Hear Moses and the Prophets
Key Verse 31: “He said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.’”
Introduction:
Today’s passage teaches the importance of serving the needy or the poor. What will be the consequences if we use what we have only for ourselves? What is the true teaching about the law of Moses? What is the principle of the law? It is to love God and love our neighbors.
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V13-18
Look at verses 13-15. Why do you think the Pharisees ridiculed Jesus and his teachings? Why is it a problem that the Pharisees justified themselves before men?
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13 No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.”
14 The Pharisees, who were lovers of money, heard all these things, and they ridiculed him. 15 And he said to them, “You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of God.
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Why do you think the Pharisees ridiculed Jesus and his teachings?
The Pharisees ridiculed Jesus and his teaching because they were lovers of money. They believed Jesus was out of his mind about his teaching on money.
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Why is it a problem that the Pharisees justified themselves before men?
Because men will not be the judge. Therefore, justifying themselves before men will not help them at the time of judgment that matters the most. God knows their hearts. To God, hearts matter although men’s hearts are invisible to men. God can see the hearts of men.
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Additional notes from v.13-15
13 No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.”
14 The Pharisees, who were lovers of money,
The Pharisees were known as those who were very strict about the law. They kept the law vigorously, and Jewish people knew about it. They were known to observe the law very strictly. But interestingly, they love the money.
heard all these things, and they ridiculed him.
The Pharisees refer to all Pharisees. “All these things” refers to Jesus’ teaching about money. They ridiculed Jesus. They thought Jesus’ teaching was wrong. So they rediculted him.
Since the Pharisees were lovers of money, they thought in this way: If someone serves God, God rewards them with money or wealth. They thought, “We observe the law. So God rewards us with money.” So to them to accumulate a lot of money is God’s blessing. That is how they justified themselves before men.
But Jesus called money “unrighteous wealth”. And Jesus asked them to serve God instead of money. The Pharisees thought, “If someone is poor, it means he did not obey the law properly.” “So why should we help such a person?” In this way, they ignored the poor people.
They looked down on the poor and ignored them. But they highly recognized money. For them, Jesus’ teaching was ridiculous. Jesus said, “13 No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.” But the Pharisees thought they could serve two masters, money and God. Ultimately, they love money instead of God.
Even today, some people have the same mindset. They believe earthly blessings, such as money, are God’s blessings. Sometimes it is true, but it is not always the case.
15 And he said to them, “You are those who justify yourselves before men,
The Pharisees recognized themselves as righteous people because they observed the law strictly. And other Jews also recognized them as the righteous people because they observed the law.
but God knows your hearts. For what is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of God.
The Pharisees were known as the most righteous people in their society. But Jesus said, “God knows your hearts.” The Pharisees were proud of two things: law and money. They were self-righteous because they obeyed the law. Second, they thought money was the sign of God’s blessing. So they despised the poor. But Jesus said, “God knows your hearts.” God sees the real motive of people. People see outside of men. But God sees inside of men.
When people see the Pharisees, they respect them. But they could not see their hearts. People might envy them, thinking their wealth a sign of God’s blessings.
For what is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of God.
God saw their hypocrisy. From God’s point of view, money was not true riches but unrighteous wealth. What they had in their minds was the abomination before God.
So we need to be careful about “prosperity gospel.” One Christian channel showed a famous woman evangelist. She asks people to donate money for her jet airplane. She claims, “I need to travel more to teach the gospel.” She showed all fingers, all of which have rings. She said, “God will bless you if you donate.”
In American culture, money is highly exalted. So rich people are honored. But money is the greatest idol, an abomination, in the sight of God.
We are blessed because God blessed us to seek his kingdom first. We need to learn how to live by faith in God instead of money.
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V16-18. What do you think it means to force your way into the Kingdom of God? Why do you think Jesus brought up the Law and adultery at this point of his teaching?
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16 “The Law and the Prophets were until John; since then the good news of the kingdom of God is preached, and everyone forces his way into it. 17 But it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one dot of the Law to become void.
18 “Everyone who divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery, and he who marries a woman divorced from her husband commits adultery.
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What do you think it means to force your way into the Kingdom of God?
To enter the kingdom of God even by force because you want and desire the kingdom of God so much. You want and desire it so much to the point of using your force in order to enter the kingdom of God. “Forcing your way into the kingdom of God” does not mean you violate others’ rights or harm them physically. It refers to spiritually forcing one’s way into the kingdom of God.
