ACC ~ Luke 16 v14 - 18

OVERVIEW:

The Pharisees are called “lovers of money” because they demonstrate in their use of possessions their opposition to God’s will. As lovers of money, the Pharisees show themselves to be hypocrites, which is manifested when the Pharisees “declare [themselves] righteous before men” and are more interested in pleasing men than pleasing God. The Law and Prophets proclaimed Jesus’ death and resurrection, and the kingdom of God that is now preached includes justification by faith, baptism, worship in the Spirit, and communion of saints (CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA). Jesus’ baptism by John ended the law and John’s baptism by bearing the justice of the Old Testament as sinbearer (EPHREM THE SYRIAN). With John, the old is invalidated at the same time that the new receives its validation (TERTULLIAN).

To enter the kingdom by force is to desire its hope with earnest passion (CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA). Jesus’ statement on divorce and adultery seems to be unparalleled in the Old Testament; he includes no exceptions here in Luke, [1] for everyone who divorces and then remarries commits adultery. This is even true for those who divorce because of immorality (AUGUSTINE).

In the light of our understanding of the law as Torah or gospel, Jesus’ words about marriage, divorce and adultery must be understood in the context of the Old Testament metaphor of God’s relationship to Israel as a bridegroom to his bride. Israel, as bride, commits adultery when she chases after false gods, just as the church is now led away from the truth by persecution or by worldly pleasures and philosophies (AMBROSE).

[1] Cf. Mt 5:32.

16:14 | The Pharisees Love Money

LOVERS OF MONEY WILL NOT POSSESS THE PURSE THAT CANNOT BE TAKEN AWAY

CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA: Being lovers of money, they repeatedly did not judge matters before them according to what was agreeable to the laws of God. On the contrary, they judged inequitably and in opposition to God’s will… .

Since it says that the Pharisees were lovers of money, they derided Jesus for directing them by his healthful doctrines to praiseworthy conduct and making them want saintly glories. He tells them that it was their duty to sell their possessions and distribute them to the poor. They would then possess in heaven a treasure that could not be stolen, purses that could not be harmed, and wealth that would not have to be abandoned. COMMENTARY ON LUKE, HOMILY 110. [1]

[1] CGSL 446-47**.

16:15 | The Way of the Pharisees

THE PHARISEES ARE LIARS AMONG THE ALTARS

CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA: Let us see the cause of their wickedness. The passion of greed possessed and tyrannized their heart. Their mind was in subjection even against its will. It was humbled under the power of wickedness and bound as it were by inevitable bonds. …

The Savior of all spoke many things to them but saw that they would not change from their crafty purposes and passions. They preferred rather to abide in their innate folly. He began to correct them sternly, calling them by the very occasion. He shows that they are hypocrites and liars in wait among the altars. They are eager for the glory due to righteous and good people, but in reality, they are not like these. They are not eager to receive the approval of God. COMMENTARY ON LUKE, HOMILY 110. [1]

[1] CGSL 447-48**.

16:16-17 | Teaching About the Law and the Prophets and the Kingdom of God

THE GOOD NEWS OF GOD’S KINGDOM IS OPENED THROUGH THE VIOLENCE OF CHRIST’S DEATH AND RESURRECTION

CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA: He says that Moses and the company of the holy prophets announced beforehand the meaning of my mystery to the inhabitants of earth. The law declares by shadows and types that I should even endure the death of the flesh to save the world and by rising from the dead abolish corruption. The prophets also spoke words meaning the same as the writings of Moses. He says, “It is not strange or not known before, that you reject my words and despise everything that would benefit you. The word of prophecy concerning you and me extends until the holy Baptist John. From the days of John, the kingdom of heaven is preached, and everyone takes it by force.” [1] The kingdom of heaven here means justification by faith, the washing away of sin by holy baptism, and sanctification by the Spirit. It also means worshiping in the Spirit, the service that is superior to shadows and types, the honor of the adoption of children, and the hope of the glory about to be given to the saints. COMMENTARY ON LUKE, HOMILY 110. [2]

[1] Mt 11:12.

[2] CGSL 448**.

