1 The Book Of Matthew: Lesson 9 Idols Of The Soul Memory Text: At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? (Matthew 18:1) Setting The Stage: I don t think anyone would argue with me if I were to say that there are differences between the various cultures of the world. One thing we all have in common, however, we are, in a large sense, the product of our cultures, and these to a large degree shape our values, beliefs, and attitudes. When we come face to with Christianity and its claims on our life, we learn that the culture of heaven is very different from the culture of the world that we are each accustomed to. The Bible s values, morals, and standards are often opposed to the values and morals of our society. So how do we overcome the pull to be squeezed into the world s mold? Romans 12:2: And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. Sunday The Greatness Of Humility Matthew 18:1-4; John 3:3 Matthew 18:1-4. This conversation takes place immediately after the temple tax incident. Matthew 18 is one discourse, and like the Sermon on the Mount, the other gospel writers (in this case Mark and Luke) include portions not mentioned by others. Mark s account is similar to Matthew s, however Mark s is a little more complete. But Matthew has a lengthy section (Matt. 18:10-35) that neither Mark nor Luke has and probably the most complete account. We could say that this discourse could be titled, Dealing with differences that occur in the church. It had been about a year and a half since Jesus and His disciples had been to Jerusalem. That Jesus had said He was going there (Matt. 6:21) likely revived their mistaken hopes about Jesus setting up His kingdom. This thought caused a dispute among the disciples about who would be the greatest. When Jesus asked them what they were arguing about, out of embarrassment they wouldn t answer. Peter was away collecting the coin from the fish s mouth. When he returned one of the other disciples asked the question they had all been arguing about on the way. Unfortunately they had missed Jesus real reason for going to Jerusalem. Although He had warned them several times, here, 6 months later when James and John s mother comes to Jesus asking that her two boys sit on Jesus right and left hand in His newly established kingdom, and again on the night of Jesus betrayal, they were still contesting for first place in the kingdom. Someone said, Preconceived opinions effectively insulates the mind against truth.
2 Unless you are converted. Similar to Jesus words to Nicodemus You must be born again. (John 3:3) The implication was that with their present attitude they were not. Unless the disciples had a change in their thinking and attitudes they could not enter the kingdom of heaven let alone enjoying a high position in it. Little children. I m sure this isn t what the disciples expected. It runs counter to most people s ideas of greatness. The simple trust and loving obedience of children are representative of traits of character highly treasured in God s kingdom. Notice Jesus said little children, those who ve not learned from the poor examples set by their parents. Jesus was encouraging the disciples to adopt a modest or low view of their own importance, which was contrary to their present view of themselves. What attitudes and mindsets have you adopted or you have that are contrary to true biblical greatness? Monday The Greatness Of Forgiveness Matthew 18:15-35; Galatians 6:1 Matthew 18:15-17. Jesus starts a new thought, but it is closely related to the preceding (v. 12-14). In the parable of the lost sheep, Jesus stresses the profound concern God feels for one that has gone astray. Now He proceeds to discuss what attitude a Christian should take toward a fellow believer who has injured him or her. The brother who does wrong is the same as the one sheep that went astray. Go tell him his fault between you and him alone. How hard is it to go to someone who has wronged you? Let me ask it another way. How hard is it to tell someone else about it? But isn t that what we often do rather than go to the one who wronged us? In telling others about the weakness of fellow Christian s we give the church a black eye and putting a stumbling block before the world. For evils that we might have checked, we are just as responsible as if we were guilty of the acts ourselves. (Desire of Ages, p. 441) Leviticus 19:17, 18: Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart: thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbour, and not suffer sin upon him. Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the Lord. Galatians 6:1: Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. One or two more. These would presumably be those who are not involved personally and would thus be in a better position to give an unbiased opinion and to
3 provide counsel to the offending brother. According to Hebrew law no one could be punished on the testimony of a lone witness (Deut. 17:6; 19:15). It is good to remember that there are two sides to a disagreement and both must have a fair hearing before a decision can be made. Let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector. By refusing to listen to the counsel of the church the erring member has severed himself from its fellowship. This doesn t mean he should be neglected or despised, but rather efforts should be put forth to win him back to Christ as we would a nonmember. Matthew 18:21-35. The parable given illustrates the true spirit of forgiveness. The king s servant (high official) owed him ten thousand talents (or the equivalent of the amount to approximately hire 10,000 laborers for 18 years) and forgave him his huge debt. The high official s servant owed him a hundred denarii (or the equivalent of the amount to approximately hire a common laborer for 100 days) and was heartless and selfish and threw his servant into prison. The king heard about how his high official treated his servant and was angered by his lack of compassion and lack of appreciation for the huge debt he himself had cancelled. Jesus essentially says that we are like the high official if we can t forgive our brother, although God has forgiven us for so much more. Before we set out to accuse others, or to exact from them our just dues, we would do well to consider first how God has treated us under similar circumstances and how we would like others to treat us if conditions were reversed. Remember, to forgive is divine. Tuesday Idols Of The Soul Matthew 19:16-30 Matthew 19:16-30. According to Desire of Ages, p. 518, the ruler had witnessed Jesus blessing the children and it led him to ask Jesus the question. According to his own viewpoint the ruler had lived an exemplary life. As a ruler he had occupied a position of responsibility and was a member of the honored council of the Jews. That he came running showed his eagerness, and his kneeling showed his sincerity (Mark 10:17). Essentially, this incident and the instruction Jesus gave afterward taught, first, the importance of self- renunciation as a requirement for entrance into the kingdom of heaven, and second, how dangerous love for possessions and things idols of the soul really are. What good things shall I do? A typical Pharisaical concept of righteousness by works as a passport to eternal life. The rich young ruler had conscientiously performed all the requirements of the law, in a formal way at least, and yet he was conscious of a lack in his life. Keep the commandments. It s obvious Jesus wasn t teaching that the way to eternal life is through being good enough. However, what is the condition for receiving eternal life? The same as it s always been heartfelt obedience to the law
