Irmela

1. What does the Scripture tell us about this man? What do we know about him from his words, his manner, and his actions? From the passages we find a very wealthy, devout young man (that would possibly be below 40). We are told he kept the law. He was earnest and sincere with his appeal. (He did not try to trap Jesus with his question). He was a ruler. He was very likely looked up to in society. He could have been proud by his achievement. Yet he proved to be humble. He believed as the Pharisees did, in life after death. He fervently kept the law, as they did, but he was desperate to learn what he could do to inherit eternal life. The Pharisees believed that keeping the law gave you eternal life. This young man did not seem to believe that. He wanted to know what ELSE he had to DO. From his actions we know he was humble and desparate. He ran to Jesus and fell at His feet. (He, who was clad in the clothes of the rich, KNELT in the dusty road) He referred to Jesus as GOOD. Could he possibly have wanted to believe that Jesus was in fact the Messiah. Was he toying with that idea? When Jesus said "sell all you have and give it to the poor, and come follow me", the young man's actions show that he indeed had another god (idol) in his life. He was grieved and sorrowful about this instruction from Jesus, and walked away.

7. In what way does Jesus' teaching here offer hope to us who read it today? We too can come to Him in whichever state we are in. He will not turn us away.

6.Children have lots of endearing (and not so endearing) characteristics. Which characteristics of children is Jesus pointing to in this context that he wants would-be disciples to emulate? That innocent trust that they will be helped. What they are being told is real. Just believing without question. Openly welcoming and excitable. This is how we too ought to be. Not "know it all's" but in humility accepting His teaching and guidance. Be eager to learn.

5. What point is Jesus making by inviting the children to come freely? How does Jesus follow up on his action? Jesus is pointing out that children are welcome to come. There is no one that is not welcome. No one is too inferior. Everyone is welcome to come. Jesus stops whatever he was busy with and now centres on the children. I am sure he hugged and blessed one and all. The passage says he called the parents and told them to bring the children and not to hinder them from coming. Then He points out an important characteristic, viz., that the child accepts, receives and welcomes the Kingdom of God eagerly and without questioning. That is how we are to accept His teaching too.

4. Why did Jesus interrupt his teaching to call all the children in the crowd to him at this point? In what sense is this a "teachable moment"? (18:16) Jesus called the children at this time to confirm a point to all present and all reading this passage, that everyone is important in God's sight. There is time for even those considered unimportant to society, to receive a blessing. Jesus is teaching us that we are to welcome children and not look down on them. Children come as they are. They do not first check if they are clean or not (be that taken figuratively or spiritually). We too are to come as we are and accept people as they are.

3. Why did the disciples rebuke the parents? What was the disciples' view of the children's importance? How did they see their actions as serving Jesus' interests? (18:15b) They felt they needed to keep interruption away from Jesus. His schedule was busy enough with all the sick people that wanted healing and then there was the teaching that Jesus was doing as well. Now the parents were coming with 'unimportant subjects' (as children were viewed to be) and expected to cut into Jesus' busy schedule. The disciples felt they were being thwarted in their trying to control the crowds. The parents job was to control the children. This they felt was serving Jesus.

2. Why would parents want to bring their babies and little children to Jesus? (18:15a) Children are generally very important to parents. We want the best for them. Automatically a blessing would be sought for them also, when someone else's child is blessed. When the first child was bold enough to come close to Jesus and received a blessing and was not ignored, the automatic reaction was to encourage the others to go forward also. Jesus received them with 'open arms' and blessed them. In fact encouraged them to come.

1. What is the point of the parable that precedes the incident of Jesus and the Little Children? Why is that important to the interpretation of this passage? (18:9-14) The parable preceding this one was of the proud or self-righteous Pharisee, who prayed in the temple to God about himself and the guilt-ridden tax-collector who in humility sought God's mercy and forgiveness. (and found it) The point brought across was that everyone who exalts himself will be humbled and he who humbles himself will be exalted. In this passage we find parents' bringing little children to Christ, seeking Him to bless them. In general children in those times were seen as unimportant and were ignored. But Jesus bade them come to Him. He did not turn them away but uplifted their status. He exalted them.

5. In what way (if any) does looking down on a sinner constitute a sin? If we look down on somebody, that means we think or make as if we are better than what they are, meanwhile it is, there but for the grace of God, go I. It is pride that has reared its ugly head and that is sin. Does forgiveness from this sin require humbling? What kind of humbling is appropriate? We do need to humble ourselves before God and ask Him to help us. Alone we cannot attain this. We need Him to help us to love unconditionally. He alone can help us accept that we are all the same, sinners in need of forgiveness. If Jesus were in the confessional speaking to you about this, what penance should he prescribe for your sin? Jesus has paid the price. He forgives and says, Go sin no more.

