1. Lesson One of the Book of Daniel, Introduction to the Book of Daniel

The Book of Luke, Beware of Greed, Part I - Lesson 157

The portion of Luke 12 we will be discussing today apparently takes place in the same location as did the events given in verses 1-12. 

Remember the disciples and the Lord Jesus Christ are surrounded by what is described as a crowd which was so vast that they trod one upon another. 

It was an unruly crowd and Christ used this occurrence to teach the disciples about the danger of fear which produces hypocrisy, a covering that we place about ourselves which we think provides protection from some outside threat.

Apparently in the midst of Christ’s instruction there was a question from one of the company, that is one of the throng, one of the crowd.

We have nothing given to tell us that this was or was not a disciple of Christ.

We do know that Christ’s answer to this man certainly lends authority to the idea that he was not a disciple, for Christ referred to him simply as Man, perhaps a reference to his question as a question from a natural man.

This man addressed Christ as Master but this translates into the word teacher, so he is calling upon Christ as a Teacher.

Luke 12:13-21,  And one of the company said unto him, Master, speak to my brother, that he divide the inheritance with me. ¹⁴And he said unto him, Man, who made me a judge or a divider over you? ¹⁵And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth. ¹⁶And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: ¹⁷And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? ¹⁸And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. ¹⁹And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. ²⁰But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? ²¹So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.

Most likely in a crowd this size there were many questions addressed to Christ during this occasion but Luke records this question and Christ’s response for our learning. 

Luke 12:13, Master, speak to my brother, that he divide the inheritance with me. 

In using the title, Master, which means teacher, there is no recognition on the part of this man that Christ is the Messiah. 

It is obvious that this question is an ill-timed question for it is a question outside of the calling of Christ.   

In every situation there are appropriate remarks and there are inappropriate remarks.

This is indeed an inappropriate remark for Christ was there to teach, to instruct about the kingdom of God and here was a man who wished a judgment for a selfish purpose. 

Selfish means: regarding one’s own interest chiefly or solely; influenced in actions by a view to private advantage. 

Selfishness means: The exclusive regard of a person to his own interest or happiness; or that supreme self-love or self preference, which leads a person in his actions to direct his purposes to the advancement of his own interests, power or happiness, without regarding the interest of others. 

When you boil most lives down to their essence, the result is lives lived out, based upon self interest.  

The free enterprise system thrives on self interest. 

Most people are selfish for most people are solely involved in their own interests. 

In this situation it would seem that the man’s brother was present for he asked the Lord to speak to him, so that all Jesus would have had to do was to pronounce a judgment in this man’s favor.  

But the addressing of this man’s request would not in any way contribute to the teaching needs of those in the crowd.  

A question asked of a teacher in that setting should have been one for which the answer would have a broad interest or a broad application.  

We see examples of inappropriate questions when the President receives a leader from some other country and then opens up the floor to questions from the press.   

The press should ask questions related to the relations we have with the country of the visiting leader but invariably the press asks some “far off the subject question” related to some negative about the president hoping to embarrass the president.

Now this man was just as far out of place as the White House reporters in bringing this personal matter up, a matter of his own interest, and with disregard both for Jesus and for the crowd. 

But Jesus did not yield to the man’s need for a judge and did not stray from his role as a teacher.   

Jesus responded as a teacher, teaching, from the man’s own words, the error of his actions, and drawing from this “interruption” lessons that were of value to his listeners.  

But before His words of instruction were given, rebuke was necessary so Christ had a few pithy words to say to this man in direct response to his request:  

Luke 12:13, Master, speak to my brother, that he divide the inheritance with me.

Luke 12:14,  Man, who made me a judge or a divider over you? 

Jesus’ words indicate that the man’s request was in error.  

Other teachers trying to increase their political capital with the crowd and wishing to look good to the crowd, might show off their wise decision making ability, and therefore might be tempted to declare a verdict in this case. 

But we will never see this kind of response from our Lord, for Jesus knew that this was not within the realm of His calling or task, and therefore He without discussion or reasoning refused the request.  

Jesus Christ was not here to judge as we are taught in: 

John 12:47,  And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world. 

James, in his epistle, addresses the time when Jesus will come as a judge but this was not the time. 

James 5:9,  Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door. 

And as a teacher Jesus could not be stopped from teaching by such an inappropriate request so, although this man did not get what he asked for, he certainly got what he deserved. 

Luke 12:15,  And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth. 

Jesus Christ was not looking for an opportunity to publicly humiliate this man.  

But neither was Jesus willing to let this teaching opportunity pass without using it to teach. 

This is a lesson for us to learn.   

We are not here to humiliate people for doing dumb things, we are here to teach God’s word. 

So Jesus’ words spell out the evil motive behind the man’s request: the motive of greed.  

Since the sin underlying the man’s request was greed, Jesus, the Teacher, goes on to spell out the principle which shows the man’s values not only to be wrong, but foolish.  

for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth. 

He is saying that even if one could amass a large accumulation of possessions, it would not produce life.  

Stated in this way, we can see that our Lord is addressing these words to those who are affluent, to those who are rich, and who think that “life” will be attained in accumulating even more.  

Life does not consist in things. It does not even consist in many things.  

And so He gives this parable, which is given to spell out the principle that he just has stated and will tell of a rich man, who is not rich enough.