King James Bible Study – [And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. – Mark 8:34]
Date: Tuesday, October 28, 2025
Chapters: Luke 16-17
Message: Luke: The Rich Man
Hello My Friend,
As we continue in the reading of the Gospels, we learn why God is just as merciful to the unfaithful Christian as He is the faithful. We also learn what hell is really like, and why it is important to understand that while our obedience to God apart from our accepting Christ as our Saviour is not what saves nor keeps us saved, it is wise to do so, [Romans 6:2-4 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? 3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.]
When I first got saved, I attended a contemporary church, it was one of those “feel good” to the senses churches. They proclaimed Christ, encouraged you to go to the altar every week and get “saved”, and even added some charismatic features like faith healing, tongue speaking, and prosperity gospel to appeal to every religion. I faithfully attended every time the doors were open, even though I never actually joined the church. It was a good thing I never joined because it was not teaching the truth, and had I joined I would have been going against God. We need to understand that salvation and repentance from sin go hand in hand. Yesterday, we learn of three parables that Jesus spoke that had been addressed to the Pharisees and scribes in the presence of the publicans and sinners, and of the disciples. Still speaking to the same crowd, Jesus, focuses His attention on the disciples, speaking a powerful parable.
[Luke 16:1-4 And he said also unto his disciples, There was a certain rich man, which had a steward; and the same was accused unto him that he had wasted his goods. 2 And he called him, and said unto him, How is it that I hear this of thee? give an account of thy stewardship; for thou mayest be no longer steward. 3 Then the steward said within himself, What shall I do? for my lord taketh away from me the stewardship: I cannot dig; to beg I am ashamed. 4 I am resolved what to do, that, when I am put out of the stewardship, they may receive me into their houses.]
You will notice that the parables we are reading today all relate to the rich, who often employ Christians because they are known to be honest, hard workers, and bring in lots of money for them. This is a reminder that each and every saved, born again Christian will give an account to what they did with the gift of eternal life given to them. Now, we will not lose our salvation, but if we have been careless with such a great gift, we are not going to see many rewards, [1 Corinthians 3:8-9 Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour. 9 For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building.]
It appears that this man was taking a cut from what the people were paying his employer, then falsely entered the numbers in the books. When the employer looked at the books, it did not line up with the inventory, he cannot deny it, but if he lost his job for this he would no be able to get another job because people would know that he cheated his employer. he must make up his accounts somehow, and be gone before anyone found out. So, he came up with a scheme to get some of the money back.
[Luke 16:5-8 So he called every one of his lord’s debtors unto him, and said unto the first, How much owest thou unto my lord? 6 And he said, An hundred measures of oil. And he said unto him, Take thy bill, and sit down quickly, and write fifty. 7 Then said he to another, And how much owest thou? And he said, An hundred measures of wheat. And he said unto him, Take thy bill, and write fourscore. 8 And the lord commended the unjust steward, because he had done wisely: for the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light.]
In other words, if he could pull this scheme off, then the shortage would no longer appear as the numbers would be more lined up. Should the plan be found out, the bills paid would legally stand, and the debtors would show their gratitude by providing for him. While his employer did not condone what he did, he did have respect for what he had done since he did recover some of what was lost. This is a reminder that we owe a debt for our sin so much more than what we can afford to pay. This is why Jesus paid that debt for us, and while we are under no obligation to pay the debt back, it would be wise to show some respect to Him by honoring Him, [Romans 5:8-9 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.]
Since we are saved by grace alone through our faith in Christ it ought to make sense to us to give honor to Him by being obedient to Him. Besides, whatever we have is the property of God, we have only the use of it for as long as we are given it, so we might as well use it for the cause of Christ, [1 Corinthians 12:30-31 Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret? 31 But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.]
