of love. But its message is powerful if correctly understood.