Reflective Bible Study Gospel Adventure

What Friendships Really Need: Luke 16:1-18

Published November 22, 2023 in Written Journal Entries

Focus Passage: Luke 16:1-18 (NCV)

¹ Jesus also said to his followers, “Once there was a rich man who had a manager to take care of his business. This manager was accused of cheating him. ² So he called the manager in and said to him, ‘What is this I hear about you? Give me a report of what you have done with my money, because you can’t be my manager any longer.’ ³ The manager thought to himself, ‘What will I do since my master is taking my job away from me? I am not strong enough to dig ditches, and I am ashamed to beg. ⁴ I know what I’ll do so that when I lose my job people will welcome me into their homes.’

⁵ “So the manager called in everyone who owed the master any money. He asked the first one, ‘How much do you owe?’ ⁶ He answered, ‘Eight hundred gallons of olive oil.’ The manager said to him, ‘Take your bill, sit down quickly, and write four hundred gallons.’ ⁷ Then the manager asked another one, ‘How much do you owe?’ He answered, ‘One thousand bushels of wheat.’ Then the manager said to him, ‘Take your bill and write eight hundred bushels.’ ⁸ So, the master praised the dishonest manager for being clever. Yes, worldly people are more clever with their own kind than spiritual people are.

⁹ “I tell you, make friends for yourselves using worldly riches so that when those riches are gone, you will be welcomed in those homes that continue forever. ¹⁰ Whoever can be trusted with a little can also be trusted with a lot, and whoever is dishonest with a little is dishonest with a lot. ¹¹ If you cannot be trusted with worldly riches, then who will trust you with true riches? ¹² And if you cannot be trusted with things that belong to someone else, who will give you things of your own?

¹³ “No servant can serve two masters. The servant will hate one master and love the other, or will follow one master and refuse to follow the other. You cannot serve both God and worldly riches.”

¹⁴ The Pharisees, who loved money, were listening to all these things and made fun of Jesus. ¹⁵ He said to them, “You make yourselves look good in front of people, but God knows what is really in your hearts. What is important to people is hateful in God’s sight.

¹⁶ “The law of Moses and the writings of the prophets were preached until John came. Since then the Good News about the kingdom of God is being told, and everyone tries to enter it by force. ¹⁷ It would be easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for the smallest part of a letter in the law to be changed.

¹⁸ “If a man divorces his wife and marries another woman, he is guilty of adultery, and the man who marries a divorced woman is also guilty of adultery.”

Read Luke 16:1-18 in context and/or in other translations on BibleGateway.com!

Have you ever read a passage and assumed a specific detail was present, only to realize later that it is nowhere to be found?

This passage is one that is like this for me.

Up until now, when I read in this passage, I always assumed that when the master “praised the dishonest manager”, he also chose to not fire him – but this is nowhere stated, and not really even implied.

The dishonest manager is praised for using his last ounce of position to make friends, but while this puts a little bit of social pressure onto the master to not fire him, these actions themselves make the manager less trustworthy for this position than even before. The dishonest manager’s actions, while they made him some friends, sealed the decision in place that he should no longer be employed.

However, just under the surface is an interesting truth that goes along with this idea: When we are facing significant changes in our lives (such as a job loss in this case), we recognize that relationships are more important than money, knowledge, fame, or a large estate. This single event caused the dishonest manager, who likely didn’t have any friends (dishonesty will do that) to shift his focus onto making friends over accumulating stuff.

Significant life changes cause us to review and reprioritize our focus.

In your life and in mine, when we see big changes coming, we begin to look for ways to manage these changes. Most often in this search, we look for someone who can help us navigate the unknown. Moving through life’s challenges with a friend is much better than facing these challenges alone.

Everyone learns this lesson at some point. It is better to learn it now, before a significant event forces us to change. Facing trials changes our character: we either become more of what we were before, or we choose to change directions moving forward.

This dishonest manager shifted his focus from the money to the relationships. Would these relationships last? Maybe, but only if this event changed his character. Without honesty and/or integrity, friendships don’t last.

This thought was inspired by studying the Walking With Jesus “Reflective Bible Study” package. To discover insights like this in your own study time, click here and give Reflective Bible Study a try today!

