Vultures

Greetings.

Today, we will continue our examination of Luke 17.  We will be looking at verses 20-37.  What begins as a discussion about the coming of the kingdom, ends with talk end times, dead bodies and vultures.  Here is my translation:

20 One time, when the Pharisees asked Jesus when the kingdom of God would come, he answered, “The coming of God’s kingdom is not something that you can observe. 21 No one will be able to say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or ‘See, there it is!’, because God’s kingdom is among you.

22 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “The time will come when you long for one of the days of the Son of Man to come, but you will not see it.  23 Some will say, ‘Look over there!’ or ‘Look here!’ Do not chase after them. 24 Just like how lightning flashes in one place, but lights up the whole sky, so the Son of Man will be in his day.” 25 But first, it is necessary for him to suffer greatly and to be rejected by this generation. 26 Just like in the days of Noah, so it will be in the days of the Son of Man. 

27 They ate and drank.  They married and were being given away in marriage, until the time that Noah entered the ark.  But then, the flood came and destroyed everything. 28  It happened the same way in the days of Lot. People were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building. 

29 But on the day that Lot left Sodom, fire and sulfur rained down from Heaven and destroyed everything. 

30 That is what it will be like on the day that the Son of Man is revealed. 31 On that day, someone on the housetop, who has belongings inside, must not go down to get them. Those who are in the field, must not return to what is left behind. 32 Remember Lot’s wife. 33 The one who seeks to save his life will lose it, but the one who loses his will save it. 34 I tell you, on that night, two will be in a bed.  One will be taken, and the other will be left behind. 35 Two women will be grinding grain together.  One will be taken and the other left behind.* 

37 The disciples responded, “Where will this happen, Lord?” 

Jesus answered, “The vultures gather where the dead bodies are.” 

*Verse 36 is not found in the most reliable sources. (36 Two will be in the field.  One will be taken and the other left behind.)

It begins innocently enough. In verse 20, Jesus is asked by a Pharisee about when the kingdom would come.  The question seems to the one that many had on their mind.  When would the Messiah come in His kingdom?  The question doesn’t  seem to be asked with any ill intent.  However, the problem is that when Jesus spoke about the kingdom, and when almost everyone else spoke about the kingdom, they were talking about two different things.  

The overall perception of the kingdom in Israel was that the Messiah would come, sweep out the Romans and restore the Davidic kingdom.  So, the Pharisee was probably asking when that would all happen.  Jesus understands that this Pharisee and the rest of his audience don't really understand what the Kingdom actually is, and they are not really able to understand it if he were to explain, nor will they understand it when it comes. 

He responds that the coming of the kingdom is not some observable thing, with signs to watch out for, but rather that the kingdom of God is in their midst.  They were looking for the kingdom, and yet the most significant person in the kingdom of God was walking around among them and they were missing it.  Darrell Bock says about it, “They do not need to search for the kingdom, because the one who brings the kingdom and its program is before them.  They need only to respond to him to find its presence and benefits.” (Bock, 1418.)

Jesus addresses his disciples, next.  He talks to them about the days of the Son of Man.  He tells them that the time would come when they would long to see it, but would not be able to see it. This seems to indicate two things: First, they had some tough times ahead, so difficult that they would long for Jesus’ return.  And second, they would not live to see Jesus return. 

He warns them that they would hear rumors of those days’ coming, but they should not listen to them.  In verse 24 he tells that when that day does come, that it will be quick and obvious as to what is going on.  He compares it to lightning, which is quick and bright and lights up the whole sky.  The phrase 'the days of the Son of Man" indicates that will bring with it a time of judgment. 

In verse 26 and following Jesus compares that day to the days of Noah, another time of decisive judgment.  People were just living their lives, eating, drinking, getting married, doing normal things, but their judgment came on them swiftly.  It is going to be the same way in the days of the Son of Man. 

Jesus also compared it to the destruction of Sodom in Genesis 19.  God’s judgment on Sodom came quickly and destroyed everything. 

