LENT SERIES – 1 MONEY MAKES THE WORLD GO ROUND ...

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Rich Man and Lazarus Luke 16 : 19-31Labourers in Vineyard Matthew 20 : 1-16Talents Luke 19 : 11-27Matthew 25 : 14-30Wicked Tenants Mark 12 : 1-12Matthew 21 : 33-46Luke 20 : 9-18Sheep and Goats Matthew 25 : 31-46Life IncidentsOffering of two doves by Mary and Joseph – Luke 2 : 24Working as a carpenter – Matthew 13 : 55fNowhere to lay his head – Matthew 8 : 20Provided for by women – Luke 8 : 1-3Anointing – Luke 7 : 36ff & John 12 : 1ffAccepting hospitality – Luke 7 : 36ff; 10:3ff; John 12:1ffGiving hospitality – John 6 : 1-15Common Purse – John 12 : 6Sending Out 12 & 72 – Matthew 10:5ff – Luke 10:1ffTeachingTemptations Matthew 4: 1-11 Luke 4 : 1-13Sermon on Mount/Plain Matthew 5 : 7 Luke 6 : 20-49Nazareth Manifesto Luke 4 : 16-21Response to John the Baptist Matthew 11:5 Luke 7:22Disputes Mark 7 : 19-13,27Luke 10 : 38-42Giving Alms and Tithes Luke 11 : 41-42 Matthew 23:23What does it Profit? Mark 8 : 36Counting the Cost Luke 14 : 28-33Temple Tax Matthew 17 : 24-27Rich Young Ruler Mark 10 : 17-31
Zachaeus Luke 19 : 1-10Mary’s Anointing Mark 14 : 3-9 John 12 : 1-8Matthew 26 : 6-13Anointing Luke 7 : 36-50Cleansing the Temple Mark 11 : 15-17 Matthew 21 : 12-16Luke 19 : 45-47 John 2 : 13-17Giving to Caesar Mark 12 : 13-17 Matthew 22 : 15-22Luke 20 – 20-38Widow’s Mite Mark 12 : 41-44 Luke 21 : 1-4Prayer Luke 11 : 5-8At the very least these lists show the reality and pervasiveness of moneyin Jesus own day and culture; and how powerfully he believed using itillustratively and speaking about it mattered in his communication of theKingdom of God. It also illustrates why this short series can only offersome reflections on Christian thinking and not be entirely comprehensive.You may want to reflect more deeply on Jesus’ teaching during Lent.Old Testament SettingJesus teaching is entirely set in the framework around possessions andmoney given in the Old Testament through the Torah, the writings andthe prophets. So let us take a brief look at these.The Lawa) The foundation of this is that God is the creator (and thus sustainer) ofall things. “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it” (Psalm 24:1).All the creatures are God’s possessions. The land too belongs to God(Lev 25:23, Ps 85:1 Hos 9:3). The whole then is God’s gift. He did notneed to create, but he did. Everything about existence is God given.b) Since all is God’s, and is for him, then humankind is given the task ofbeing the responsible steward of creation, not the possessor of it (Gen1+2, Psalm 104). We are receivers of the gift and our response is to“give back to the Giver, who keeps giving to us”.c) In exercising good stewardship the Law recognises that land, and thusthe produce of the land will change hands. Some will grow richer, andothers poorer. Hence a whole range of laws are given that seek toensure that the poor are both protected and provided for. The lawseeks to stop the rich exploiting the poor (cf Exodus 21:1-11 and
Page 4 and 5: goddess Athena Nikephoros, and the
Page 8 and 9: Exodus 21-23 in full). The most pow
Page 10 and 11: injustice, or stored up and used se

LENT SERIES – 1 MONEY MAKES THE WORLD GO ROUND ...

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