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Giving and Receiving: Matthew 11:20-30

Published November 21, 2023 in Written Journal Entries

Focus Passage: Matthew 11:20-30 (NIrV)

²⁰Jesus began to speak against the towns where he had done most of his miracles. The people there had not turned away from their sins. So he said, ²¹“How terrible it will be for you, Chorazin! How terrible for you, Bethsaida! Suppose the miracles done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon. They would have turned away from their sins long ago. They would have put on clothes for mourning. They would have sat down in ashes. ²²But I tell you this. On judgment day it will be easier for Tyre and Sidon than for you. ²³And what about you, Capernaum? Will you be lifted to the heavens? No! You will go down to the place of the dead. Suppose the miracles done in you had been done in Sodom. It would still be here today. ²⁴But I tell you this. On judgment day it will be easier for Sodom than for you.”

²⁵At that time Jesus said, “I praise you, Father. You are Lord of heaven and earth. You have hidden these things from wise and educated people. But you have shown them to little children. ²⁶Yes, Father. This is what you wanted to do.

²⁷“My Father has given all things to me. The Father is the only one who knows the Son. And the only ones who know the Father are the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to make him known.

²⁸“Come to me, all you who are tired and are carrying heavy loads. I will give you rest. ²⁹Become my servants and learn from me. I am gentle and free of pride. You will find rest for your souls. ³⁰Serving me is easy, and my load is light.”

Read Matthew 11:20-30 in context and/or in other translations on BibleGateway.com!

Hidden in plain sight within this passage from Matthew’s gospel are two phrases that we may be tempted to skip over while reading. The first phrase directly relates to Jesus, and it focuses on something He has received from God.

Matthew tells us that following one of Jesus’ prayers, He says that “My Father has given all things to me.” (v. 27a)

This statement is a little perplexing if we think about it deeper, because what does Jesus mean by “all things”?

Does “all things” mean everything organic and inorganic in the universe?
Does “all things” mean all people, animals, and life?
Does “all things” mean remove an individual’s free will or free choice?

While we could answer yes to some or all of these questions, a more important and deeper question for us to ask is what caused God to choose to give Jesus “all things”? Aside from being His own Son, what made Jesus worthy to be entrusted with everything?

The clue we have comes from an unlikely place – which is the other phrase we may be quick to gloss over. Several verses earlier, prior while describing the cities where He had been rejected, Jesus says that “the people there had not turned away from their sins.” (v. 20b)

In these cities where Jesus spent much of His time, and where a good percentage of His miracles had happened, the people had not changed. Perhaps they believed Jesus to be special, significant, and maybe even sent from God, but it was not enough to convince them to give up the sin in their lives and/or their sinful lifestyles.

These people are condemned because they chose not to give up something when Jesus came offering something better.

In contrast, it seems as though Jesus continually gives things up. Jesus gave up heaven and He came down to earth to be with us. Jesus gave up fame and popularity numerous times by intentionally challenging those present about their lives and their focus. Jesus gave up His life so that others could be saved.

It is in Jesus’ nature to give up, and because Jesus is more other-focused than self-focused, He can be trusted with everything. God gave Jesus “all things” and that includes you and me. We didn’t have a choice in this matter. But the first thing Jesus did following receiving us as a gift is return our freedom of choice. We cannot change the scope of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross, but we can choose whether we will accept it and let God/Jesus/The Holy Spirit work in and through our lives.

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Flashback Episode — The Brightest Truth: Matthew 27:1-10

Published November 20, 2023 in Audio Journal Entries

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Continuing our walk through Matthew’s gospel, we come to the place where Matthew wraps up the details of Judas Iscariot’s betrayal, and in the details of this event, while preparing for this episode, I had not noticed a detail in this event until now. In this detail, we get a brief glimpse of what Judas may have been thinking when he decided to betray Jesus, but when things go a different direction than what Judas thought they would, we discover a powerful truth about how Satan treats humanity.

Let’s read this event and discover what we can learn from one of the darkest parts of the gospel message. Our passage for this episode is found in Matthew, chapter 27, and we will read it from the God’s Word translation. Starting in verse 1, Matthew tells us that:

¹Early in the morning all the chief priests and the leaders of the people decided to execute Jesus. ²They tied him up, led him away, and handed him over to Pilate, the governor.

