Faithfulness and the Law †

On Faithfulness in What is Least

Luke 16:10-12 *

10 “Whoever is faithful in a very little is faithful also in much; and whoever is dishonest in a very little is dishonest also in much. 11 If then you have not been faithful with the dishonest wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches? 12 And if you have not been faithful with what belongs to another, who will give you what is your own?

On Serving two Masters

Matthew 6:24

Luke 16:13 *

24 "No one can serve two masters; for a slave will either hate the one and love the other, or be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.

13 No slave can serve two masters; for a slave will either hate the one and love the other, or be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.”

The Pharisees Reproved

Luke 16:14-15 *

14 The Pharisees, who were lovers of money, heard all this, and they ridiculed him. 15 So he said to them, “You are those who justify yourselves in the sight of others; but God knows your hearts; for what is prized by human beings is an abomination in the sight of God.

Concerning the Law

Matthew 11:12-13; 5:18 *

Luke 16:16-17 *

11:12 From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force. 13 For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John came;

5:18 For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not one letter, not one stroke of a letter, will pass from the law until all is accomplished.

16 “The law and the prophets were in effect until John came; since then the good news of the kingdom of God is proclaimed, and everyone tries to enter it by force.

17 But it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away, than for one stroke of a letter in the law to be dropped.

Concerning Divorce

Matthew 19:9; 5:32 *

Mark 10:11-12 *

Luke 16:18 *

19:9 And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for unchastity, and marries another commits adultery."

32 But I say to you that anyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of unchastity, causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.

11 He said to them, "Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her; 12 and if she divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery."

18 “Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery, and whoever marries a woman divorced from her husband commits adultery.

† Cf. Kurt Aland, ed., Synopsis of the Four Gospels, rev. printing, 1985, secs. 223-227, pp. 197-198.

* NRSV