LUKE 12:13-21 TAKE IT EASY, EAT, DRINK AND BE MERRY

 PARABLE OF THE RICH FOOL

EAT, DRINK AND BE MERRY

JESUS HEARD A VOICE IN THE CROWD

"Someone from the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.”

AM I JUDGE OR THE EXECUTOR OF YOUR WILL?

“Friend,” he said to him, “who appointed me a judge or arbitrator over you?” 

He then told them, “Watch out and be on guard against all greed, because one’s life is not in the abundance of his possessions.”

Luke 12:13-15  Christian Standard Bible  (CSB)

JESUS SPOKE A PARABLE

"Then he told them a parable: 

“A rich man’s land was very productive.  He thought to himself, ‘What should I do, since I don’t have anywhere to store my crops?  

"I will do this,’ he said. ‘I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones and store all my grain and my goods there.  

Then I’ll say to myself, “You have many goods stored up for many years. Take it easy; eat, drink, and enjoy yourself.”’

“But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life is demanded of you. And the things you have prepared—whose will they be?’

WHEN YOU DIE SOMEONE ELSE WILL GET YOUR THINGS

“That’s how it is with the one who stores up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.”   

Luke 12:16-21  Christian Standard Bible  (CSB)

MARK 4:26-29 HOW DO SEEDS GROW?

 PARABLE OF THE SEED

MIRACLE OF THE SEED

"Then Jesus said, “God’s kingdom is like a man who plants seed in the ground."  

A FARMER PLANTS A SEED

"The seed begins to grow. It grows night and day. It doesn’t matter whether the man is sleeping or awake, the seed still grows. He doesn’t know how it happens.  

THE FARMER IS AMAZED THAT THE SEED  IS GROWING ALL BY ITSELF

Without any help the ground produces grain. First the plant grows, then the head, and then all the grain in the head.  

THE SEED MATURES INTO GRAIN READY TO BE HARVESTED

When the grain is ready, the man cuts it. This is the harvest time.”   

Mark 4:26-29  Easy to Read Version  (ERV)

AS A BELIEVER IT IS UP TO US TO PLANT THE SEED; THE GOSPEL AND THE WORD OF GOD TO ALL THE NATIONS OF THE EARTH.  

GOD MAKES EACH SEED GROW INTO A THRIVING PLANT.  AND IT IS HE WHO WORKS IN EACH PERSON WHO RECEIVES THE SEED.

LUKE 14:7-11 ARE YOU HUMBLE?

 PARABLE OF THE WEDDING RECEPTION

WHERE SHOULD I BE SEATED?

JESUS spoke a parable:

"Then he gave a little word of advice to the guests when he noticed how they were choosing the best seats.

“When you are invited to a wedding reception, don’t sit down in the best seat. 

It might happen that a more distinguished man than you has also been invited. Then your host might say,  ‘I am afraid you must give up your seat for this man.’ And then, with considerable embarrassment, you will have to sit in the humblest place. No, when you are invited, go and take your seat in an inconspicuous place, so that when your host comes in he may say to you, ‘Come on, my dear fellow, we have a much better seat than this for you.’ That is the way to be important in the eyes of all your fellow-guests! For everyone who makes himself important will become insignificant, while the man who makes himself insignificant will find himself important.”   

Luke 14:7-11  J B Phillips Translation  (Phillips)

"For everyone who EXALTS himself will be humbled, and he who HUMBLES himself will be exalted."  

Luke 14:11  New American Standard 95  (NASB)

MATTHEW 21:28-32 MATTHEW'S FAVORITE PARABLE?

 PARABLE OF THE TWO SONS

WILL YOU WORK IN THE VINEYARD?

“What do you think? A man had two sons. Now he came to the first and said, 

‘Son, go and work in the vineyard today.’

“‘No, I don’t want to,’ he replied. 

But later he changed his mind and went.

“The father said the same thing to the other son, who replied, 

‘Yes, sir.’ But he didn’t go.

“Which one of these two did his father’s will?”

They said, “The first one.”

Jesus said to them, “I assure you that tax collectors and prostitutes are entering God’s kingdom ahead of you.  

For John came to you on the righteous road, and you didn’t believe him. But tax collectors and prostitutes believed him. Yet even after you saw this, you didn’t change your hearts and lives and you didn’t believe him.

Matthew 21:28-32   Common English Bible  CEB

Matthew was a former tax collector.  Was this his favorite parable?

1 JOHN 5:6-8 OMISSION OR ADDITION?

 BIBLE TRANSLATIONS

THE SPIRIT, WATER AND BLOOD

There is a VARIANT in Bibles, whether or whether not these words written in RED below, should be included in John's letter.  

These words are not found in early manuscripts, and many believe that this could have been a footnote written in the side margin of some manuscripts and later added to the main body of the text.  

Other people believe that this is a key verse of the TRINITY, and was part of the original text of 1 John.  Why would anyone remove the Trinity from the Bible?

Examine the passage and let the Bible speak for itself.

PASSAGE WITH THE ADDITION

6. This is He who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ; not only by water, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who bears witness, because the Spirit is truth. 

7. For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one. 

8. And there are three that bear witness on earth: the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and these three agree as one.