³Then Judas, who had betrayed Jesus, regretted what had happened when he saw that Jesus was condemned. He brought the 30 silver coins back to the chief priests and leaders. ⁴He said, “I’ve sinned by betraying an innocent man.”

They replied, “What do we care? That’s your problem.”

⁵So he threw the money into the temple, went away, and hanged himself.

Let’s pause briefly here, because I want to draw attention to what I saw in this passage while preparing for this episode. Before this event, when Judas Iscariot was in the garden leading the mob to arrest Jesus, when it said that all the disciples scattered, in my mind, Judas disappears along with them. In my mind, only Peter and John turned back in order to be near Jesus. Peter turned back and ultimately hung out in the courtyard, while John likely stood on the outer edge of the room Jesus was being tried in.

However, in order for Judas Iscariot to be clearly aware of the outcome of the trial, he would also have needed to be present. With Judas’ reaction to the outcome of the trial, we can conclude that Judas believed the trial would have gone differently. Verse 3 tells us Judas’ response: “Then Judas, who had betrayed Jesus, regretted what had happened when he saw that Jesus was condemned.”

This regret gives us a picture that Judas believed Jesus would not be found guilty of anything, and Judas wanted to be present when Jesus revealed who He was to the religious leaders. Judas actually wanted to be an instrumental role in bringing about Jesus’ step into the role of Messiah.

However, Judas did not understand the role of the Messiah Jesus came to be. In a somewhat ironic twist to the story, Judas actually succeeded in his goal of moving Jesus towards the role of God’s Messiah to humanity, even though he was not alive to witness the end of the events he started.

Another amazing detail in my mind is the reaction of the religious leaders. While Judas Iscariot tries to undo what has happened while realizing he betrayed an innocent man, the religious leaders are clearly more guilty because they don’t care about Jesus’ guilt or innocence. Judas returned and admitted his sin, and the religious leaders replied, “What do we care? That’s your problem.”

The religious leaders reject Judas Iscariot’s realization that he had sinned. While Judas was likely trying to undo what he had done, Judas is also looking for a path to forgiveness. Realizing one has sinned is the first step towards being saved. Judas realized he had sinned, while the religious leaders reject the betrayer they helped create.

After throwing the money back at the religious leaders, Judas leaves and hangs himself. Then our passage continues in verse 6, back with the religious leaders. Matthew tells us that:

⁶The chief priests took the money and said, “It’s not right to put it into the temple treasury, because it’s blood money.” ⁷So they decided to use it to buy a potter’s field for the burial of strangers. ⁸That’s why that field has been called the Field of Blood ever since. ⁹Then what the prophet Jeremiah had said came true, “They took the 30 silver coins, the price the people of Israel had placed on him, ¹⁰and used the coins to buy a potter’s field, as the Lord had directed me.”

The biggest truth in this entire event that is amazing in my mind is how the religious leaders walk almost blindly through fulfilling prophecy. This is amazing in my mind because of all the people in the first century, the chief priests would have been the most aware of the prophecies about the Messiah. If these religious leaders had truly recognized what they were doing while also wanting to discredit Jesus from being the Messiah, they would have intentionally changed the details of what happened in some way. If they wanted to break from prophecy, they could have paid a different amount, such as 20 pieces of silver, or even 35. The religious leaders could have taken the money and spent it on anything but a potter’s field.

However, while taking Jesus to the cross, the religious leaders fulfill more prophecies then they are willing to realize or admit, and this truth ultimately confirms the idea that they are the ones who ultimately rejected the Messiah God sent to them.

In this event, I see in the last stages of Judas Iscariot’s life a model for how Satan treats all of humanity. Satan tempts us to do something we know we probably shouldn’t do, and after we have done what he tempted us to do, he ridicules us, causes us to feel regret, shame, and embarrassment, and after we have fallen for the temptation, Satan is eager to remind us how bad of a person we really are.

Judas Iscariot believed he had no hope and he commits suicide. By committing suicide, Judas Iscariot missed out on seeing what he actually prompted. Because of Judas’ betrayal, the religious leaders rejected Jesus and condemn Him to death, the Romans crucified Jesus, and then God accepts Jesus’ sacrifice for humanity by resurrecting Jesus on the third day. Even though Judas Iscariot was not alive to witness it, he actually helped Jesus fulfill His mission.

