“…They May Receive You Into Everlasting Habitations” (Luke 16:9)
The word “habitation” only occurs six times in the New Testament and is a translation of five different Greek words. In Luke 16:9 the Greek word is ‘skene’ and although this is the only place where it is translated by “habitation”, ‘skene’ is also translated in 19 other places by the word “tabernacles”.
However, these refer to various types of dwelling-places that can be identified by their context. Here are some examples:
1. The booth, which was constructed with leafy branches such as was described for the feast of tabernacles. This was the type in mind when Peter said, “Let us make three tabernacles; one for thee (Jesus) and one for Moses, and one for Elias” (Matt.17:4).
2. The portable building, used for the worship of God in the wilderness. This type is referred to by Paul in Hebrews 9:2; “There was a tabernacle made…” Its details and uses are described in the rest of the chapter.
3. A large tent, used as a dwelling. This is also mentioned by Paul in Hebrews 11:9, “By faith he (Abraham) sojourned in the land of promise…dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise.”
4. A building erected to house an idol. There are a few instances of this type.
“The tabernacle of God is with men”
Although the remarkable phrase ‘everlasting habitations’ only occurs once, there is this passage in Scripture that has similarities and occurs in Revelation 21:3. It reads; “Behold the, tabernacle (skene) of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them and be their God.” In this wonderful verse, much emphasis is placed on God dwelling and being with men. This close association is indeed the very purpose for which God created the human race in the beginning. Although the Creator is referred to here by the simple title ‘God’, there is no doubt that He wants and expects His people to recognise His greatness and majesty. This is evident from the way He reveals Himself in Scripture. For example in Isaiah 40:28-31, we read:-
“Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard that the everlasting God, the LORD (Yahweh), the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? There is no searching of His understanding. He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. …They that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run and not be weary; and they shall walk and not faint.” (v.28-31)
With such a God in mind as we return to further consider verse 3 in Revelation 21, we may well wonder who, exactly, are these ‘men’ with whom God will dwell? Surely they must be the redeemed saints who have been made immortal and are now equal unto the angels, having been accounted worthy to obtain that world and the resurrection (Luke 20:35-36).
It is difficult to imagine the feeling of awe when being and living in the presence of God Almighty and having fellowship with Him whom we have been calling “Our Father in heaven” if we are going to be there. We should have no fear, for Jesus has said, “Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God.” (Matt.5:8)
The use of Mammon
One of the qualifications for this wonderful destiny was stated by our Lord Jesus in the preceding phrases in our quotation with which we started. He said, “And I say unto you, make to yourselves friends of (Greek, out of) the mammon of unrighteousness’. A dictionary definition is ‘wealth regarded as idol or evil influence…’ In our context, Jesus said, “make friends of it.”
To illustrate this point Jesus had just spoken a parable in which a worldly steward had made friends with his lord’s debtors by making substantial reductions to their debts. In the Christadelphian brotherhood friends can be made by those who are able by helping our brothers and sisters who are in real need. In our modern world this usually takes the form of financial assistance. The Apostle Paul made a point of this when instructing Timothy in 1 Timothy 6:17-19. He wrote, “Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not high-minded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, which giveth us richly all things to enjoy; that they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate; laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.” The phrases ‘ready to distribute, willing to communicate’ literally mean providing money or goods and sharing their wealth with their needy brethren and sisters.
The parable of the Judgement Seat
In his parable of the judgement seat (Matt.25:31) Jesus described a broad range of practical help to our brethren in need. When describing these various acts of kindness, Jesus added; “Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren ye have done it unto me.” (v.40) In this statement Jesus reveals the closeness of the fellowship Jesus has with his needy brethren, however lowly they might be. It is these assisted brethren, then, who are the ‘friends’ Jesus has in mind. Because Jesus identifies himself with them, it is Jesus who, in effect, becomes the friend! In that case, it is Jesus who, when you fail, “may receive you into everlasting habitations.”
It may be objected that Jesus said, “ they may receive you etc.”, using a plural pronoun. This change in number can be understood by the fact that Jesus will be assisted by a multitude of angels when he returns and gathers the saints for judgement – and – their rewards. This is clear from what he said in his Mount Olivet prophecy, “He” (Jesus) shall send forth his angels with a great sound of a trumpet and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other” (Matt.24:31).
There should be no doubt, then, that this gathering together of the elect included the ones Jesus had in mind when he said that having made friends out of the mammon of unrighteousness they would be received into everlasting habitations.
Bro. Ralph Green, (Torquay, UK)