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Why do you think Jesus brought up the Law and adultery at this point of his teaching?
The Pharisees seem to obey the law strictly. But they were very liberal in divorce. They did not keep the law in the matter of divorce. Jesus brought up the Law and adultery to point out their hypocrisy.
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Additional notes from v. 16-18
Jesus’ words are all connected, although it does not look like. Jesus is still dealing with the problem of the Pharisees. Jesus is trying to correct their wrong thoughts about the law. Jesus wanted to reveal what was in their hearts.
16 “The Law and the Prophets were until John; The Pharisees were proud of keeping the law. “We keep the law. So we are righteous.” Here, John refers to John the Baptist. He is the last prophet, and he belongs to the time of the Old Testament.”
But after John
since then the good news of the kingdom of God is preached, and everyone forces his way into it.
Now God wants people to come to the kingdom of God through Jesus. The law and the Prophets were like old garments. Now the new garments were introduced. Most of all, the new ones are free.
So what people need to do is to accept the kingdom of God by the grace of Jesus. But these Pharisees were so proud of their observance of the law. So they did not accept the message of the kingdom of God when it was given. From God’s point of view, they were self-righteous, rebellious, and disobedient.
From God’s point of view, prostitutes and sinners who were despised by the Pharisees were righteous before God. It is because they were so happy when they heard the good news of the kingdom of God and that they can enter it only by God’s grace through Jesus.
Jesus said the same thing in Mt 11:11-14.
Mt 11:11-14 “11 Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. 12 From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force. 13 For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John, 14 and if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah who is to come.”
everyone forces his way into it.
All people humbly accepted the gospel message. They were willing to accept God’s grace and mercy and enter the kingdom of God, except the Pharisees. The Pharisees resisted and refused to repent out of their self-righteousness and accept God’s grace.
It may be related to the parable of the banquet. In the parable, the group of people who were invited first did not come. Figuratively speaking, they were self- sufficient. They did not need the banquet. They were not hungry. They may be related to the Pharisees in today’s passage.
The Pharisees were self-righteous. They had wealth. They were not thirsty for the kingdom of God because they were self-sufficient. The poor people were thirsty, and they rushed to the kingdom of God violently.
After John the Baptist, the time of the kingdom of God came. So the Pharisees were supposed to accept it. But they boasted that they kept the law and did not come to the kingdom of God. Jesus revealed their problems. But Jesus did not ignore the law and the prophets.
17 But it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one dot of the Law to become void.
The kingdom of God came. But it does not mean the law and the prophets are demolished or ignored. The principle of the law is still alive. That is why Jesus said, “Your righteousness should exceed that of the Pharisees.”
Accepting the grace of God, we enter the kingdom of God. But still we need to keep the law and the prophets, which means to love God and our neighbors.
18 “Everyone who divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery, and he who marries a woman divorced from her husband commits adultery.
These verses show what is in the hearts of the Pharisees. The Pharisees seem to be strict about observing the law. But about the divorce, they were very liberal. They said, “If you see any defects or shortcomings in your wives, you can divorce.” One documents says, “If a wife does not cook well, she can be divorced.”
The Pharisees were very strict in keeping the law. But for divorce or marriage, they were very liberal. It shows what was in their hearts.
To make them righteous and religious, they kept the law. And to support their desire for money and lust, they justified themselves by saying, “God rewards us with money.” “It is right to divorce any wife with defects.”
That is why Jesus said, “God knows your hearts.” Outwardly, they were faithful to observing the law. But in their deep hearts, they were serving money and lust. That was why Jesus said in one of the gospels that Moses commanded to issue a certificate for divorce. It was to make divorce legitimate instead of allowing it.
Missionaries who serve Muslim say that Muslims seem to be very serious about the law. But they are very immoral and corrupt in their hearts.
In the bible, adultery or death is the only condition for divorce.
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V19-31.
V19-21. Who was the rich man and who was Lazarus? What did each want? What did each do during their lifetime?
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19 “There was a rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. 20 And at his gate was laid a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, 21 who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man's table. Moreover, even the dogs came and licked his sores.
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Who was the rich man and who was Lazarus?