4. In what way can the forgiveness of gross sin feel like a threat to the righteous person? If the so called righteous person is confident in himself to have attained this lifestyle on his own merits, i.e., he worked for it {although we do read that our righteousness is as filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6)} then I guess this forgiveness of sin, without any works can be looked on jelously by this person. Righteous living does not forgive sin. We are forgiven because Christ paid the price. How can the righteous person avoid feeling threatened? If the so called righteous person is not confident in himself to live this righteous life or prideful because of it, then I don't think the forgiveness of gross sin will pose a threat but will rather prove joyous to him, for he too experienced that forgiveness. Should Christians consider themselves righteous persons? Is this consistent with humility? It is only because of forgiveness freely given that we are justified before God. It has nothing to do with what we have done. It is when pride comes into the right living that it is in fact no more a righteous life. Right living with humility (knowing it is not our own doing) before God is what is needed.

3. What did the Pharisee's prayer consist of? What does that tell us about him? (18:11-12) What did the tax collector's prayer consist of? What do his prayer and his body language tell us about him? (18:13). The Pharisee took his place in such a way that he would be seen by others. His prayer was to God but about himself. First he thanked God for what/who he was not. All very definately evil types. Including in the end also that he was not working for the enemies, the Romans, as a tax collector. Then it concludes by reminding God that he does not neglect tithing. It tells us that he was a morally good man and also very pious. But unfortunately also one who was very proud of himself and looked down on others. (It almost cancels out the good). The Tax-collector also prays to God but he calls himself a sinner and pleads for mercy. For him to be bold enough to come to stand where he did, shows he was clearly sorry for his way of life, he was repentant and desired his relationship with God to be restored. He stood at a distance, with his eyes cast down. Beating his breast. He was not trying to draw attention to himself or to who he was. It shows he felt his guilt. He genuinely came to request God for forgiveness? One can sense his humility and guilt in his actions.

2. In what ways do twenty-first century Christians look down on others? Who are the people we look down on? How does this grieve Jesus' heart? How does it injure the cause of Jesus' church? We easily ignore those people, either by making as if they don't exist or by shunning them when we do happen to come across them. People that are looked down on are punk rockers, people with body piercings and weird clothing, pregnant teenagers or unmarried women who are pregnant, divorced men or women, gamblers and junkies, emigrants and illegal foreigners, those of a different religion, big families (more than four children), poor people, homeless people (who have a strange odor about them), people easily mistrusted because they are known to steal (they generally have a furtive look about them), etc. Jesus died for us all and loves us all. I bet it grieves Him. Just as it does us if one that we love is different and not accepted in society. The people looked down on do not easily seek for help from the "church" because of this fact. They do not trust them either and also look down on them again. (vicious circle)

1. What makes us confident in our own righteousness? (18:9) Have you ever known anyone like this? Been this way yourself? What causes it? What are the symptoms? Righteous living is : When we try to or do observe a set of rules which have high moral standards; Genuinely are careful to be sincere and live God-fearing lives and obey God as we understand His laws; When we are not part of the worldly "class"; When we seem to be in the world but not part of the world. As soon as the above lifestyle is trusted in to save us and justify us before God, then we are trusting in our own righteousness. That is when we become like that Pharisee. Pride causes us to think like that. As soon as we look down on others or think ourselves to be better than they are.

7. What is this parable saying to you personally? What disciple-lesson are you taking away from this? Keep on, don't give up. Don't give in to discouragement and despair. Keep on praying. God's will and plan are being fulfilled in His time.

6. Do YOU think Jesus will find faith on the earth when he returns? Why or why not? Yes, I hope so. 0There is always somehow, somewhere a remnant. In Him our labor is not in vain. We need to keep on, keeping on. Hand over all. Surrender to His will and His time.

5. How can we believe in swift justice from God when he hasn't brought it yet? God's timing is not our timing. BUT God's timing is the best timing. God sees the big (whole) picture. God is patient. If we keep in mind, with Him a day is like a thousand years and a thousand years is but a day. In Roman's 11:33 we read O the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unfathomable (inscrutable, unsearchable) are His judgements - His decisions! And how untraceable (mysterious, undiscoverable) are His ways - His methods, His paths! Also remember God is a loving God and doesn't want any to perish but everyone to come to repentance.

