Matthew 19: Read Matthew 19: Read Matthew 19:27-30

Transcription

1 Matthew 19:16-30 If you have time at the end of your study, you may like to compare the different recollections of this text from the different Gospels. It s interesting the different way that it s remembered by the different authors. (Matthew 19:16-30; Mark 10:17-22; Luke 18:18-30) Read Matthew 19: What do you imagine the rich young man/ruler meant by eternal life? 2. How do reconcile Jesus response to the young man s question with (I hope) your desire to do good things? 3. Quick quiz: Can your group name the 10 commandments? 4. Why do you think Jesus referred only to the fifth to ninth commandments? Why not all of them? 5. Why do you think that Jesus told the rich young man to sell all his possessions? 6. What is Jesus primary challenge or message to the rich young man? 7. Do you think Jesus is suggesting in this text that poverty an essential element of faith? Can you refer to any other New Testament scripture to back up your position? 8. What do you think Jesus was specifically asking the man to do by following him? a. Do you think we have the same onus place on us today? b. Do you think your life reflects this? c. Is there one thing you could easily change to enhance your desire to be a disciple of Jesus? 9. Prosperity Theology falsely proclaims that your wealth is reflected by your faith. This was also a common (but not universal) belief amongst Jewish teachers of the first century. What are the problems with this theology? 10. With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible. Does this bring you comfort or does it challenge your and the way you live your life? Read Matthew 19: The language used in this section is difficult. Jesus borrows from Daniel 7 (and where the English says renewal of all things it literally means rebirth). What is Jesus really saying to the disciples (and us) in this section?

2 Often the Bible acts as a mirror; throwing back to us reflections of ourselves and of our culture in the characters and dialogue from these ancient and holy pages. The questions asked, the attitudes exposed, the priorities held often seem amazingly modern. Certainly this is the case with the rich young man and the passages that we heard this morning. And what a surprise this story is too! A prosperous, virtuous man, seemingly obedient to God. Surely many of us would, at first glance, be saying I d be glad to be that guy or what a coup for Jesus and His movement to have a wealthy young ruler amongst His flock! But we know that this isn t how this story pans out. The story of the rich young man is one of a man departing sadly from Jesus; and a celebration of those who pursue Him and their acceptance of Grace. As we go through this text we re going to identify the shortcomings in how the young man approached Jesus. We re going to assess Jesus s response. And we too are going to ask how it can be that anyone can make their way into the Kingdom of God. To help us reflect on this we re going to work through this text together so if you have a Bible nearby why don t you grab it and turn with me to Matthew 19 verse 16 on page 976. So onto the scene, in V16, arrives a young man. Later in the text we read that he was a man of great wealth. Luke records that he was a ruler. That he isn t named right there in verse 16 is curious don t you think? But regardless of this we can be assured that he is a man of influence and affluence and power. And in typical power-dressing fashion as you would expect of a rich young ruler, he is recorded as getting straight to the point. Teacher he asks what good thing must I do to get eternal life? Well, he starts off on the wrong foot doesn t he? Mark s a really good teacher, patient and really approachable but could you imagine his response if any of you came to him and said Mark what good thing do I have to do to get eternal life? Straight up I reckon he d do one these:.

3 So in verse 16 there s two really big faux pas there: First: You can t do anything to get a spot in eternal life. Christ is the way to eternal life. He was then and is now. And the only thing we can do is to fall on bended knee and beg repentance Please Lord, I am a sinner and I believe in my heart that you died for my sins. And secondly: The young man didn t recognise Jesus for who he was. We know this by way of two things he says: Firstly: He calls Him teacher not Messiah, which honestly is excusable if you ignore everything Jesus has said and taught and done since the inception of his ministry! Secondly, only God is good Christ s words in the very next text. Yet there he is, the image of the invisible God standing right there in front of him. And he is fool enough in the presence of the only Good thing to ask about doing good? Before we even get to verse 17 things aren t going well. Let s continue though. Verses then are Jesus responding to this failed start. So verse 17 There is only One who is good refers, as I said before, to God The statement that follows, of If you want to enter life, keep the commandments assumes that you know that Jesus is Lord. For these then act not as some sort of free-pass into eternity but as a pointer to the one from whom absolute goodness comes. The more we act like Him through His commands, the nearer our attachment to Him; and ultimately understand His good will for us. He says the same thing in John 15 a little differently: I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. So, in response to a command from Jesus to draw near to God as best as the Jews knew how the rich young man says what? Not Yes Lord, I have failed in these. Not Please Lord, help me do these things Not even Ok, I ll try But which ones Which ones. The 10 commandments you re a Jew you re meant to keep all of them!

