Bailey's Fool

Part 6 (ii)- The Parable of the Rich Fool






Bailey's no fool.
Not sure he gets this parable though.
Not sure he gets the premise either.

A man cries out from the crowd, "Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me".

Bailey thinks the older(?) brother was refusing to let a division happen.

Perhaps the older brother was just being prudent. Waiting till the crop was off.
Perhaps the younger brother was just being impatient. Couldn't wait for a better price.
Perhaps the younger brother was just being lazy. Not wanting to work the harvest.
Perhaps the younger brother was trying to negotiate a sweeter deal with his brother.
Perhaps the younger brother was wanting an equal share with his brother- contrary to Deut. 21:16.
Perhaps he was not even a brother. Just a gold digger.

Seems to be way too many perhaps- when you are looking way too deep.

And Jesus refused to be an earthly judge for this man.
Refused to "arbitrate" a settlement for Him.
Cautioned this man against "greed". Suggested that this man already had plenty of wealth.
That it'll all come out in the wash. That he ought to focus on being washed.
That the division thing doesn't really matter here- not nearly as much as the addition thing.
That blessed inheritance is not the concern here. That blessed assurance is the concern.
That his inheritance is not his treasure. That "richness toward God" ought to be his treasure (Luke 12:21).

Or... as Bailey thinks, does Jesus summon this man (307), "to consider economic justice from the perspective of who really owns all of it"? To consider his responsibility as a steward of his, 'material possessions and days of his life'? And warn him of his, "innate insatiable desire for more"?

I'm having a hard time finding that in the passage.
Perhaps I'm not looking hard enough.

Is it as Bailey thinks-a wrongful desire for more?
Or is it as I think -a desire for the wrong thing?

Don't wanna get fooled on this one.
You see, I've been fooled before.

Fool me once, shame on you.
Fool me twice, shame on me.