Now behold, one came and said to Him, "Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?" So He said to him, "Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments." He said to Him, "Which ones?" Jesus said, " 'You shall not murder, ' 'You shall not commit adultery,' ' You shall not steal,' 'You shall not bear false witness,' 'Honor your father and your mother,' and , "You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' " The young man said to Him, "All these things I have kept from my youth. What do I still lack?" Jesus said to him, " If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me." But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.
This was a law abiding man. He obeyed the laws. He wanted to have assurance of eternal life. He wanted to know what else he could do to gain that confidence he needed to enter heaven. There is nothing we can do to enter heaven. After the man leaves sadden because he does not want to part from his earthly possessions Jesus tells His disciples that 'it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.' v23-24
v25 'His disciples were greatly astonished' then asked, "Who then can be saved?"
v26 But Jesus looked at them and said to them, "With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."
No one enters heaven by his works. (Eph 2:8-9)
So why are this man's possessions keeping him from eternal salvation? Because his earthly treasures are where his heart is, he won't give them up, they are more valuable then salvation.
Why would Jesus ask him to give them up?
Are the only people to be saved poor?
Matthew 6:19-20 Jesus is speaking. "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will also be."
It wasn't the man's physical possessions that kept him from eternal salvation, this man was so attached to his treasures he wasn't able to part with them. The Lord was addressing the condition of the heart. On the Sermon on the Mount Jesus explains that to keep the physical commandments of not murdering or committing adultery is not enough, because hating someone and lusting after someone in your heart is an act of committing murder and adultery in the heart.
v21 Jesus answers this rich man first by saying, "If you want to be perfect..." Only perfection will gain a man entrance into the Lord's kingdom. However, this perfection can only be accomplished through Christ. Jesus instructs this man to sell his possessions, give to the poor, and to follow Him. The man's sorrow was heavy, he wanted entrance to heaven but his possessions were too great and more valuable keeping him from his ultimate goal. Following after the world (or the Joneses) will only bring sorrow. Earthly possessions will not last, everything deteriorates, and possessions are not completely safe from thieves.
Jesus, God in the flesh, was asking this man to be like Him. Jesus, as God, left heaven, where riches abound. Jesus gave it all up to come live in the flesh as a man, a poor man, and give His life so we could partake in the riches of heaven. He left all He had to give to us. Jesus will never ask us to do something He has not already done for us. He is our example. (1Peter 2:21) Giving our treasure is more than selling our physical goods, it is setting our heart on the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 6:33) not of this world, so that what we have been given we will gladly give to others.
The condition of our heart is an impossible thing to change without Christ-the power of God within us. If the rich man would've cried out to Jesus to help him he wouldn't have walked away sorrowful. Colossians 2:9-10 tells us we are complete in Christ. Phil 2:13 tells us God can give us "...the will to do for His good pleasure."
When Jesus instructed the rich man to sell all and follow Him, Jesus knew He was ultimately headed for the throne of the kingdom of heaven and anyone who follows Him in earth will follow Him to heaven.
The disciples asked Jesus what they would get because they had left all to follow Him. (Matthew 19:27) Jesus answered, "Assuredly I say to you, that in the regeneration , when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My name's sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life."
Jesus is not speaking of abandoning family for personal gain. This is not an excuse to leave your commitments but in the example of Moses in Hebrews 11:24-27 By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter (forsaking the family that raised him, earthly riches, being a prince in Egypt) choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin (God's people were poor slaves in Egypt) , esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches then the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward (heavenly treasures). By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured as seeing Him who is invisible.
Moses eventually left Egypt and his people and family because of pending death from Pharaoh. Thus he left houses, brothers, sisters, father, mother and lands for Christ's name sake. Moses heart was set on God's promise of eternal reward. We too have a inheritance reserved in heaven for us (1 Peter 1:4-5).
How do we set our hearts on heavenly things to lay up treasures in heaven? Put off the old man and put on the new man (Eph 4:21-24), seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness (Mat 6:33), fix your eyes on things above and you will be "filled with all the fullness of God" (Eph 3:19) and be renewed in the spirit of your mind (Eph 4:23) by reading the word daily.
Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust (2 Peter 1: 2-4).
Jesus is coming for us, will we be found too attached to earthly treasures to want to follow Him? I pray not!
Blessings,
CC
1 comment:
Wonderful teaching. Thank you for the reminder of this important lesson for today and always. You are right - if we aren't in the Word daily, we so easily forget the lessons therein. Peter (and Paul) would often use the words "remember" or mention that "it is good to remind you", etc. Our minds are like teflon, so we need daily reminders of our Lord's teachings! And the "enemy" is always there to entice us with earthly things to help us forget the Word, so stay the course and pray for each other to stay the course. I am weak and often pray for God to strengthen me. I often find myself thinking too much about worldly things.
Post a Comment