BIBLE STUDY LESSON 07

SERIES S --- THE SON OF YHVH

THE RICH FOOL

TRUE RICHES

From Luke 12

Before long, thousands were crowding around Yeshua, pressing so close together that they stepped on each other. On one of these occasions, He talked privately with His disciples. [Be careful of those Pharisees,] Yeshua warned them. [They are like leaven, appearing to be good when they aren’t. Be careful of secret conversation with them, for whatever you say in the dark will be heard in the light, and whatever you speak in private will be proclaimed in public. However, do not fear those who can harm the body, for that is all they can do. Instead, fear those who can destroy your soul and drag it into hell. Five sparrows are so worthless that they are sold for two small coins. But YHVH knows each one. And each hair on your head is numbered. You see, you are worth far more than sparrows. If you accept Me publicly before other men, I will accept you publicly before the angels of YHVH. But if you are ashamed of Me in public, I will be ashamed of you before the angels of YHVH. Whoever speaks against Me will be forgiven. But whoever blasphemes against Ruach HaKodesh will not be forgiven. When you are brought to trial before the rulers and authorities in their synagogues, do not worry about the things you should say, for Ruach HaKodesh will teach you at that time what you should say.] Someone in the crowd called out to Yeshua. [Tell my brother to divide the family inheritance with me.] [Who made Me a judge over such things?] Yeshua asked. [Be on guard against any kind of greed, for the abundance of life does not depend on the abundance of possessions.] Yeshua also told a parable, which went something like this. [A man once had rich, productive land. But he began to think only of his own ease and comfort. ‘I have so many crops, that I have no place to store them. What shall I do?’ he thought. ‘I know! I will tear clown my barns and build larger ones. When all my grain and goods are stored, I will tell my soul that I have many goods for many years to come. I will tell my soul that I will eat, drink and be merry.’ But YHVH told this foolish rich man, ‘You fool! Tonight, your soul must leave your body, and when it does, who will own all your possessions?’ This is what happens to the man who lays up treasure for himself and is poor toward YHVH.] Yeshua said then to His disciples, [You must not be anxious concerning your daily life, worrying about tomorrow’s food or clothing. Life is much more than food and clothing! Think about the ravens. They do not plant or harvest, and they have no storehouse or barn; yet YHVH feeds them each clay. Think how much more valuable you are to YHVH than the birds. Why worry? Can any of you add one clay to his life by worrying? If you can’t change little things by worrying, how do you expect to change greater things that way? Think about the lilies; do they grow by toiling and spinning cloth? No, but even Solomon in all his glory was never clothed as beautifully as one of these. If YHVH clothes the flowers in the field, which are here for only a few days, how much more will He clothe you, O you of little faith? So stop worrying about food and clothing. Men everywhere are toiling for their daily provisions, but your Father in heaven knows your every need. Seek first His kingdom and He will add all these other things. So do not fear, little flock, for your Father in heaven delights to give you, His Kingdom. Sell your possessions and give to those with need, for this will add to your treasure in heaven, where no thief can steal and no moth can ruin it. Wherever your treasure is, your heart will be also. Be dressed and ready, with lamps lit; like servants who wait for their master to return from a wedding are prepared to open the door instantly when he knocks. Happy are those servants who are ready and waiting when the master returns. He will personally serve them as they eat. When will he come? It may be at nine in the evening or at midnight. But his servants will find joy at his coming, whenever it is. Think about this! If the man of the house knew when the thief would break in, he would certainly be waiting for him. You must be as prepared as that man, for I will return at a most unexpected time.] [Adonai, is this parable just for us disciples, or is it for everyone?] Peter asked. [It is for any faithful and sensible steward who is placed over others, to provide for them at the proper time,] Yeshua replied. [Happy is that steward who is doing his work well when his master returns. I tell you for sure that the master will put him over all his possessions. But if that steward begins to think that his master is delayed and beats his men and women servants and spends his time drinking and eating and in getting drunk, the master will return on a most unexpected day. He will cut him off from his work, will put him with the unfaithful, and will punish him severely, for he failed to do what he knew he should. However, if he really did not know he was doing wrong, his punishment will be light. Much will be expected from those to whom much has been given, for they have much more to work with than others. I have come to bring a fire upon the earth, and I want so much for it to begin. I must go through a terrible baptism and I will be greatly distressed until it is finished. Have I come to bring peace to the world? No, not really. I bring division instead, for families will be divided because of Me—three against two, two against three, father against son, son against father, mother against daughter, daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law, and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.] Yeshua said also to the crowds of people there that day, [When you see clouds arising in the west you say that a shower is coming, and you are right! When you see a south wind blowing, you say that it will be a hot day, and you are right again. Hypocrites! You can read weather signs well, so why can’t you read the signs so clear at this time? Why can’t you yourselves decide what is right? [If you are on your way to court with your opponent, try to settle with him before you get there. Otherwise, he will drag you before the judge, who will send you to prison. There you will stay until you have paid the last penny.

COMMENTARY

A ROMAN FARMYARD

Farming is the oldest known occupation in the world. Adam, the first man, tilled the ground after he was expelled from Eden. Cain, his oldest son, also tended the soil. Many generations later, Noah became a farmer after the waters of the Flood had receded from the earth. The Romans respected farming as an ancient occupation appropriate for a gentleman. It ranked with politics, law and the army as one of the few professions acceptable to a nobleman. But in New Testament times, many of the men who worked the ground were peasant farmers. While the rich Roman landowner and the peasant farmer both depended on the same primitive tools to cultivate the soil, there was an important difference in the way those tools were used. The wealthy man had servants to do the labour, while the poor man pushed his own plough. Farmers in the ancient world planted their fields in either of two ways. They could plough the ground first and then plant the seed, or they could reverse the process, and sow the seed first, then turn it under the ground with a plough. But once the crops were planted, both the rich man and the peasant were equally dependent upon the sun and the unpredictable rain to make their crops flourish.