Friday, July 12, 2013

The Parable of Hell


The Pharisees, who loved money, heard all this and were sneering at Jesus. 15 He said to them, "You are the ones who justify yourselves in the eyes of men, but God knows your hearts. What is highly valued among men is detestable in God's sight.

http://www.tidings.org/studies/fables200007.htm
http://www.christadelphia.org/pamphlet/p_lazarus.htm#10


http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+3%3A10-14&version=NIV



Christians should act similarly, but not the same. We, like the unjust steward, are stewards. We do not own anything, but we are given custody of certain resources by God for a time. We need to understand that our Lord’s return is at hand (or that our death will come), and that we cannot take money with us. Money will not last, but we will last for all eternity. The way we can use money so that it will last forever is to “make friends” of men, who will gratefully receive us in heaven. https://bible.org/seriespage/does-christ-commend-crook-or-sting-luke-161-13

And lo, Jesus spoke unto them and said:
A priest, a rabbi, and Micah the Samaritan walk into a bar.  The priest orders some wine and says, I drink to Moses who gave us the Torah.  The people in the bar say, "Hear, hear."   The rabbi orders some wine and says, I drink to the Torah, which is man's way to God."  The people in the bar say, "Hear, hear." Micah the Samaritan says, "I'd like to buy some bread and wine for the poor beggar in the corner there."  The beggar stands up and is revealed to be the Angel of the Lord, who says to Micah, "Come with me, Micah.  You will dine at your Father's house tonight."

This would have been very much in character with both the style and content of Jesus's speeches.   Of, course, there is a sense of humor and irony.  It doesn't have to be literally true, even if there is a Samaritan named Micah.  The point of the story is gained without literalism


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