4. What kinds of things can happen that cause us to lose hope, and lose any heart to pray consistent and believing prayers? How can we get out of these "pits"? Being in a situation that you cannot turn around or be of help in anyway, where it involves a loved one who is hurting and you cannot do anything to make it better or help the person. You can eventually end up in such a state that you find yourself being alone day after day and even in a crowd, you are still alone, that to me is the pits. You just see dark all around you. No way out. No help. Such a heaviness on you. If you are not careful you end up being depressed. (Then come suicidal thoughts) It is by reading the Word and prayer in spite of the seeming no answer and even if you fail by trying to be of help. Go on and don't give up. Give it all to Jesus. Again the Word says to "Cast our cares upon Jesus." Don't carry them. That is Jesus' work.

3. What is the stated purpose why Jesus told this parable? (18:1) The parable comes after a teaching on the coming of the Son of Man. It is an exhortation to always pray and not give up. To pray again and again and again.

2. Describe the widow. What makes her tick? Why do you think she is so persistent? (18:3) The widow had a very real adversary and it was worth her while to seek protection and defence from him and also to seek for justice to be done. She needed protection from him. He could have been physically or emotionally abusing her. She wanted justice to be meted out. Here too it could have been that she was not given her due and she was being driven out from what she and her husband had accrued in his lifetime or in the time they were married. It could be that she was wanting fairness and was fighting for the inheritance of her children. She is probably so persistent because if she loses she will be out on the streets and have no home. It was definitely in her interest to be persistent. Reading it again now, after some background information, one can almost detect fear in her desperation for help. What an encouragement to know that we can cling to God's promise that He will be Judge and Protector of the widows Ps 68:5; He makes secure the boundaries of the consecrated widows Proverbs 15:25; etc. In other words we are under God's protection.

1. Describe the judge in this parable. What do we know about his motivations? (18:2, 4-5) The judge in this parable was full of himself. He was not a God-fearing man nor was he a man-pleaser. He showed respect for neither God nor man. He also did not care for the poor and the oppressed. The widow finding herself under the latter group surely seemed to have no hope that she would get protection and have justice done on her behalf. The reason he finally gave in to her persistent appeals, was to get rid of her as she was being a hassle and was proving to be a threat and was harming his reputation by her behviour.

6. What does Jesus' parable of the gathering vultures teach us about his location when he comes? (17:37) As the vultures are seen from far, so will Jesus' presence be seen from a distance. So it is not necessary to pinpoint to a location.

5. Jesus tells of people in close physical proximity to each other, and warns that one will be taken and the other left. What does this teach us about the nature of Jesus' coming? Where will they be taken? What happens to those who are left? (17:34-35) Jesus' coming will be sudden. It is each one that must be ready. I cannot cling to the next one and pull them with me or vice versa. Each individual has to be ready themselves.. Those ready will be taken to be with Christ. Those left will be doomed for all eternity. I can only cry LORD OPEN THEIR EYES AND EARS. AND SOFTEN THEIR HEARTS.

4. What does "trying to keep one's life" have to do with turning to get one's possessions? What is the paradox here that trying to save one's life results in losing it? Explain. (17:31-33) On that day earthly possessions will not help us at all (staying in the house as if you will be safe there) If that is what our lives are entwined around we will lose our lives BUT if we lose our lives and they are actually free and cling to Jesus, then we will save our lives for all eternity.

3.Jesus warns those on the roof or in the field not to go back to get their possessions. Why? What does this have to do with Lot's wife? (17:31-32) There will be no time or sense to collect earthly possessions. It will not be like a normal disaster where you start again after everything is over (be it flood, earthquake, whirlwind, tzunami etc.) Your possessions will not be of any use then. (Earthly possessions must not be your treasure, as mentioned in Lk 12: 21. Your treasure must be in Heaven Lk 12 : 33 & 34) Your possessions will be a snare to you if you are 'bound' to them. You need to be ready for the Lord's return. Lot's wife was bound by her earthly possessions. She turned back to look and disaster overcame her. She could have escaped the disaster had she obediantly not looked back.

2. At his coming is Jesus going to bring peace or punishment? In these passages we read that life will be, pretty much, as we are used to it. Some will be ready and for them there will be "peace". For those who are not ready there will certainly be no peace. Terrible destruction and punishment awaits them. Hanks reply says it all.