Oh boy, God, would lead me to this passage after saying that I do not believe in speaking of tongues. However, this is referring to the real way in which someone can speak in tongues, which simply means that the person speaks their in their own language, and one hearing them can understand it in their own language. And the word covet here means to earnestly desire to serve God with the spiritual gifts we are given. It is so true what Jesus said about Christians not being the best at making business decisions, we can learn a lot from the world in how they do business. While it is not ideal to live like they do, they are prime examples of the perseverance and dedication that we often lack when to use our gifts wisely, which prompted Jesus to speak an important truth.
[Luke 16:9-13 And I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when ye fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations. 10 He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much. 11 If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches? 12 And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man’s, who shall give you that which is your own? 13 No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.]
Now, there are some Christ centered businesses out there that do very well, but ninety-five percent of the time, we are going to work for people in the world. It use to be when you say that you are a Christian that even if they were not they we more inclined to hire you because of your work ethics. However, thanks to a society of “feel good” to the senses Christians, who were taught that it does not matter how you live your life that is not the case anymore. The true riches that we receive through our using what God has given us cannot compare to anything that we will receive from the world. However, if we continuously take for granted what we are given, we cannot expect God to trust us with more here. While we cannot lose our salvation, we can lose out on many earthly blessings. Now, when the Pharisees heard this they actually got kind of defensive, but Jesus calls them out.
[Luke 16:15-18 And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God. 16 The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it. 17 And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one tittle of the law to fail. 18 Whosoever putteth away his wife, and marrieth another, committeth adultery: and whosoever marrieth her that is put away from her husband committeth adultery.]
Now, why did Jesus talk about adultery while He said that? Divorce, was something that Moses permitted if the spouse committed adultery, [Deuteronomy 24:1-2 When a man hath taken a wife, and married her, and it come to pass that she find no favour in his eyes, because he hath found some uncleanness in her: then let him write her a bill of divorcement, and give it in her hand, and send her out of his house. 2 And when she is departed out of his house, she may go and be another man’s wife.].
Marriage, is sacred to God because it is the closest union between a man and woman to Him and His people. The Pharisees had gotten careless and divorced their wives over everything. In the same sense, they had gotten careless in their worship of God and since God is a jealous God, He will have no other gods before Him, [Exodus 34:14 For thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God:]
By the way, God, did divorce Israel because of their adultery, [Isaiah 50:1 Thus saith the LORD, Where is the bill of your mother’s divorcement, whom I have put away? or which of my creditors is it to whom I have sold you? Behold, for your iniquities have ye sold yourselves, and for your transgressions is your mother put away.]
You see, they had made up their own version of the Law of Moses and was following that over the Law yet made the foolish assumption that God would be pleased with them. In other words, Jesus, is saying that God does not take too kindly to those who proclaim Him, ignore His Word and say that what they are doing is in honor of Him. Jesus, is also reminding them that they can destroy as many prophets as God sends, as many Bibles as they can find, but they will never stop what is written in His Word from coming to pass. This heaven and earth will be destroyed before even one of the prophecies spoken from His Word does not come to pass. To prove His point, Jesus speaks another parable.
[Luke 16:19-23 There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: 20 And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, 21 And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. 22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; 23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.]
Now, we have heard people describe hell to some extent by what they perceive it to be, but Jesus, Himself describes it for what it truly is and all these people worshiping Satan and seeking hell are going to have a huge awakening when they discover just how treacherous it is. Abraham, is actually used in this reference for the fact that Lazarus being identified as his father, whom God had promised to make a nation. It was said that any believer who died before Christ’s passion was carried into Abraham’s bosom to await the Saviour. This is also a phrase well known to the Jews called paradise, [Luke 23:42-43 And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. 43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.]
The plain truth is that those who refuse to believe in Christ and receive Him as their Saviour while they have their breath in them will end up in hell. It does not matter what family you came from, how much money you have, what church you belong to, anyone without the blood of Christ applied to their soul will be cast straight into hell after they see Jesus. And it will not be the flaming fire that will be the most torturous, it will be the people they see in heaven. Now, as Jesus continues with the story, He goes on to tell us how it is possible for those in hell to see those in heaven.
