Hello.
Welcome to my Bible readings.
In this sleep series,
I will be looking at the gospel according to Luke.
In much of the classic literature I read,
There are references to the Bible and religious teachings.
If we wish to educate ourselves fully in a literary capacity,
It makes sense that we should dive into this for reference.
And so here we are.
It is time for sleep.
Close your eyes and take a deep breath in through your nose.
That's it.
Then let it out on a long sigh.
This is your time and your space.
A time where you can relax,
Safe in the knowledge there is nothing to do and nowhere to go.
Happy listening.
Chapter 16.
The Shrewd Manager.
Jesus said to his disciples,
There was once a rich man who had a servant who managed his property.
The rich man was told the manager was wasting his master's money so he called him in and said,
What is this I hear?
Hand in a complete account of your handling of my property because you cannot be my manager anymore.
The servant said to himself,
My master is going to dismiss me from my job.
What shall I do?
I'm not strong enough to dig ditches and I'm ashamed to beg.
Now I know what I'll do.
When my job's done,
I'll have friends who welcome me into their homes.
So he called in all the people who were in debt to his master and asked the first one,
How much do you owe my master?
One hundred barrels of olive oil,
The man answered.
Here is your account,
The manager told him,
Sit down and write fifty.
And you,
How much do you owe,
He asked another.
A thousand sacks of wheat,
The man answered.
Here is your account,
The manager told him,
Write eight hundred.
And as a result,
The master of this dishonest manager praised him for doing such a shrewd thing.
Because the people of this world are much more shrewd in handling their affairs than the people who belong to the light.
Jesus went on to say,
And so I tell you,
Make friends for yourselves with worldly wealth.
So that when it gives out,
You will be welcomed in the eternal home.
Whoever is faithful in small matters will be faithful in large ones.
Whoever is dishonest in small matters will be dishonest in large ones.
If then you have not been faithful in handling worldly wealth,
How can you be trusted with true wealth?
And if you have not been faithful with what belongs to someone else,
Who will give you what belongs to you?
No servant can be the slave of two masters.
Such a servant will hate one and love the other,
Or will be loyal to one and despise the other.
You cannot serve both God and money.
When the Pharisees heard all this,
They sneered at Jesus because they loved money.
And Jesus said to them,
You are the ones who make yourself look right in other people's sight.
But God knows your hearts.
The things that are considered of great value by human beings are worth nothing in God's sight.
The law of Moses and the writings of the prophets were in effect up to the time of John the Baptist.
Since then,
The good news about the kingdom of God is being told and everyone forces their way in.
But it's easier for heaven and earth to disappear than for the smallest detail of the law to be done away with.
There was once a rich man who dressed in the most expensive clothes and lived in great luxury every day.
There was also a poor man named Lazarus,
Covered with sores who used to be brought to the rich man's door,
Hoping to eat the bits of food that fell from his table.
Even the dogs would come and lick his sores.
The poor man eventually died and was carried by the angels to sit beside Abraham at the feast in heaven.
The rich man died and was buried in Hades where he was in great pain.
He looked up and saw Abraham far away with Lazarus at his side.
So he called out,
Father Abraham,
Take pity on me and send Lazarus to dip his finger in some water and cool my tongue because I'm in great pain in this fire.
But Abraham said,
Remember my son,
In your lifetime you were given all the good things while Lazarus got all the bad.
But now he is enjoying himself here while you are in pain.
There is a deep pit lying between us so that those who want to cross over from here to you cannot do so,
Nor can anyone cross over from where you are.
Then I beg you,
Father Abraham,
Said the rich man,
Send Lazarus to my father's house where I have five brothers.
Let him go and warn them so they at least will not come to this place of pain.
And Abraham said,
Your brothers have Moses and the prophets to warn them.
Your brothers should listen to what they say.
This is not enough,
Father,
Said the rich man.
If someone were to rise from death and go to them,
They would turn from their sins,
Wouldn't they?
But Abraham said,
If they will not listen to Moses and the prophets,
They will not be convinced even if someone were to rise from death.
Chapter 15 Sin Jesus said to his disciples,
Things that make people fall into a sin are bound to happen,
But how terrible for the one who makes them happen!
It would be better for him if a large millstone were tied round his neck and he were thrown into the sea than for him to cause one of these little ones to sin.
So watch what you do.
If your brother sins,
Rebuke him,
And if he repents,
Forgive him.
If he sins against you seven times in one day,
And each time he comes to you saying,
I repent,
You must forgive him.
Faith The apostles said to the Lord,
Make our faith greater.
And the Lord answered,
If you had faith as big as a mustard seed,
You could say to this mulberry tree,
Pull yourself up by the roots and plant yourself in the sea,
And it would obey you.
A servant's duty Suppose one of you has a servant who is ploughing or looking after the sheep.
When he comes in from the field,
Do you tell him to hurry up and eat his meal?
Of course you do not.
Instead you say,
Get my supper ready and put on your apron and wait for me while I eat and drink,
And after that you may have your meal.
The servant does not deserve thanks for obeying orders,
Does he?
It is the same with you.
When you have done all you have been told to do,
Then say,
We are ordinary servants,
We have only done our duty.
Jesus heals ten men As Jesus made his way to Jerusalem,
He went along the border between Samaria and Galilee.
He was going into a village when he was met by ten men.
They were suffering from a dreaded skin disease.
They stood at a distance and shouted,
Jesus,
Master,
Take pity on us.
Go and let the priests examine you,
Said Jesus,
As he saw them.
On the way,
They were made clean.
And when one of them saw he was healed,
He came back,
Praising God in a loud voice,
And threw himself to the ground at Jesus' feet.
The man was a Samaritan.
There were ten men who were healed,
Where were the other nine?
Said Jesus.
Why is this foreigner the only one who came back to say thank you?
Get up and go now,
He said,
Your faith has made you well.
