JESUS TEACHES COMPASSION FOR THE POOR

BY THE END OF THE LESSON, WE WILL:

REVIEW the story of the rich man an Lazarus; DISCUSS our feelings about compassion toward the poor; and DEVELOP a project that brings generations together to talk about how to help those in need.

 

FOCAL VERSES LUKE 16:19-31

KEEP IN MIND

"He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much" (Luke 16:10).

 

AT-A-GLANCE

1. A Picture of Life (Luke 16:19-21)

2. A Picture of the Afterlife (vv. 22-26)

3. A Picture of a Final Plea (vv.27-31)

 

 

IN FOCUS STORY

Jay has lived a very privileged life. His family always took pride in sponsoring events to help the less fortunate, but at the dinner table he often heard both his grandfather and father say that people who are in poverty live that way because they are lazy and worthless.

Then one day while walking downtown, Jay ran into Clarence, a former corporate attorney for a major energy company. Having achieved his dream, Clarence thought he had it all until disaster struck-on his watch, the company came under a major federal investigation, which cost him his career. Clarence had lost everything and was homeless, living on the street. Jay knew Clarence through his father, so when Jay saw him, he was in shock. After exchanging some pleasantries, Jay asked what happened to him. All Clarence could muster up was "one bad decision and I lost everything." Jay slipped some money into Clarence's pocket as well as his business card. Jay was in tears when he left Clarence.

Often, even as Christians, we can carry the wrong attitude toward the poor. In today's lesson, Jesus uses a parable to declare God's compassion or the poor.

 

THE PEOPLE, PLACES, and TIMES

Hades. Also known as Sheol or "place of the dead" in the Old Testament, it is the region of departed spirits for those who died. Its meaning translated denotes the underworld ad was believed to be the immediate state between death and resurrection. In Jesus' parable, it is an impassible gulf of chasm that separates the lost from the righteous.

 

Abraham's Bosom. Believed to be the compartment of Hades for those who died in right standing with God due to their faith and obedience to the law. In the Talmud, a collection of rabbinic commentary of the Hebrew Bible, it is mentioned as the place where the soul rests after death. It is a place privilege for Abraham's righteous children.

 

BACKGROUND

The book of Luke features more parables than any of the other Gospels. Jesus used these illustrations to convey key principles of kingdom living. Early on in Luke 16, Jesus told the parable of the dishonest manager to make the point that to be true kingdom believers, we cannot serve God and wealth (v. 13). After hearing this parable, the Pharisees-because of their own position of power and wealth-ridiculed Jesus in an attempt to discredit Him before the people. In response, Jesus told the Pharisees that they were good at appearing righteous, but their hearts were not. In their minds, their great wealth showed that they were blessed by God, but Jesus pointed out that they were only wealthy through dishonest gain. Jesus declared that the kingdom of God runs counter to the dominant culture. The Pharisees relished their wealth and power, but Jesus warned them that they fell short of God's standards. He further bruised their egos by letting them know that God reads the heart, so it was useless to justify themselves based on their works (v. 15).

 

SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES

1. Where did Lazarus and the rich man go when they died? What was different about passing (Luke 16:22-23)?

 

2. Who did the rich man appeal to for relief from his torment (v. 24)?

 

3. What id the rich man want Lazarus to do (vv. 24, 27-28)?

 

 

DISCUSS THE MEANING

1. What was the significance of Lazarus receiving comfort after his death versus the rich man's fate after death?

 

2. What does this parable say about how we should view our lives, our relationships, and the value we place on possessions and status in this world?

 

3. How should we view those who are poor and in need? How can we also help the rich who may be poor in spirit?

 

4. Which of the people in the In Focus story do you relate to best: Jay or Clarence? Why? What would be your next step if you were Jay?

 

 

LESSON IN OUR SOCIETY

Even in our churches, we often measure people by what they do, what they have, and whom they know rather than their display of Christ-like character. This is not the way of the kingdom. Today's lesson reminds us that God does not want us to shut our eyes, close our ears, and cover our mouths when we see social ad economic injustice. We have a mandate form our Lord to care for the poor, the disenfranchised, and the marginalized. How can we collectively meet that mandate?

 

MAKE IT HAPPEN

Pray and ask God how we can individually and corporately be agents of change to provide for the poor. Examine how you can be proactive in helping to change the attitudes in your community and help young people be sensitive to the needs of others. Go beyond your comfort zone to extend a helping hand.

 

(Except from The Apostolic Light P.A.W.)