Hi Michelle,
Re: Jesus used the fraudster as an example for believers to follow in earning heavenly rewards.
<<considering that Jesus was talking about failure NOT victory, and unrighteous mammon NOT true "riches", isn't it in keeping with the general thrust of scripture that Jesus was referencing the everlasting habitation called hell?(luke 16:1-9)>>
Actually Hades is not an everlasting habitation for anyone. It will be emptied of people and then destroyed...along with death. (Rev 20:13,14)
<<since other scriptures spoken by Jesus reference a place of burning torment,(luke 16:24) how can one ignore these scriptural motifs (contained in the words and lessons OF Jesus Christ) without first assuming that something other than what IS stated is the truth?...>>
You must be looking at both the commending of a fraudster story and the account of Lazarus and the rich man as historical narration, rather than "satire". If we look at the literary form as historical narration, then we might wonder why Jesus told these stories...especially the latter, because, except for a twist at the end, the Pharisees told virtually the same story repeatedly to keep the poor in their place.
Why do you think Jesus told these two stories?
Really Jesus told 5 stories consecutively to a mixed audience consisting of his disciples, various respected religious leaders, as well as publicans and sinners. (Luke 15:1) The first 3 parables, the lost sheep, the lost coin and the lost/prodigal son, were definitely stories designed to provide comfort for the oppressed common people in the audience who needed to hear that God was seeking them and rejoicing over their movement toward repentance. The remaining 2 stories on the other hand, did not bring comfort to anybody. Who do you think they were designed to bring discomfort to? If you say the Pharisees; why should these 2 account bring discomfort to them? How do they (the Pharisees) fit into these narrations?
Vander
