And one of the company said unto him, Master, speak to my brother, that he divide the inheritance with me.
One of the company interrupted to ask for the use of authoritative power to compel his brother to divide the inheritance and to secure what he claimed as his own share. Under the law given through Moses the eldest son received a double portion while the younger sons shared alike, and this man believed his brother had cheated and defrauded him. His own efforts to obtain redress had failed, and because he supposed his brother would not do him justice he hoped the authority of Christ would secure his due.
Though he had witnessed the works of Christ and heard His teaching, and admired His judgment, he fixed upon material gain instead of responding to the opportunity set before him. His request sought the power of Christ for worldly advantage, showing that temporal possessions absorbed his heart while spiritual truth had not taken hold. He overlooked the imperishable, incorruptible, enduring inheritance God was offering and that the Holy Spirit was urging him to desire, even while Jesus was offering the treasure of divine love. The quarrel between the brothers came from covetousness, showing how desire for wealth can turn inheritance and possessions into objects of selfish concern.
Though Jesus knew what was right in the case, He refused to judge or divide between them. Settling temporal, civil, legal and political property disputes was not His business, and He would not act as a civil magistrate, judge, or divider over property or be drawn into a personal civil dispute. He came for another purpose, to preach the gospel, to save souls, and to awaken men to eternal realities so they would not lose eternity from their reckoning. He stood in the world as Head of the great spiritual kingdom of righteousness He came to establish, teaching its ennobling, sanctifying principles that justice and mercy and love are the controlling powers, and He would not let human greed divert Him from that work into a personal dispute.
His refusal stands as an example that His followers and ministers are not to settle the temporal affairs of the people or turn aside into controversies that divert the mind from God and present truth, but to press on looking to Jesus and persuade souls to be reconciled to God. The teaching connected with the request warns against accumulating riches for selfish ends and calls those who have more than they need to use it to help others and advance the work of God.
One of the company interrupted to ask for the use of authoritative power to compel his brother to divide the inheritance and to secure what he claimed as his own share. Under the law given through Moses the eldest son received a double portion while the younger sons shared alike, and this man believed his brother had cheated and defrauded him. His own efforts to obtain redress had failed, and because he supposed his brother would not do him justice he hoped the authority of Christ would secure his due.
Though he had witnessed the works of Christ and heard His teaching, and admired His judgment, he fixed upon material gain instead of responding to the opportunity set before him. His request sought the power of Christ for worldly advantage, showing that temporal possessions absorbed his heart while spiritual truth had not taken hold. He overlooked the imperishable, incorruptible, enduring inheritance God was offering and that the Holy Spirit was urging him to desire, even while Jesus was offering the treasure of divine love. The quarrel between the brothers came from covetousness, showing how desire for wealth can turn inheritance and possessions into objects of selfish concern.
Though Jesus knew what was right in the case, He refused to judge or divide between them. Settling temporal, civil, legal and political property disputes was not His business, and He would not act as a civil magistrate, judge, or divider over property or be drawn into a personal civil dispute. He came for another purpose, to preach the gospel, to save souls, and to awaken men to eternal realities so they would not lose eternity from their reckoning. He stood in the world as Head of the great spiritual kingdom of righteousness He came to establish, teaching its ennobling, sanctifying principles that justice and mercy and love are the controlling powers, and He would not let human greed divert Him from that work into a personal dispute.
His refusal stands as an example that His followers and ministers are not to settle the temporal affairs of the people or turn aside into controversies that divert the mind from God and present truth, but to press on looking to Jesus and persuade souls to be reconciled to God. The teaching connected with the request warns against accumulating riches for selfish ends and calls those who have more than they need to use it to help others and advance the work of God.