[Luke 16:24-26 And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. 25 But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. 26 And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.]
There is only one line that separates us from heaven or hell, it is our faith in God that determines which side we are encouraged to go to, and believe it or not, while all are given that opportunity, very few will take it. If they are ignorant to the fact that hell is real and the only way to heaven is Jesus, and die in the flesh without Him, then that is all on them, [Ezekiel 3:19 Yet if thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul.]
Yes, we who are saved do have the obligation to tell the lost how they can be saved from hell. Well, the rich man thought that if he could not be helped, then perhaps his brothers could so he begs for him to send Lazarus back to warn them, [Luke 16:27-31 Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father’s house: 28 For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. 29 Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. 30 And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. 31 And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.]
There are no truer words than these! People see miracles every day, some think them as a mere coincidence, others a fluke or chance, and even if Jesus stood right in front of them they would still not acknowledge that it was from God, which is what He was getting at. Those who reject Jesus will never be persuaded to believe in Him, even if they saw someone come back to life. They are reprobates, beyond the hope of salvation, [Titus 1:15-16 Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled. 16 They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.]
With that said, there are so many Christians living their lives without the Saviour really being prominent in their lives. They go to church once in a while, have great faith in their salvation, but really have nothing to show for it, and yet God continues to bless them. Then we have His faithful, they attend every church service, volunteer wherever they are needed, obedient to God, and yet they suffer as though they are living like reprobates. They face endless suffering, wondering why God has left them and what the point is to living by faith when it does nothing for them. Well, Jesus has an answer for that. First, Jesus addresses the issue of the unfaithful.
[Luke 17:1-4 Then said he unto the disciples, It is impossible but that offences will come: but woe unto him, through whom they come! 2 It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones. 3 Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him. 4 And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him.]
In other words, Jesus, is telling us that we are better off facing Him having suffered for things that we have not done rather than suffer for sinful things. Nevertheless, we are given the same mercy as anyone else, even it we did fall into sin and since we really are all sinners saved by grace we need to be merciful to them. We are to never condone sin, but we are also be forgiving because after all we are all guilty of something from our past, [1 Corinthians 6:9-11 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, 10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.]
Well, that prompted the Apostles to ask Jesus to increase their faith, [Luke 17:5-6 And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith. 6 And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you.]
In other words, if they have one iota of true faith in God, then nothing is impossible for Him, but does not mean that he will always do the impossible just to increase our faith. Now, sensing that they were only saying that to see what they will get from God for being obedient to Him, that actually prompted Jesus to speak another parable, which was not really a parable, but rather a reminder of why obedience does not equal reward.
[Luke 17:7-10 But which of you, having a servant plowing or feeding cattle, will say unto him by and by, when he is come from the field, Go and sit down to meat? 8 And will not rather say unto him, Make ready wherewith I may sup, and gird thyself, and serve me, till I have eaten and drunken; and afterward thou shalt eat and drink? 9 Doth he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I trow not. 10 So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.]
Jesus, showed His Apostles their need of deep humility. Way too many “Christians” appear to be faithful to Christ in order to get rich, which is why Jesus said that we cannot love Him and the riches of the world at the same time. Our salvation ought to be enough of an incentive to be obedient, after all, we do have eternal life to look forward to, and we will receive far more than anything we could possibly get here, [Hebrews 10:35-36 Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. 36 For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.]
Now, to prove that the majority of people will not believe someone who had risen from the dead in order to be saved, Luke, recalls when ten men who were leprous came to Jesus to be healed. While they all wanted to be healed and were glad to be healed, only one returned to Jesus to thank Him.
[Luke 17:12-16 And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off: 13 And they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us. 14 And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go shew yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed. 15 And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God, 16 And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan.]