4 The rich young man is not doing well. And then in the face of having been obedient to these few commands the rich young man walks away sad, having been challenged to part with all his possessions, to give them to the poor and then follow Jesus. Is it just me - but just reading those verses; well they come across as unduly harsh, don t you think? Read them there v21 Do you think there was a middle-ground somewhere there that Jesus might have met him in? Do you think if the rich young man had stood and said can I sell half and give to the poor then can I have eternal life what about I set up a charity for the poor and make my wealth, and my contacts, and my power work for me then can I have eternal life? The clue to understanding this very harsh text is to understand the premise Jesus places before him. The interpretation is not spot on here in verse 21. Jesus answered If you want to be perfect literally means if you want to reach your perfect goal then go and sell all you have and so on. His perfect goal was, at least verbally, eternal life. His life though was one of wealth and power. What he asked for and what he was doing did not line up. He was himself living an irreconcilable life Jesus just pointed it out. So no. His possessions and authority had first place in his life. He had made gods of his possessions. There was no other way for this man for his supposed goal of eternal life was blocked by his wealth. And be warned here friends, for it is not just for this man! If we read on into verse 23 and 24: Then Jesus said to his disciples, "Truly I tell you, it is hard for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God." Now I know that some people have preached on the eye of the needle referring to a gate and a camel down on its knees can make its way through but without any load and I m sure you ve heard that interpretation or others before but that s not what this is about. The following text makes it clear that any other interpretation here misses the point. This is a ridiculous example. It belongs as comfortably in a sketch show as it does in the mouth of Jesus! A camel through the eye of a needle - it s a ludicrous example set to hammer home to point made in verse 26. Gecause in verse 26 is the answer the disciples question of who can be saved and friends, I hope you know the truth I really do - because With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible. Yes, wealth is going to be a stumbling block.

5 It easily breeds dependence on the self. A rich man is far less likely to pray that he will make it through the day than a poor man is. It easily breeds contempt; a spite for those who treasure your wealth or you for your wealth. It easily breeds dishonesty and deceit along with a long list of other things that are very unkingdomly. If you are wealthy and let s face it many of us are and you think that the state of your soul would be not be better off if you were poor, you are kidding yourself. When I was writing this sermon I got to this point and thought about my life when I didn t have much. Those of you who were an apprentice probably remember well how little you can get by on. I was reflecting; looking for a but looking for some greater hope that now that I am wealthy actually I haven t changed But of course I ve changed. I lived simply as an SU chaplain and as an apprentice. Almost half of my wage went on rent. I would eat pretty meagerly and put aside some for a six pack on Friday night and the plate on Sunday and anything left over I d stick aside to try and pay for tafe fees and then eventually uni. I have changed in my wealth and I think that I need to be careful that I don t condemn myself by not living close to the vine by not drifting away from Christ. BUT, if I do live close to vine; if my life reflects one which is steeped in discipleship of Christ; and if I don t succumb to the temptations that wealth can produce, then all I need to remember is that it is done already. I can do no good thing to get into the Kingdom and for the actions of our saviour I am forever grateful and eternally indebted. The conclusion of this passage acts as an encouragement for those who have made sacrifices an assurance of what is to come for us in the eternal life. Peter asks there in verse 27: For those of us who have forgone everything - what then will there be for us? And friends, what better place for us to finish this morning pondering that question? For if we seriously ponder that question that Peter posed which stands in contrast to that of the rich young man we must ask just one, maybe two questions: Firstly: What do we live in confidence of? Do you live in confident assurance that your goal is Christs goal? That by virtue of your nearness to Christ and your continual prayer of thanks for His sacrifice, that you are living as He wants, as a follower of Christ? Or are you dependant on your possession or whatever it is that stands between you and Jesus? And secondly, are you able to do what is necessary in order that any stumbling block that might exist is removed from your way?