These references indicate that the end time, whenever that might be, will come without warning, as many people are going about their normal lives without giving much thought to God, and were then unprepared for when His judgment came on them. So like the Flood and the Destruction of Sodom, the Day of the Son of Man will bring judgment on those who are busy living their lives without giving thought to God, and are therefore unprepared.  

Jesus inserts into this, a statement about his own suffering and rejection by the people of the current generation. Jesus uses the Greek word δεῖ (dei), which means ‘it is necessary.’ His rejection and suffering were things that had to happen before the Day of the Son of Man.  

Jesus tells them to "Remember Lot’s wife."  She died because she looked back at her old life in Sodom.  Jesus has previously warned that we should not look back.  ‘No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.’ Luke 9:62.

Judgment will come quickly, and some will be taken and others left behind.  Will those taken, be taken to judgment or to salvation?  It is not completely clear, but it seems that those taken are taken for salvation. However, what is clear is that there are two different outcomes, one positive and one negative. 

The disciples ask where this was going to happen.  Jesus responds, “The vultures gather where the dead bodies are.”  Jesus doesn’t give them an exact location.  Instead, he talks about vultures.  Vultures fly over dead and dying bodies. While the meaning of the statement is not completely clear, it seems that Jesus finishes off this talk of judgment that indicates that the Day of the Son of Man will be visible, universal and permanent.  When the judgment comes it will be too late to change one’s verdict, and the vultures will already be flying overhead.  

The wise person then not be like those who lived their lives without giving thought to God.  Instead, we will live our lives, do out eating, drinking, getting married and doing normal things, while very mindful of God and His presence, and acting accordingly.  Let's avoid the circling of the vultures. 

Tom 

A Show of Gratitude

 Hello everyone.

I continue my exegesis of Luke 17 today, looking at a story you may be familiar with.  Jesus heals ten lepers, but only one returns to show appropriate gratitude.  Here is my translation:

11 While on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus was traveling through the area between Samaria and Galilee. 12 As he entered one of the villages, Jesus was met by ten leprous men, who stood at a distance from him. 13 In loud voices they said, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” 
14 Seeing them, he said to them, “Go, show yourselves to the priest.” Then, as they went, they were cleansed. 
15 One of them, seeing that he had been healed, returned and praised God in a loud voice.  16 He fell down at Jesus’ feet and thanked him.  He was a Samaritan. 17 So, Jesus responded to the man, saying, “Weren’t there ten of you that were cleansed?  Where are the other nine? 18 Is the only one who has found a way to return and give thanks to God, this foreigner? 19 Jesus said to him, “Get up, and be on your way.  Your faith has saved you.”

Jesus set out for Jerusalem back in Luke 9:51 and Luke has been sharing stories from this journey.  It appears that Luke is not necessarily telling the story chronologically, as Jesus has entered Samaria previously,  and had gotten close to Jerusalem by chapter 10, when he went to Martha’s house. Now he is traveling through the area between Galilee and Samaria. This story likely takes place early on in his journey, as it happens while he is still between Samaria and Galilee. 

So, as he is traveling along, Jesus enters a village, where he is met by ten men, all who were suffering from leprosy. The ten all cried out to him, calling him ‘Master,’ and begging for his mercy. They place their request for healing within their recognition of Jesus’ authority.  Jesus, the Son of Man, has the authority and the power to heal them of their leprosy, and in their request they are recognizing that. 

Jesus tells them to go and show themselves to the priest.  He does not heal them immediately.  However, they obey him and on their way they are healed. As lepers they were outcasts in their communities, so with this healing they were allowed to resume the lives that they had previously.  This was no small thing for these men.  

They had the faith to obey Jesus and receive their healing, but unfortunately, most of the men lacked the gratitude to return and thank him for what he had done for them.  Only one of the ten returned to Jesus to say, “Thank you,” and to offer Jesus the appropriate praise. 

The one who did return was Samaritan, an outcast among the outcasts.  But it is only this Samaritan that returns.  As the only one who returns, we see another example of  a “good” Samaritan.  The nine others, who were likely Jewish, do not return to Jesus and give the appropriate praise to God. 

