Studies by Book
Luke 16 14-17 The cross and the kingdom of God 01 Separating the sacred from the secular
📖 Luke 16:14-17
04Apr2020 - *Separating the sacred from the secular* - _Luke 16:14-17_ - Bible reading: _Amos 8:4-6_
We have completed the parable, known commonly as the parable of the dishonest manager but we have titled it as. God’s regents. We now begin a fresh study, which I have titled as *Religion and the kingdom of God*. This is in _Luke 16:14-17_
_Luke 16:14 Now the Pharisees, who were lovers of money, also heard all these things, and they derided Him._
After the Lord had taught using the parable of the dishonest manager, on several matters related to mammon, the Pharisees derided Jesus. They made fun of Jesus for teaching on the matter of mammon.
They were lovers of money but the Pharisees never saw themselves that way. They saw themselves as those who were the custodians and those, who interpreted the law to the people. To the Pharisees, keeping the law, meant to follow the rituals and traditions of the elders, performing various religious festivals and practises, holding them, the Pharisees, in high esteem by bowing down and acknowledging them and so forth.
It was the poor, who came under the heavy burden of the rules and regulations of the Pharisees. The Pharisees, therefore became more rich and powerful, whereas the poor were being marginalised, manipulated and tyrannised. This was the social system that suited the Pharisees.
Jesus was now, dismantling the social construct of the Pharisees and spoke openly and strongly against the ways of the Pharisees. This was the reason why the Pharisees, vehemently and vociferously resisted Jesus. Now we can see, why the Pharisees were determined to put an end to Jesus.
_Luke 20:46-47 “Beware of the scribes, who desire to go around in long robes, love greetings in the marketplaces, the best seats in the synagogues, and the best places at feasts, (47) who devour widows' houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. These will receive greater condemnation."_
In the Jewish dispensation, the law of God and the administration of the state was one and the same. The law of God was not just for personal application but was also for the community and on how governance had to be conducted. These were not to be separated. Being sacred was to cascade into all areas of life.
Whereas right from the Old Testament, we see how the Jewish leaders were so adept at practising a high level of religiosity, on one side, and at the same time making sure that their religious understanding did not interfere with the way they handled money, did their business or governed.
The Lord was repeatedly warning them and correcting them. It was the same, dual compartmentalized life that was now being practised by the Pharisees.
Are we any different? What we see around us, is so very similar. We too have become proficient in living our lives in these two compartments of the sacred and the secular.
*Thought to ponder*
```Unless the church is truly sacred, we will not be able to bring in His kingdom and His will here on earth.```