The Dishonest Manager

By Mary Vee
Luke 15

Peter

Photo by Mary Vee

My name is Peter. I am a disciple of Jesus.

When only his disciples had gathered around Him, Jesus told us this story:

There once was a rich man who had many people working for him. He'd hired a manager to oversee the workers.

Among the workers was a man who oversaw the bills. This man figured out that the manager wasted the rich man's possessions when doing his job.

The rich man sent for the manager. When the manager arrived, the rich man said, "I understand you have been wasting. Tell me what you have been doing with my land, animals, and crops."

The answer given by the manager did not justify the costs spent to do his job. The rich man said, "This is your notice. You're fired."

The manager walked outside and paced. "What am I going to do? I'll have no income. My Master is taking away my job? I'm not strong enough to dig, and I can't bring myself to beg. I couldn't bear the shame. No one will speak to me and I'll lose all my friends. " He paced a little longer until a thought came to him. A perfect idea that would cause his friends and others in the area to welcome him into their houses.

Before his last moment working, he called in each of his master's debtors. To the first, he said, "How much do you owe my master?"

The man said, "Eight hundred gallons of olive oil."

The manager said, "Take the bill from my master, sit down quickly, and make the balance owed four hundred."

While this man changed his bill then paid his debt, the manager asked the second, "How much do you owe?"

The man said, "A thousand bushels of wheat."

The manager said, "Take your bill, quickly, and change it to eight hundred." And so he did and paid the debt. 

When the master heard what had happened he called in his manager and commended him. "You have acted shrewdly. Well done."

Jesus said, "The people of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own kind than are the people of the light. Worldly wealth will only bring friends who seem to want to be around you. When the wealth is gone, that is when you will be able to focus on what is eternal.

"Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.

No one can serve two masters. 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 both God and money.

Come back to read the next story.

*Note from Mary Vee: If you have questions, please feel free to leave them in the comment section. I will see them and will answer as best I can or direct you to a source.


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sources: 
*A Harmony of the Gospels for Historical Study, An Analytical Synopsis of the Four Gospels by William Arnold Stevens and Ernest DeWitt Burton, Charles Scribner's Sons, New York 1932
*New International Version, New King James Version. 
*My Bible College training.
*My notes and walk through classes I've taught in Children's church. Answers to student questions, etc.
*Pastoral sermons on this time
*Matthew Henry Commentary
*F. LaGard Smith Commentary
*My notes from my trip to Israel.
*Photos from my trip to Israel.

Parable of the Lost Son Part 3

By Mary Vee
Luke 15

Peter

Photo by Mary Vee

My name is Peter. I am a disciple of Jesus.

In the last two weeks, I posted parts one and two of a story told by Jesus to the crowds who had gathered. Scroll down to read those if you missed them. 

The story begins with a father and his two sons. The younger one asks his father for his portion of the inheritance. He takes the money and travels afar, wildly spending until he runs out of money. The entire country is hit with a severe famine. The younger son finds work feeding pigs. He becomes so hungry he longs to eat the pig's food. At last, he chooses to go back to his father and beg to work for him. His father welcomes his some home with open arms and tells the servants to prepare a celebration.


Jesus continued the story. "The celebration for the younger son's return began. Food and drink lined the tables. Music played and the guests danced. The father was so very happy.

"The older son had completed his day's work in the fields and walked back to the house. As he crossed the last field he heard music and dancing. A servant happened to be outside. The older son said, 'What's going on? Is there a party?'

"The servant answered, 'Your brother has returned! Your father is so happy he has killed the fatted calf and ordered a celebration honoring the safe return of his younger son.'

"The older brother became angry and refused to attend the celebration. Word reached the father. He left the celebration to speak with his older son. 'Please son. Join the celebration. I have missed your brother so dearly. He's home. Celebrate with us.'

"The older brother shook his head. 'All these years I've been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. You never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. But when your younger son returns after squandering your property with despicable people, you honor him with the fattened calf.' He huffed and looked away.

"'My son, hear me,' his father said. 'You are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and be glad because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again. He was lost and is now found. Now, please, my son. Come to the party.' He wrapped his arm around his son."

This ends this story. Later Jesus explained the story. There are those who will put their faith in Jesus when young and live a faithful life. But when the time comes for those who will enter heaven, the ones who believed at the end of their life will be welcomed equally. Jesus said, whoever believes in Him will have life.

Come back to read the next story.

*Note from Mary Vee: If you have questions, please feel free to leave them in the comment section. I will see them and will answer as best I can or direct you to a source.


