Luke 12:48(b): “….For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.”
In citing the last part of Luke 12:48 from the Parable of the Unfaithful Servant at the National Prayer Breakfast on February 2nd, President Obama completely perverted its true meaning. The President would like us to think that Luke 12:48 is talking about him taxing the rich until they are poor.
OBAMA: “I think to myself, if I’m willing to give something up as somebody who’s been extraordinarily blessed, and give up some of the tax breaks that I enjoy, I actually think that’s going to make economic sense. But for me, as a Christian, it also coincides with Jesus’s teaching that ‘for unto whom much is given, much shall be required.' ”
Why does POTUS feel that he has to give up some of his tax breaks to help others who are not so blessed? The “much” that is given to the servant in the Parable of the Unfaithful Servant refers to the servant's understanding of his lord’s will. He was responsible for what he "knew" because it was given to him. Verse 47 reveals the true context of the passage:
OBAMA: “I think to myself, if I’m willing to give something up as somebody who’s been extraordinarily blessed, and give up some of the tax breaks that I enjoy, I actually think that’s going to make economic sense. But for me, as a Christian, it also coincides with Jesus’s teaching that ‘for unto whom much is given, much shall be required.' ”
Why does POTUS feel that he has to give up some of his tax breaks to help others who are not so blessed? The “much” that is given to the servant in the Parable of the Unfaithful Servant refers to the servant's understanding of his lord’s will. He was responsible for what he "knew" because it was given to him. Verse 47 reveals the true context of the passage:
Luke 12:47 And that servant, which knew his lord’s will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.
48 But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.
The commentators and bloggers I have heard and read on this topic have completely missed the mark in their responses. Governor Mike Huckabee, an ordained Baptist minister, responded to the President’s Prayer Breakfast remarks by citing Luke 20:25. In the passage, Jesus responded to a question from the chief priests and scribes.
Lu 20:22 Is it lawful for us to give tribute unto Caesar, or no?
23 But he perceived their craftiness, and said unto them, Why tempt ye me?
24 Shew me a penny. Whose image and superscription hath it? They answered and said, Caesar’s.
25 And he said unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which be Caesar’s, and unto God the things which be God’s.
Governor Huckabee's response not only missed the mark; it can also be used to bolster the President’s warped message. ‘What is Caesars?’ becomes the next question if we cite Luke 20:25 as our response. A more powerful response in defense of the free market system is Matthew 20:15, from the parable of the Laborers in the Vineyard. Although Jesus’ teaching was spiritual, and not concerned with the world’s economic systems, His parables (earthly stories conveying spiritual truths) naturally reveal the realities of everyday life. The parable of the Laborers in the Vineyard shows us how the laborers hired by the Goodman of the house early in the day complained about the penny they agreed on for their wages. They didn’t feel it was right for the laborers who were hired in the eleventh hour to receive the same penny they received. Matthew 20:15 records the Goodman’s response:
Mt. 20:13 But he answered one of them, and said, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a penny?
14 Take that thine is, and go thy way: I will give unto this last, even as unto thee.
15 Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good?
Moreover, faith-based giving, not redistribution of wealth, is taught in Luke 6:45.
Lu 6:45 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.
The President noted that, as a Christian, his faith mandates him to care for the poor. That’s really great. However, Barak Hussein Obama’s faith as a Christian, or anything else, does not mandate him to rob Americans of their God-given right to bring forth good out of the abundance of their hearts. Free enterprise is not only fair and “good”. It’s also biblically sound.
"A society that puts equality... ahead of freedom will end up with neither equality nor freedom." - Milton Friedman
"A society that puts equality... ahead of freedom will end up with neither equality nor freedom." - Milton Friedman
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