So, all ten men were cured, who were likely Jews, kept on going, while this half-breed Jew did not hesitate to go that Jesus for what He had done. Perhaps the other nine did not go back because they did not notice that they were healed yet. Think about it, how often to we who are saved stop and give glory to God with everything that He does for us? This is a reminder that we all need to slow down a bit so we can see what God is doing for us, [Colossians 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.]
Well, the truth is, everyone who is cured, survives surgeries, recovers from some disease or life threatening event, is cured by God. Again, people perceive miracles in several ways but very few acknowledge it as being from God. The other nine could have very well notice that they were cured by the time they got to the temple, yet, it does appear that none of them paid any mind to it being God. We learn this because Jesus flat out asks the man where the others went, [Luke 17:17-21 And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine? 18 There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger. 19 And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole. 20 And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: 21 Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.]
Do you see what the difference is? While Jesus healed them all physically, the only one who got saved was the one who acknowledged that He healed him. This is an illustration that one out of ten people, who believe in God will actually acknowledge Christ as their Saviour. Today, that number is more like one out of one hundred thousand, and I am not exaggerating when I say that because we closer than ever to Jesus returning, [1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.]
I do not know about you, but whenever someone demands me to do something, especially with a conceded and arrogant attitude, the last thing I want to do is what they are demanding me. Well, Jesus responded the same way, [Luke 17:22-27 And he said unto the disciples, The days will come, when ye shall desire to see one of the days of the Son of man, and ye shall not see it. 23 And they shall say to you, See here; or, see there: go not after them, nor follow them. 24 For as the lightning, that lighteneth out of the one part under heaven, shineth unto the other part under heaven; so shall also the Son of man be in his day. 25 But first must he suffer many things, and be rejected of this generation. 26 And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man. 27 They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all.]
In other words, just like when they all tried to get on the Ark after the rain and floods came, all the earth was destroyed and only eight people survived because they rejected Noah’s call to get the Ark, many will seek Christ when it is too late. You see, there are two things that await us when we believe in and receive Jesus as our Saviour, the Kingdom of God, which is not a physical place, but a spiritual place within every believer. And the physical Kingdom in which all believers will dwell and Christ will reign when He returns. And just in case they needed more proof, Jesus, goes on to explain what happened to Lot.
[Luke 17:28-32 Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; 29 But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. 30 Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed. 31 In that day, he which shall be upon the housetop, and his stuff in the house, let him not come down to take it away: and he that is in the field, let him likewise not return back. 32 Remember Lot’s wife.]
We are to never look back at the life we once had, even if it was the best life, because without Christ, none of it matter. We can take nothing with us when we leave here, which is what prompted Jesus to say something else, [Luke 17:33-37 Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it. 34 I tell you, in that night there shall be two men in one bed; the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left. 35 Two women shall be grinding together; the one shall be taken, and the other left. 36 Two men shall be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. 37 And they answered and said unto him, Where, Lord? And he said unto them, Wheresoever the body is, thither will the eagles be gathered together.]
Be mindful of what Jesus is talking about here, two men laying in one bed is referring to a sofa, often called a bed, and two women grinding is referring to their working in a mill, grinding grain. What all this is referring to is the day in which Jesus will send for His people and they will just disappear while the unsaved will get left behind, [1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.]
Today’s Prayer: Jesus, Thank You, for taking my place on the cross and dying the death that I deserved. Because of my faith in what You did for me, I am saved from hell, and the torment that I rightfully deserve. Because of You, I was made me whole, and it does not matter if this time in my life brings suffering, I know that one day I will suffer no more. There will be no more pain, no more tears, and I will be right there beside you. Lord, Lead us and guide us, fill us with Your mercy, grace, and protection from the worlds evils. Give us Your strength, Your words, and Your Light to shine upon the world so that we might lead some to You, even if we reach just one. I ask these things in Your name, Jesus. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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