Eighteenth Sunday After Pentecost (Series C)
September 18th, 2016
Gospel: Luke 16:1-15
Epistle: 1 Timothy 2:1-15
Lesson: Amos 8:4-7
Psalm: Psalm 113
CLB Commentary – Rev. Dale Hanson
The scripture lessons today speak about living a Godly life with each of the lessons making significant and necessary points for our day.
We are reminded in our Epistle lesson (I Timothy 2:1-15) of God’s desire for all people. He desires that all people be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth. He then explains how we can be saved which is grounded in the person of Jesus Christ and his atoning death of which Paul is a preacher and teacher. Notice that when in our day it is claimed that there is no such a thing as truth; we are reminded by Paul that God wants us to come to the knowledge of the truth. This and salvation comes to us through the preaching and teaching of the Word of God.
The Gospel (Luke 16:1-15) is an interesting parable; frankly, not all that easy to understand. It actually teaches us about how Godly people are to use their money. The Gospel along with the Old Testament lesson points out several important things concerning the use of money. It is a matter of godliness and faithfulness. Those who are saved by faith in Jesus are to live a life that reflects that faith.
The Old Testament Lesson (Amos 8:4-7) speaks both about one’s attitude toward the poor and one’s money. Amos makes a charge against those, especially the wealthy, who pervert justice and oppress the poor. He also warns against an attitude that wishes for worship to be over so they can go out and make more money. To make that all the worse, these people also made a habit out of cheating their customers by dishonest weights, measures and scales. Often times even adding chaff to the wheat to make it heavier. This practice was not only price inflation and dishonest but also unhealthy. Some even stooped to trafficking in slave trade. Amos concludes by stating that God will never forget any of these deeds. This is not the way that people, who profess faith in God, should conduct themselves.
The Gospel continues the teaching about Godliness in the use of one’s money. The Parable does not so much approve of the manager’s conduct directly after being told that he would lose his position by going to his master’s debtors and reducing their bills but by using money to make friends who would either welcome him into their home or offer him employment later. Verse 9 actually sets forth the point Jesus wants to make. Use your money in ways that makes friends which will have a pay back in this life and in the life to come. Faithfulness with a little leads to faithfulness with a lot; dishonestly with a little leads to dishonestly with much. No one can serve or love both God and money. It was those who were lovers of money that ridiculed Jesus and what he was teaching by this parable. Jesus has strong words for such, be that them or us, “God knows your hearts. For what is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of God.”
Looking at the Epistle lesson we see that the teachings about Godliness includes the roles we as men and women are to have in worship and daily life. Corporate prayer and worship were important; notice that Paul uses four synonyms for prayer, each with a slightly difference emphasis: supplications – asking for specific needs or particular benefits; prayers – common biblical term meaning a wide range of petitions; intercessions – appeals for others; and thanksgiving – expressions of gratitude for mercies received. Prayers offered for all people including all government leaders. Do we have a time for such church prayers for the world in our worship services? Should we? Paul points out what the result of such prayers would be – “that we might lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.” Don’t dismiss or overlook Paul’s teachings here about the roles of men and women. God calls only qualified men to teach and preach the Scriptures in the public services of the church. What is taught here is rooted in the Old Testament and creation as is made clear by Paul’s statements in verses 11-15. God ordained the roles of men and women at creation. Adam was created first and given specific service. Eve was created as a worthy, compatible mate. This does not mean men are more important than women but that God established different callings (roles) for them. The relationship between husbands and wives, men and women, was set in place before the fall into sin and remains unchanged today. Thus the commands and prohibitions concerning men and women in this passage are not simply reflections of first-century Jewish culture or Paul’s personal opinions. Paul rooted the practices of the Church in God’s created order. The points made in this text about respectable apparel is meant for us today also – one’s outward adornment should reflect the inner purity of those who profess faith in Christ. Paul is not condemning braided hair, jewelry, or fine clothing per se, but rather the excess (some of the finest garments of that time cost 7000 times the average daily wage) and the immorality (elaborate hairstyles and ornate jewelry in the first century were expression of vanity and sexual promiscuity). The primary adornment for every Christian woman should not only be outward but should match their inner virtues.
All those who come to believe in the person of Jesus Christ, who gave himself as a ransom for all, are to live quiet and peaceful lives in harmony with the teachings of these lessons concerning our attitude toward the poor, the use of our money and how we make our money, the way we present ourselves in public worship and elsewhere, following the God-given roles we are meant to have as men and women. Maybe today, you like I, have been convicted in some, maybe many, ways. If so, seek his forgiveness and ask for his mercy and grace that you might turn from your sinful ways and walk in his gracious and peaceful ways.
Dale R. Hanson
Reference – The Lutheran Study Bible