This follows the parable of the dishonest manager where we learned to use our physical resources well. And then those who do use it well will be entrusted with more. The next list of condemnations feel random and overwhelming.

Mammon- wealth, riches, titles, positions, privileges…anything we depend on in this earthly life.

Jesus says two positive things about money in a row and Jesus knows our inclination as humans to go to extremes and pulls out a counter balance.

“If people are poor stewards of money, they will hardly be entrusted with spiritual riches which are more valuable and important.” -Marshall, NBC

If you are struggling with a stunted spiritual life and you feel stagnant, check your generosity (time, talent, and treasures). You cannot buy God’s blessing. It is not a one to one transaction.

The Pharisees are standing off to the side ridiculing Jesus and he calls them out. On the surface the Pharisees weren’t lovers of money; the Sadducees were. The Pharisees had a veneer of humility and simplicity, but internally were owned by love of money. You don’t have to have something to be obsessed with it.

“The law and prophets” was Jewish shorthand for all of the scriptures up to that time. Up to that point the law and prophets served as the final word from God, but Jesus says, “now I am God’s final word.” Jesus taps into the thought that the law and prophets would lead up to the coming of the Messiah and he says that time is now. He says that doesn’t mean the law and prophets are going away. They still uphold what Jesus came to reveal. The law is upheld and clarified by Jesus.

“The law and prophets look on in approval, even though they couldn’t do it themselves.” -NT Wright

Vs 18 Jesus isn’t being heartless or picking a topic to beat us over the head. He just said don’t think the law and prophets aren’t to be thrown out. He points to a very real way that the Pharisees were already ignoring parts of the law. Divorce in that culture was super lopsided and unfair to women. Men could initiate divorce for any reason while women could only initiate divorce for two very specific reason. Women were being abused and abandoned by men. He tells the men they are adulterous and frivolous and using the Mishna as a rational. Jesus was protecting women. Marriage is a reflection of the covenant between God and his church. We need to take it seriously and image it well to the world. Jesus is saying the law goes way beyond how we have understood it and he brings balance to it.