JESUS’ BAPTISM BY JOHN

EPHREM THE SYRIAN: The Law and the Prophets reached as far as John did, but the Messiah is the beginning of the New Testament. Through baptism, the Lord assumed the justice of the Old Testament in order to receive the perfection of the anointing and to give it in its fullness and entirety to his disciples. He ended John’s baptism and the law at the same time. He was baptized in justice, because he was sinless, but he baptized in grace because all others were sinners. Through his justice, he dispensed from the law, and through his baptism, he abolished baptism [of John]. COMMENTARY ON TATIAN’S DIATESSARON 4.2. [1]

[1] ECTD 84*.

OLD THINGS PASS AWAY

TERTULLIAN: The Creator promised that old things would pass away because he said that new things were to arise. Christ marked the date of that passing, saying, “The law and the prophets were until John.” He set up John as a boundary stone between the one order and the other, of old things thereafter coming to an end, and new things beginning. The apostle necessarily, in Christ revealed after John, also invalidates the old things while validating the new. His concern is for the faith of no other god than the Creator under whose authority it was even prophesied that the old things were to pass away. AGAINST MARCION 5.2. [1]

[1] MFC 9:39-40*.

TO TAKE THE KINGDOM BY FORCE

CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA: He says that the kingdom of heaven is preached. The Baptist stood in the middle saying, “Prepare the way of the Lord.” [1] He has also shown that he is already near and, as it were, within the doors, even the true Lamb of God who bears the sin of the world. Whoever hears and loves the sacred message takes it by force. This means that he uses all his eagerness and strength in his desire to enter within the hope. He says in another place, “The kingdom of heaven is taken by violence, and the violent seize upon it.” [2] COMMENTARY ON LUKE, HOMILY 110. [3]

[1] Lk 3:4.

[2] Mt 11:12.

[3] CGSL 448**.

16:18 | How Words of Torah Stand in the Kingdom of God

IMMORALITY IS NOT A CONDITION FOR DIVORCE

AUGUSTINE: Who are we to say that someone commits adultery in taking another woman after he puts away his wife, and that another who, in doing this, does not commit adultery? The Gospel says that everyone who performs such an act commits adultery. If everyone who marries another woman after the dismissal of his wife commits adultery, this includes the one who puts away his wife without the cause of immorality and the one who puts away his wife for this reason. ADULTEROUS MARRIAGES 9. [1]

[1] FC 27:73**.

MARRIAGE REFLECTS THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CHRIST AND HIS CHASTE AND LOVING CHURCH

AMBROSE: He had above proposed that the kingdom of God should be preached. When he had said that one tittle cannot fall from the law, he added, “Everyone who puts away his wife, and marries another, commits adultery.” The apostle rightly admonishes, saying that this is a great sacrament concerning Christ and the church. [1] You find a marriage that doubtlessly was joined by God, when he himself says, “No man comes to me, unless my Father who sent me has drawn him.” [2] He alone could join this marriage. Solomon mystically said, “A wife will be prepared for a man by God.” [3] The man is Christ, and the wife is the church that is a wife in love and a virgin in innocence. Do not let him whom God has drawn to the Son be separated by persecution, [4] distracted by extravagance, ravaged by philosophy, tainted by Manichaeus, perverted by Arius, or infected by Sabellius. [5] God has joined; let not a Jew separate. All who desire to defile the truth of faith and wisdom are adulterers. … Come, Lord Jesus, to find your bride not tainted or polluted. She has not defiled your house or disregarded your commandments. Let her say to you, “I found him whom my soul loved.” [6] Let her lead you into the house of wine. Wine makes glad the heart of man. [7] Let the Spirit saturate her. Let her recognize the mystery and speak the prophecy. [8] EXPOSITION OF THE GOSPEL OF LUKE 8.9-12. [9]

[1] See Eph 5:32.

[2] Jn 6:44.

[3] Prov 19:14.

[4] See Rom 8:35.

[5] These were the names of infamous heretics from the early church; cf. Col 2:8.

[6] Song 3:4.

[7] Ps 104:15 (103:15 LXX); Song 5:1.

[8] See Joel 2:28-29.

[9] EHG 333-35**.