While this is one of the darkest parts of the gospel message, it helps reveal one of the brightest truths about God/Jesus. Without the darkness of Jesus’ death, we wouldn’t have the hope of Jesus’ resurrection, and because Jesus has been raised from the dead, we can claim the promise that we too will be raised from the dead like Jesus when He returns to bring all God’s people home!

As we come to the end of another podcast episode, here are the challenges I will leave you with:

As I always challenge you to do, intentionally seek God first in your life and choose to place your faith in Jesus. Recognize that because of what Jesus did for us on the cross, we have the hope and promise of resurrection in our future when we place our faith, hope, trust, and belief in Jesus.

Also, continue praying and studying the Bible for yourself to learn and grow closer to God each and every day. By studying the Bible personally with a prayerful, open mind, we are able to open our hearts to God and to grow a personal relationship with God and a strong foundation for our faith in Him.

And as I end every set of challenges by saying in one way or another, never stop short of, back away from, chicken out of, or be tempted or tricked into leaving where God wants to lead you to in your life with Him!

Flashback Episode: Year in Matthew – Episode 47: While reading one of the darkest parts of the gospel story, discover how Judas Iscariot actually succeeded in what he had wanted to accomplish, even if he didn’t understand what he wanted, and even if he wasn’t alive to witness it.

Setting the Rumor Straight: John 21:15-25

Published November 17, 2023 in Written Journal Entries

Focus Passage: John 21:15-25 (NIV)

¹⁵When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?”

“Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.”

Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”

¹⁶Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”

He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”

Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.”

¹⁷The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”

Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.”

Jesus said, “Feed my sheep. ¹⁸Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” ¹⁹Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, “Follow me!”

²⁰Peter turned and saw that the disciple whom Jesus loved was following them. (This was the one who had leaned back against Jesus at the supper and had said, “Lord, who is going to betray you?”) ²¹When Peter saw him, he asked, “Lord, what about him?”

²²Jesus answered, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me.” ²³Because of this, the rumor spread among the believers that this disciple would not die. But Jesus did not say that he would not die; he only said, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you?”

²⁴This is the disciple who testifies to these things and who wrote them down. We know that his testimony is true.

²⁵Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.

Read John 21:15-25 in context and/or in other translations on BibleGateway.com!

In John’s final story of his gospel, he shares the origins of a rumor that had likely spread for decades about this special disciple’s life. We don’t know if John was the youngest disciple, or if God simply gifted him with more years than the other followers, but the rumor had spread that Jesus would return before John’s death.

Actually, the rumor was more along the lines of John remaining alive until Jesus’ return. Perhaps this gave greater push for spreading the gospel message in the second half of the first century. If you knew that it was up to your generation to finish God’s mission, and that the world was going to end after the second-last member of your generation died, would that make you extra motivated to complete the mission?

It apparently helped the disciples and the early church, because with the Holy Spirit’s power, they expanded rapidly throughout their known world. But the rumor was more a lie than the truth.

After Jesus shared with Peter about the sort of death he would experience, “Peter turned and saw that the disciple whom Jesus loved was following them … When Peter saw him, he asked, ‘Lord, what about him?’” (v. 20-21)

Peter’s question asks about John’s death. Perhaps Peter was wanting to compare himself to the other closest follower of Jesus, or maybe Peter simply wanted to learn how one of the other key disciple’s lives would end.

But Jesus’ response is tricky. Jesus simply states, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me.” (v. 22)

This prompts the rumor that John would be alive when Jesus returned, and that John would not die. But John at the close of his gospel states the truth: “Jesus did not say that he would not die; he only said, ‘If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you?’”. (v. 23)

Jesus’ statement to Peter about John’s death is a statement about the importance of keeping our relationship with Jesus personal and strong – and not playing comparison games with others. Jesus wants Peter to focus on Peter and His relationship, and not worry about the relationship that any of the other disciples had. This is emphasized with Jesus echoing His earlier re-invitation by saying “You must follow me.” (v. 22)

Following Jesus must be a personal decision. It must be something each of us decides to on an individual level, and it must be something we recommit to personally each day we are alive. Jesus emphasizes that our relationship with Him should not be based on someone else’s relationship, or on anything anyone else has said or done.

Is John alive in heaven right now? The answer to this question is irrelevant to us. What matters instead is whether we have placed our focus onto our own relationship with Jesus that leads us towards our own eternal life with God.

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