4 of God. So when Jesus stated, keep the commandments He hoped that the ruler would understand that formal obedience wouldn t cut it. What was needed was genuine obedience, an obedience motivated by love for God. Then and only then could someone truly obey the Lord. He went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions. Which commandments wasn t the ruler keeping? All of them, right? James said if we offend in one point we are guilty of all. The ruler hadn t placed God first and foremost in his life, and until he had done that, there was no way he could genuinely love his neighbor as himself. Sadly, he went away sorrowful, unwilling to give up the great possessions that he had made a shrine, the place where he chose to pour out his adoration and devotion of his heart. What idols do you have in your life that you don t want to let go of either? Wednesday What s In It For Us? Matthew 19:27-20:16 Matthew 19:27-30. Encouraged perhaps, by this thought and the promise of that conditional treasure he talked about to the ruler, Peter, as he so frequently did, assumed the spokesperson position and asked, What shall we have? (v. 27) This was, of course, no overstatement. The disciples had left everything that was familiar to them to learn of Jesus, something the ruler didn t do. Jesus answer must have thrilled the disciples when they learned of the hundredfold blessing in this life (which was an illusion to the joy of Christian fellowship and the satisfaction that comes with service to God - Paul speaks of, having nothing, and yet possessing all things. - 1 Cor. 6:10) and the promise of eternal life granted to those who are willing to forsake all to follow Him. But, Jesus didn t conclude His thought there: But many who are first will be last, and the last first. (v. 30) Not everyone who has the appearance of being first in heaven will be. They might be the last ones heaven would consider opening the gates to. However, those who appeared the least worthy would be considered first. It also had a deeper meaning for the disciples themselves. Peter s question, What shall we have therefore? revealed a spirit which left uncorrected would unfit the disciples to be His witnesses. They still worked with the thought of meriting a reward in proportion to their labor. (Christ s Object Lessons, p. 396) So to be sure the disciples, and you and I, get the point, Jesus relates the story the parable of the workers in the vineyard (eleventh hour workers). Matthew 20:1-16. The owner has the treasurer call all whom he has hired at various parts of the day together to receive their day s pay, and amazingly they all receive the same wages. Of course, you know which group had a problem with that.
5 As human nature is so prone to do they begin to whine and complain and question the wisdom of the owner s decision (see v. 11 & 12). And wouldn t you? But it s interesting; they actually forgot that when they got picked up to work by the owner of the vineyard they were very happy; one, to get work, and two, to be paid what was offered. But now, they felt deserving of more entitled to a greater reward. Was it reasonable to be so demanding of the owner? They expected more because they didn t understand the basis on which the payment for the day s work was being made. Eventually the owner explains his actions (vv. 13-15) being entirely a matter of generosity and not just deserts. He rewarded not according to the amount of work done or time put in, but according to the generosity of his purpose. Romans. 4:4: Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt. According to scripture, any reward we receive at the hand of God is reckoned of grace, or offered and extended purely on the basis of God s generous purpose. If we received a reward based upon the work we did or the time we put in, then that would make God a debtor to us. That would mean God owes us something. And is that the case? Not at all! We d be sorry if we got what we really deserved. But the reward given is not based upon what we have done, but upon God s graciousness. The story is told that one day a beggar by the roadside asked for alms from Alexander the Great as he passed by. The man was poor and wretched and had no claim upon the ruler, no right even to lift a solicitous hand. Yet the Emperor threw him several gold coins. A courtier was astonished at his generosity and commented, "Sir, copper coins would adequately meet a beggar's need. Why give him gold?" Alexander responded in royal fashion, "Cooper coins would suit the beggar's need, but gold coins suit my giving." So too, God rewards according to the generosity of His purpose. It s called grace. Thursday We Are Able Matthew 20:20-27 Matthew 20:20-27. It s amazing that immediately after again telling His disciples that He was going to Jerusalem to be put to death (Matt. 20:17-19) that they would still be contending for first place in the kingdom! Perhaps it was Jesus words in Matt. 19:28 regarding the disciples sitting on thrones when Jesus sits on His throne of glory that motivated Mrs. Zebedee to ask Jesus this question. You do not know what you ask. Cup is a common Bible figure for suffering or punishment (Isa. 51:17; Jer. 49:12), and here Jesus uses it to refer to His suffering in Gethsemane, the trial, and the cross. In other words, Jesus is saying that before one
6 can identify with His future glory they must first identify with His sufferings. Before the crown comes a cross. We are able. Their response shows that they didn t fully understand what Jesus was talking about, otherwise they would have responded with humility and expressed their need of His sustaining grace. It shall not be so among you. Christ was establishing a kingdom on different principles. He called men, not to authority, but to service, the strong to bear the infirmities of the weak. Power, position, talent, education, placed their possessor under the greater obligation to serve his fellows. (Desire of Ages, p. 550) We shall be willing to be anything or nothing, so that we may do heart service for the Master. (Desire of Ages, p. 439) Appeal: The Greatest of them all became our servant, so that we His servants might become great in God s eternal home. Don t you want to embrace true greatness, willing to be made anything or nothing so that we may do heart service for the Master?