1 John 5:6-8  New King James Version  (NKJV)

PASSAGE WITH THE OMISSION

6. This is the one who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ. He did not come by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. 

7. For there are three that testify: 

8. the Spirit, the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement.

1 John 5:6-8  New International Version  (NIV)

LET'S LOOK AT THE CONTEXT

"Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves the one born of the Father.  By this we know that we love the children of God: when we love God and keep His commandments. 

For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome, for whoever is born of God overcomes the world, and the victory that overcomes the world is our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world, but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?"

"This is the One who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ; not with the water only, but with the water and with the blood. It is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. 

For there are three that testify: the Spirit and the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement." 

1 John 5:6-8  New American Standard 95  (NASB)

WITNESS OF THE SPIRIT

“When the Counselor comes, the one I will send to you from the Father —the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father—he will testify about me.  You also will testify, because you have been with me from the beginning.

John 15:26-27  New American Standard  (NASB)

WITNESS OF THE ONE WHO CAME BY WATER 

"The next day, John saw Jesus coming to him and said, Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!  This is he of whom I said, after me comes a man who went before me, because he was before me.  And I did not know him. But in order that he should be declared to Israel, I have come baptizing with water.

And John bore witness, saying, I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove and rest upon him.  And I did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize in water, the same said to me, Upon whom you see the Spirit descend and remain still on him, the same is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.  And I saw and bore witness that this is the Son of God.   John 1:29-34  New Matthew Bible  (NMB)

WITNESS OF THE WATER AND THE BLOOD

"When they came to Jesus, they did not break his legs since they saw that he was already dead.  But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once blood and water came out.  He who saw this has testified so that you also may believe. His testimony is true, and he knows he is telling the truth. For these things happened so that the Scripture would be fulfilled: Not one of his bones will be broken.  Also, another Scripture says: They will look at the one they pierced.

John 19:33-37  Christian Standard Version  (CSV)

All of these passages are written by John.  

The context points to the witness and testimony that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.  John is pointing out to three witnesses that proves his point.   

Whether you believe this is an omission or addition to your Bible translation; the doctrine of the Trinity hasn't changed. 

Keep the Bible you love to read and worship God.

ISAIAH 35:6 ~ THEN THE LAME WILL LEAP LIKE A DEER

 STRANGEST THINGS IN THE BIBLE

JERUSALEM

Peter and John were prayer warriors going to the Temple, for the 3pm time of sacrifice.

"Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour." 

A lame man being carried was put by the Gate Beautiful, known as the Eastern Gate; so that he could ask for alms.

"And a certain man being lame from his mother’s womb was being carried, whom they were putting daily at the gate of the temple being called “Beautiful”, that he might be asking-for alms from the ones coming into the temple— who, having seen Peter and John being about to go into the temple, was asking to receive alms."

Peter and John looked at the lame man.  He expected to receive some money.

"And Peter, along with John, having looked-intently at him, said, “Look at us!  And the one was fixing-his-attention-on them, expecting to receive something from them. 

And Peter said, “There is no silver and gold with me. But what I have, this I give to you— in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, arise and walk”. 

Instead of Peter giving a hand out; he gave a reaching hand.

"And having seized him by the right hand, he raised him. And at once his feet and ankles were made-strong."

Luke a physician who wrote the book of ACTS, mentioned the details of the feet and ankles being healed.

"And leaping-up, he stood and was walking-around. And he entered with them into the temple, walking and leaping and praising God."

And all the people saw him walking and praising God."

ACTS 3:1-9  Disciples' Literal New Testament  (DLNT)

" The lame man will leap up like a deer, and those who could not speak will shout and sing! Springs will burst forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert."  

Isaiah 35: 6  The Living Bible  (TLB)

"And they were recognizing him— that he was the one sitting for alms at the Beautiful Gate of the temple. And they were filled with wonder and astonishment at the thing having happened to him."

ACTS 3:10  Disciples' Literal New Testament  (DLNT)

Peter and John, the disciples who had a foot race to the empty tomb on Resurrection Sunday, had strong faith in Jesus Christ, believing God is the healer.

PETER'S FISHING STORY

 STRANGEST THINGS OF THE BIBLE

CAPERNAUM

Peter's home is close to the synagogue in Capernaum, where men approached him collecting the annual Temple Tax.  A modern church is built over his historic home.

"When they came to Capernaum, those who collected tax money came to Peter and said, “Does your Teacher not pay the tax?”

Temple Tax was a free will offering, collected during Spring and Rabbis (teachers) were not required to pay this tax.  The tax per person was a half shekel or two drachmas.

He said, “Yes.” 

And when he came home, Jesus stopped him, saying, “What do you think, Simon? 

From whom do the kings of the earth take custom or taxes? From their own sons or from strangers?”

Peter said to Him, “From strangers.”

Jesus said to him, “Then the sons are free.  

However, lest we offend them, go to the sea and cast a hook, and take the first fish that comes up. And when you open its mouth, you will find a coin. Take it and give it to them for you and Me.”

Matthew 17:24-27  Modern English Version  MEV

Peter found a shekel in the mouth of the fish and paid the men for both Jesus and himself.  

What bait did Peter use on his hook?  Is this one of Matthew (the tax collector's) favorite stories?