The rich man could refer to those who love money. They could be the Pharisees. Lazarus could refer to Jesus’ poor disciples.
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What did each want?
The poor man desired to be fed even with what fell from the rich man’s table.
The rich man desired feast every day sumptuously.
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What did each do during their lifetime?
The rich man used his money for his luxurious life. He never shared anything with the
poor beggar who sat in his door.
The poor man was sick and hungry.But he could not be treated or fed. During his
lifetime, he was begging for food. He was suffering from hunger and sickness for his
entire life.
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V22-26. What happened to the rich man and Lazarus? How was their final condition different from when they were alive, in what ways was it the same?
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22 The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried, 23 and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side. 24 And he called out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish in this flame.’ 25 But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner bad things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish. 26 And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us.’
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What happened to the rich man and Lazarus?
Both died eventually.
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How was their final condition different from when they were alive, in what ways was it the same?
The difference: both went to different places. The rich man went to Hades. The Lazarus went to Abraham, and he was at the side of Abraham. The rich man was in hell on fire. He felt very hot. He longed for even water from Lazarus’ fingertip.
Their position was changed exactly opposite. The rich man desired even a little bit of water. He wanted to get a little favor from Lazarus. The water in the fingertip was like a crumb that fell from the rich man’s table. Lazarus did not need anything.
The same: both died.
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Additional notes from v. 19-26 (question 3 and 4)
Jesus told the parable to help the Pharisees repent and show them what they were doing.
19 “There was a rich man who was clothed in purple
Purple is usually used for kings and nobles. It costs 3400 denari, which is about 10 years of a man’s salary. He wore luxurious clothes.
and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day.
To feast every day costs a lot of money. He was really rich.
20 And at his gate was laid a poor man named Lazarus,
The name “Lararus” means “the one whom God helps”. But his reality was the opposite.
covered with sores,
He also had a serious disease.
21 who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man's table.
He could not work but disabled. So he was begging because he was not able to work.
Some people want to work, but their situation does not allow them to work. Sometimes they do not have jobs, or they are disabled and sick.
The poor Lazarus was not seeking good food but any food from the rich man’s table. The Jews did not eat food that fell from their table, thinking it was corrupted once it fell. So it was not a human food anymore. So they gave it to dogs.
Moreover, even the dogs came and licked his sores.
This man could not get a treatment. So his sickness became worse. So dogs licked his sores. The dogs can increase his pain more by licking. Another interpretation is the opposite. Dogs’ licking helped him and soothed his pain. Only dogs took care of him.
God really sees people’s suffering. God is the God of comfort and mercy. That is why the kingdom of God is available to the spiritually poor. Jesus identifies himself with the poor, the crippled, and the blind.
22 The poor man died
He died in poverty. He did not experience any good things in life. Some people are like him, suffering from the beginning tothe end. Probably, he was not buried properly.
and was carried by the angels to Abraham's side.
That is the huge change. Until he died, he was so miserable. But after he died, it was totally different for him. “Abraham’s side” refers to the paradise where people who are saved stay until the kingdom of God fully comes.
The rich man also died and was buried,
He was buried, probably in a luxurious way. Both the poor and the rich all died. It is common. They were equal.
23 and in Hades,
“Hades” belongs to hell. The unsaved people stay there before they are thrown into the fire of hell.
being in torment,
Their position was changed in the opposite way. The peace and joy of Larasu started. The torment of the rich man started.
he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side.
There was a huge distance because he saw Abraham “far off”. But conversation was possible.
24 And he called out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish in this flame.’
He called Abraham “Father”. The Jews and the Pharisees thought they would go to heaven automatically. The Pharisees thought for sure they would go to paradise. So they looked down on sinners who do not observe the law.
25 But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things,
He enjoyed all the good things duing his life time. And he did not do anything for Lazarus, who sat at his gate.
and Lazarus in like manner bad things;
Lazarus suffered in his life on earth. On the earth, Lararus really begged for food from the rich man. But the rich man did not give him at all. But now the rich man was in the hell. He wanted Lazaru’s favor, but it would not be given.
but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish.
This is fair and just. On earth, you enjoyed wealth without giving anything to Lararus. Now Lazarus is comfored and you are suffering. This is justice.
26 And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us.’
There is a chasm, and people cannot cross. Once a person falls into Hades, he cannot cross. There is no more chance.
