Received or Robbed [Luke 12:32-40]

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Audience: Jesus is speaking to those who are following him and listening to what he is saying. In Luke’s account, we are left to believe that Jesus is speaking these things to his disciples although others are present there listening. Regardless of the direct audience, The implication still stands, that Jesus is speaking to those who have been following him, who are being discipled by him and therefore, his teaching about the kingdom, in this instance, assumes they desire what he is offering.
Little Flock (designating a smaller group of gatherers instead of a multitude)
Peter’s Response to his immediate teaching (For us or everyone else)
Jesus’ response to peter (implies those who steward or serve others
Reasonable to believe that Jesus is speaking to his disciples and therefore those who following Jesus.
Didactic: Jesus teaching his followers who to live.
Jesus begins his ministry proclaiming the Kingdom of God is at hand.
Jesus has been demonstrating the power of the Kingdom
Instigated by one man’s question: “Tell my brother to share the inheritance.
Jesus takes the opportunity to teach about living for the kingdom:
1. Life doesn’t consist of possessions [v.15b]
2. Do not spend your life worrying about obtaining your needs. [v.23]
3. Instead seek the Kingdom and everything you need will be given to you. [v.31]
Luke 12:32–40 NASB95
32 “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has chosen gladly to give you the kingdom. 33 “Sell your possessions and give to charity; make yourselves money belts which do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near nor moth destroys. 34 “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. 35 “Be dressed in readiness, and keep your lamps lit. 36 “Be like men who are waiting for their master when he returns from the wedding feast, so that they may immediately open the door to him when he comes and knocks. 37 “Blessed are those slaves whom the master will find on the alert when he comes; truly I say to you, that he will gird himself to serve, and have them recline at the table, and will come up and wait on them. 38 “Whether he comes in the second watch, or even in the third, and finds them so, blessed are those slaves. 39 “But be sure of this, that if the head of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have allowed his house to be broken into. 40 “You too, be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour that you do not expect.”

A. Jesus Teaches about the Father [v.32]

The Two things that the Father is pleased to do.

1. To give is one and only son with whom He is well pleased.

2. To give the Kingdom to those who follow His son.

B. Jesus Teaches about the Kingdom [v.33]

Verse 33 assumes that those who Jesus is speaking to want to be part of the Kingdom of God. The thrust of the language is urgent and exciting. The Kingdom is the end all be all. It is to be the hope and treasure of those who want to follow Jesus. Jesus builds such confidence about the Kingdom.

1. Something that is to be desired.

2. It requires preparation to receive it.

3. Its secure.

4. There’s assurance in it.

C. Jesus Teaches about us [v.34]

1. We are treasure seekers.

Seek to fill our lives with what we find valuable.
We were created for this: Our heart for desire and our desire to be satisfied.
The idea of Treasure: Thesaurus (Storehouse) to put things in.
Heart is the core of center of life known as the belly.
Is God in our belly or is our belly God (Phil 3:18-19 “18 For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even weeping, that they are enemies of the cross of Christ, 19 whose end is destruction, whose god is their appetite, and whose glory is in their shame, who set their minds on earthly things.”
Many seek the wrong treasure but Jesus is teaching what is the right treasure to hunger and thirst for and what can satisfy it.

2. What we value most has our heart (Fills our belly/storehouses).

Jesus now gives two analogies about treasure seeking and how we can gauge what we value in our hearts.

A.Receiving something from Jesus [v.35-38]

B. Being Robbed by Jesus [v.39-40]

For those who follow Jesus and desire to receive what the Father wants to give will be like those who are ready and waiting to received it at any moment.
For those who do not they will see Jesus as one who has robbed them blind of what they value the most.
Matthew’s account doesn’t end with analogies but with a declaration from Jesus that cuts straight to the Point:
Matthew 6:24 NASB95
24 “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.

D. Response/Reflection/Repent

1. Which one are you?

What are you initial thoughts about Jesus when he asks you to give up things in your life?
We all have things we need to purge in our lives to make room to receive the kingdom. Ask the Spirit to identify these things in your life and give you the faith to follow through.
take an honest look in your heart and ask the Spirit to reveal to you what your true treasure is.
Are you clinging to what you have stored up or to what God has in store?

2. You are not alone in this treasure Hunt.

Hebrews 11:8–16 NASB95
8 By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed by going out to a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was going. 9 By faith he lived as an alien in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, fellow heirs of the same promise; 10 for he was looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God. 11 By faith even Sarah herself received ability to conceive, even beyond the proper time of life, since she considered Him faithful who had promised. 12 Therefore there was born even of one man, and him as good as dead at that, as many descendants as the stars of heaven in number, and innumerable as the sand which is by the seashore. 13 All these died in faith, without receiving the promises, but having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance, and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. 14 For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own. 15 And indeed if they had been thinking of that country from which they went out, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for He has prepared a city for them.

- We have witnesses that lived for this hope that are testifying to us.

- Lived by Faith in a hope that they were convicted of and believe to be right.

- This hope caused them to live a certain way in this life: Stranger/Aliens NOT establishing roots but loosely holding on and ready to receive the kingdom at any moment.

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