Sermons

Luke recounts Jesus’ teaching on the Kingdom’s in-breaking and Christ’s second coming in response to a Pharisee’s question. It is an account which will truly test believers’ faith in things unseen. It follows well into the fabric of faith and redemption taught in the previous parables, e.g. parables like the lost coin, the Prodigal Son, the unrighteous steward, the rich man, and mustard seed. By doing so, Luke fulfills the purpose of his Gospel: to steady the God-lover’s wobbly faith by revealing where the Kingdom of God is truly found and how it appears to the world.

Luke weaves the question of faith into the fabric of the previous parables. Mindful of parables like the lost coin, the Prodigal Son, the unrighteous steward, and the rich man, Luke draws upon an account where the disciples requested that Jesus increase their faith. He recounts an eighth and final parable in this series as Jesus’ response and gives a real-life example to concretize Jesus’ answer. Following this account is a teaching on the Kingdom’s in-breaking and Christ’s second coming. It is an account which will truly test believers’ faith in things unseen.

Drawing from the excoriation of the Pharisees for self-justification, legalism, and works/wealth-based salvation found in the previous parables, Jesus warns his disciples of the danger of their constant impinging sin. He also subtly draws from previous parables, like the lost coin and the Prodigal Son, that exemplify God’s desire to find and forgive the penitent sinner. The eighth and final parable follows Jesus’ teaching on forgiveness. It tells of the faith and duty that are necessary to accomplish the commands of reproof and forgiveness.

This seventh parable in a series of eight re-directs Jesus’ discussion to the Pharisees. It follows a strange prelude which points out that living righteously according to the Law is hard, since not a stroke of that Law may be violated. Today’s parable discloses the other side of the eternal consequences of a life that appears justified in man’s eyes but failed miserably in the Laws’ demand to love God. This parable provides the hearer with an indelible warning of eternal separation should they mistake God’s loan for their ownership.