Luke 12:13-21; 21:1-4

Ice Breaker

If you inherited a large sum of money what would you do with it?

Luke 12:13-15

12:13 This might refer to the double portion allotted to the firstborn son In the ancient Near East, the firstborn customarily received a double portion (Deut 21:15–17) 17 but he shall acknowledge the firstborn, the son of the unloved, by giving him a double portion of all that he has, for he is the firstfruits of his strength. The right of the firstborn is his.

12:14 Jesus has no interest in settling material disputes.

12:15 For Jesus, life consists of hearing and obeying the word of God—a relationship with God Himself

What is it about money that can make it such a point of relationship strife?

How can we guard against greed in our own lives?

Luke 12:16-21

12:16 The parable is meant to illustrate Jesus’ statement in v. 15.

12:19 Compare Eccl 8:15; . 15 And I commend joy, for man has nothing better under the sun but to eat and drink and be joyful, for this will go with him in his toil through the days of his life that God has given him under the sun.

12:21 The Greek phrase used here could mean “rich with God.” Jesus’ point is to show the futility and deception of acquiring wealth, which He sets in contrast to storing up treasure that matters to God. The application of this parable relates back to the initial demand of Luke 12:13.

In a parable unique to Luke’s Gospel, Jesus teaches on the pitfalls of abundance and the evil of greed.

How would you describe being rich toward God?

Luke 21:1-4

Jesus’ assessment of the widow’s action is at once a commendation of her generosity and a word of judgment against greed. Compare Mark 12:41–44.

21:1 The Greek word used here, gazophylakion, may refer to a room in the temple or to a box used to collect contributions.

21:2 The coins described here had the least value of any currency in Jesus’ time.

21:3 reference Mark:43-44

43 And he called his disciples to him and said to them, “Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the offering box. 44 For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.”

21:4 The Greek phrase used here means “all the livelihood” or “all the life,” implying that her giving was so generous it could impede upon her survival

Bronze lepton: the smallest, least valuable coin in ancient Judea, made of copper or bronze, often crudely struck,

When have you seen God honored by someone’s sacrificial giving?