_In this New Testament Bible study we will go through the three processes of Understanding, Application and Communication.
_A. The Process of Understanding
We use the acronym "START" to determine how the original receivers of Luke understood the message.
1. Situation
Verses 13-14 of this parable provide the background of the parable of the Rich Fool.
You
can picture it.... Jesus has been teaching for some time about the
Kingdom. Suddenly, someone in the back calls out and interrupts the
whole group with a question. The man wanted Jesus to straighten out his
legal affairs. It was rude, out of place, it didn't ring true.Jesus
didn't allow himself to be dragged into this dispute but responded with a
parable. He used this situation to minister to the crowd about
possessions and greed. Click here
for more information on the Parable of the Rich Fool.
2. Type of Literature
Luke 12: 15-21 is in Prose form. The form of Prose is Narrative and the genre (type) is Story.
3. Analyze the passage
We have seen that the plot structure is the main thing to determine. The plot structure of Luke 12: 15-21 is Problem – Resolution.
The plot structure is:
Tension - Problem (verses 16-17): The rich man’s harvest is too large for his barn.
Relief of tension - Resolution (verses 18-19): He builds bigger barns.
Result (verses 20-21): God thinks he is a fool.
Message of Luke 12: 15-21
God consider you foolish when you are greedy and when money becomes your significance.
4. Relate the message to the rest of the Bible
In this step we determine whether the findings of the previous steps relate to the rest of the Bible.
The
message of the parable of the Rich Fool relates to the rest of the
Bible (Proverbs 22: 1; Ecclesiastes 5: 10, Matthew 6: 16-34 and 1
Timothy 6). It is very clear that this message is an essential and
therefor applicable to us. There are no references to the triple C's
(Ceremonial - and Civil law as well as Cultural practices).
5. Test your findings
In this step you test your own findings (Biblical interpretation) against those of others.(e.g. commentaries and study Bibles)
The commentaries and study Bibles confirm that the message to the original receivers is:
The message to the original receiver is:
God consider you foolish when you are greedy and when money becomes your significance.
B. The Process of Application
In
this process we determine whether the message to the original receiver
is applicable (essential) or not (incidental) to our situation.
It is very clear that this message is an essential. There are no references to the triple C's (Ceremonial - and Civil law as well as Cultural practices).
C. The Process of Communication
In this process we communicate the message to a specific target group.
Answer the following questions…
1. Jesus talked about money more than anything else except the Kingdom of God. Why? (Page 131 in Hearing God’s Tweet)
2. Count the number of times you find the personal pronouns “i”, ” “me,” “my” in vss. 13-21. What is the significance of this? (Page 142 in Hearing God’s Tweet)
3. The rich man seems like a wise businessman. Where does Jesus fault him? What was the man’s error?
4. Is it more likely for a poor man or a rich man to be greedy? Why did you choose the answer you did?
5. How do we overcome greed? (Page 131 in Hearing God’s Tweet)