*********************************************************************************************

sources: 
*A Harmony of the Gospels for Historical Study, An Analytical Synopsis of the Four Gospels by William Arnold Stevens and Ernest DeWitt Burton, Charles Scribner's Sons, New York 1932
*New International Version, New King James Version. 
*My Bible College training.
*My notes and walk through classes I've taught in Children's church. Answers to student questions, etc.
*Pastoral sermons on this time
*Matthew Henry Commentary
*F. LaGard Smith Commentary
*My notes from my trip to Israel.
*Photos from my trip to Israel.

The Lost Son Part 2

By Mary Vee
Luke 15

Peter

Photo by Mary Vee

My name is Peter. I am a disciple of Jesus.

Last week I posted the first half of a story told by Jesus to the crowds who had gathered. Scroll down to read that one first if you missed it. 

The story begins with a father and his two sons. The younger one asks his father for his portion of the inheritance. He takes the money and travels afar, wildly spending until he runs out of money. The entire country is hit with a severe famine. The younger son finds work feeding pigs. He becomes so hungry he longs to eat the pig's food. At last, he chooses to go back to his father and beg to work for him.



Jesus continued the story. "The father went out to the road as he had every day since his younger son had left. He stood. Watching. Hoping to see his son in the distance. On this morning he stood the usual amount of time staring at the empty road. He began to turn but sensed he should look one last time.

"In the far distance, he saw a man walking. He shaded his eyes and squinted but couldn't tell who it was. He waited a long time for the man to draw near, near enough to see. He rubbed his eyes, blinked, then wept for his young son. "My son. My son!" 

He ran to his boy, threw his arms around him and kissed him.

"The son said, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.

"'Oh my son, this is not so. I am so happy you are home.' The father called to his servants. 'Hurry. Bring the best robe and put it on my son. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and cook it. Let's have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again. He was lost and is found.'

"The younger son cried and kissed his father. 'Thank you. Thank you.'"

But this was not the end of Jesus' story.  

Come back to read the rest of the story.

*Note from Mary Vee: If you have questions, please feel free to leave them in the comment section. I will see them and will answer as best I can or direct you to a source.


*********************************************************************************************

sources: 
*A Harmony of the Gospels for Historical Study, An Analytical Synopsis of the Four Gospels by William Arnold Stevens and Ernest DeWitt Burton, Charles Scribner's Sons, New York 1932
*New International Version, New King James Version. 
*My Bible College training.
*My notes and walk through classes I've taught in Children's church. Answers to student questions, etc.
*Pastoral sermons on this time
*Matthew Henry Commentary
*F. LaGard Smith Commentary
*My notes from my trip to Israel.
*Photos from my trip to Israel.

The Parable of the Lost Son

By Mary Vee
Luke 15

Peter

Photo by Mary Vee

My name is Peter. I am a disciple of Jesus.


One day, Jesus told this story to the crowds that had gathered, which included Pharisees. They quieted the second He began.

"There was a man who had two sons. The younger one was full of life and no longer wanted to live at home and do his chores. The world beyond offered so much and he wanted to enjoy it while he could. 

The younger son went to his father and asked for his share of the family estate."

"The father loved his son and didn't want to see him leave, but he did as the boy asked. He sold off the younger son's portion of the estate and gave him the money.

"The younger son spent a few days finalizing his plans and packing his belongings. He said his goodbyes and set off for a distant country, thrilled to experience the adventure. 

"Money jingled in his bags. He stopped at the best inns and bought the best meals. Soon he had many friends. They invited him to parties and to their homes for meals. He lavished his friends with gifts and bought himself the latest fashions. Truly this was the life he wanted.

"Over time the money in his bags decreased. He didn't care. He planned to solve the problem later. 

"A severe famine came upon the whole country. He gave his last coin to the innkeeper while his belly groaned. He searched for work and found only one employment feeding pigs. Even with the work he still didn't have food. He longed to take some of the pig's food and eat it, but he wasn't allowed. 

"When he could stand the hunger no longer he said to himself, 'How many of my father's hired men have food to not only eat but share with others? Here I am starving to death. I'm going back to my father's home and say 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Please hire me as one of your workers.' 

"So, he left the pig farm and walked the long road back to his father's home. 

Come back to read the rest of the story.

*Note from Mary Vee: If you have questions, please feel free to leave them in the comment section. I will see them and will answer as best I can or direct you to a source.


*********************************************************************************************

sources: 
*A Harmony of the Gospels for Historical Study, An Analytical Synopsis of the Four Gospels by William Arnold Stevens and Ernest DeWitt Burton, Charles Scribner's Sons, New York 1932
*New International Version, New King James Version. 
*My Bible College training.
*My notes and walk through classes I've taught in Children's church. Answers to student questions, etc.
*Pastoral sermons on this time
*Matthew Henry Commentary
*F. LaGard Smith Commentary
*My notes from my trip to Israel.
*Photos from my trip to Israel.