The opportunity to repent is available only when people are alive on earth. Catholic teaching of purgatory is not biblical. They say that everyone stays in purgatory, and if you pray for them, then they can go to paradise.
But today’s parable shows their destination is decided upon their death on earth.
Being rich is not a sin. A rich man can enjoy good food and clothes. But he completely
ignored the poor man. He had no mercy for the poor man.
The Pharisees were saying, “These poor people were poor because they did not obey the
law,” and they did not have any mercy, and they enjoyed their wealth only for
themselves. The dishonest manager at least shared wealth, even if it was the owner’s
money.
The Pharisees thought they really observed the law. But they did not keep the spirit of the law, which is to love God and love one’s neighbor. They did not really observe the law.
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V27-31. What did the rich man request of Abraham?(27-28, 30) How did Abraham respond?(29, 31) Why did the rich man think that Lazarus would make more of an impact on his brothers than Moses and the Prophets? How do verses 29-31 match what's happening with Jesus and the Pharisees in verses 14-18?
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27 And he said, ‘Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father's house— 28 for I have five brothers—so that he may warn them, lest they also come into this place of torment.’ 29 But Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.’ 30 And he said, ‘No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ 31 He said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.’”
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What did the rich man request of Abraham?(27-28, 30)
To send Lazarus to his father’s house to warn his five brothers who were living in the same way as him.
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How did Abraham respond?(29, 31)
They have Moses and the Prophets. They do not need the warning from a man from Hades.
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Why did the rich man think that Lazarus would make more of an impact on his brothers than Moses and the Prophets?
Because Lazarus was a living proof. He was visible, whereas Moses and the Prophets are invisible.
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How do verses 29-31 match what's happening with Jesus and the Pharisees in verses 14-18?
Jesus taught the Pharisees that money would be an abomination before God. But they ridiculed Jesus. They were like the rich man and his five brothers. When they did not hear what Jesus taught, they would not be convinced, even if someone rose from the dead and warned them.
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Application
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How can we apply today’s passage in our lives: Regarding the Law and the Prophets, and how the rich man lived beside Lazarus?
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How can we apply today’s passage in our lives: Regarding the Law and the Prophets, and how the rich man lived beside Lazarus?
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The rich man lived along with Lazarus. It shows there are people in our neighborhood, and they need our help and concern. We do not need to go out and seek people who need our help. They are right there in our neighbors.
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Additional notes from v.27-31 (question 5 and 6)
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27 And he said, ‘Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father's house— 28 for I have five brothers—so that he may warn them, lest they also come into this place of torment.’
He worried about his five brothers. He knew that they were living in a very selfish way. He knew they would come to Hades, too.
29 But Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.’ 30
They have the word of God. The Old Testament already taught about the kingdom of God and how people should live.
And he said, ‘No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’
If they see a great miracle, they will believe and repent. This is a kind of biggest miracle, someone coming from the dead. Then they will believe and repent. People want to believe certain miracles instead of believing the word of God just as it is.
We want to believe in God when we experience certain miracles.
31 He said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets,
If they do not hear the word of God and believe,
neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.’”
They will not be convinced even by a miracle. If someone truly believes the word of God and accepts the word of God, he can truly believe.
The people in the Samaritan woman in John chapter 4 say “Now we believe not because of what you said but because of what we heard.”
The Pharisees were rich like the rich man. The Pharisees did not hear the word of God. Jesus was saying, “You Pharisees don’t hear the word of God”. Even though they say “We love God and serve God,” they serve money.
They believed in the resurrection. But the truth is, they did not believe in the resurrection. So these people are very proud of their observance of the law and their love for God. But they did not obey the law because they did not love God and their neighbors. They did a lot of religious activities, such as fasting one day a week and praying for a long time. But in reality, they did not obey the law. They did not trust God nor love God. They love money.
The passage can be a warning for us Christians. We could make the same mistakes. We do engage in religious activities and we believe we love God. But we need to check our hearts, “Do I truly love God and do I obey the law of God by loving God and our neighbor?” Practically, what should I do?
With his wealth, the rich man did not share it at all. It tells everything about him. How we use and manage our wealth shows everything about us. John Wesley says, “When your wallet repents, you really repent.”
We live in a very materialistic society. So we need to love God instead of money. It is not easy to share our money when we feel like we are lacking.
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