It is impossible to know what was in the minds of the other nine.  Perhaps they were so excited to get back to their lives that they forgot about Jesus.  We do know that Jesus noticed their non-appearance, asking about them, and wondering aloud why they had not returned to offer God some well-deserved praise.  

It is interesting that Jesus referred to the one who returned as “this foreigner.”  Jesus is not anti-Jew or anti-Samaritan, but he is pro-faith.  I think that he is merely pointing out that the one that returned was not the one that you might expect.  One would expect God's chosen people to show more gratitude. 

Jesus tells the man to be on his way and that his faith had saved him.  The one who shows gratitude receives a commendation from Jesus that the others miss out on. 

Tom

The Heart of the Servant

 Greetings everyone.

It has been a while since I have posted on this blog.  I hope to write more consistently moving forward.  Anyway, last I posted we were in Luke 17.  Jesus had challenged his disciples that they should not be stumbling blocks, and be willing to forgive those who sin against them.  In response, the disciples asked for greater faith.  Jesus tells them that with just the faith of a mustard seed, they could uproot trees and cast them into the ocean.  Then he follows with the handful of verses that we will ook at today.  Here is my translation of Luke 17:7-10:

7 Which one of you, who has a servant who is plowing or tending to the sheep, will say to them, when they come in from the fields, ‘Quickly, come sit at the table’? 8 Wouldn’t you instead say, ‘Make my dinner and get yourself ready to serve me while I eat and drink. After that you can have your dinner”? 9 Would you thank the servant for doing what he was ordered to do? 10 It is the same with you. When you have done all that you have been commanded to do, you say, ‘We are just unworthy servants.  We have only done what we were supposed to do.” 

Jesus finishes his series of thoughts by asking that began with a discussion about stumbling blocks and forgiveness, by sasking, “Which one of you, who has a servant who is plowing or tending to the sheep, will say to them, when they come in from the fields, ‘Quickly, come sit at the table’?” The Greek word here is Δοῦλον (doulon), which is often translated as servant, actually is the word for slave. 

Jesus’ question is rhetorical, of course.  People who have servants don't ask them to sit at the table.  Everyone would all understand that the master is served and the servant does the serving.  Jesus continues his thought by pointing out that the master would more likely have the servant who has been working in the field, be the one to make and serve dinner.  Then, when the master is done, the servant may eat.  He also points out that the servant can not really expect to be shown special gratitude for doing what he was commanded to do.  

You may ask, "Where is Jesus going with this?" Being told that we are servants, who serve without receiving any gratitude is exactly encouraging.  But, I think that Jesus is making an important point.  We must hold on to humility.  Even when we have done everything, we should remember that we are merely servants, doing only what we were called to do.  

Think of the Pharisees. they were not like this.  They took great pride in their obedience to the commands, actually taking their obedience to a place that God had never intended, putting on a great show of their piety, and accepting praise from others. But, Jesus says, “When you have done all that you have been commanded to do, you say, ‘We are just unworthy servants.  We have only done what we were supposed to do.”  No matter what good I may accomplish, I need to always remember this and stay humble. Even though I really like praise, I need to always remember that this kind of humility is the right attitude of the heart for a disciple of Jesus. Fulfilling our responsibilities doesn’t earn us anything.  We must, instead, rely on God’s grace.  

In verse 10, the Greek adjective ἀχρεῖοί (achraioi) is used to describe the state of our servanthood.  The word can be translated as useless or unworthy.  Within the context, unworthy makes the most sense. The servant, having plowed the field, made and served dinner, has proven his usefulness, but he recognizes his unworthiness.  

As disciples of Jesus, we recognize that we are indeed unworthy servants.  However, God has found enough worth in us to redeem us with the blood of His Son.  As his servants we should not seek to make ourselves worthy and be recognized as such, but rather, we can enjoy that worthiness that comes from God.  A worth that Jesus earned for us, and we didn’t earn. Our ability to recognize our own unworthiness shows a sense of humility before God.  

Tom