Letting Go To Enter The Kingdom

Notes for the Ekklesia Meeting
Sundays @ 10:00 a.m. Info: (651) 283-0568 www.dtminc.org Today’s Date: December 4, 2005

Letting Go to Enter the Kingdom
by Dan Trygg

"And someone came to Him and said, "Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may obtain eternal life?" Matthew 19:16

This episode took place right on the heels of Jesus’ blessing of the children. He and His disciples had crossed the Jordan on their way to Jerusalem. Because there were limited places to ford the river, there tended to be congestion at the crossing places. A great number of people had apparently recognized Him and were following Him. As was His custom, He was teaching them, and was healing many (Mk. 10:1; Matt. 19:2). This probably motivated the Pharisees to come and attempt to entrap Him with a question about divorce. Having dealt with that issue, and having welcomed and blessed the children, He started on His journey toward Jerusalem, once again. Mark records that as He was setting out a man came running up to Him, fell on his knees before Him, and said, "Good teacher, what thing shall I do in order that I might inherit eternal life?" Matthew’s account clarifies his thought process, "What good thing might I do in order that I might possess eternal life?"

Jesus’ first response was somewhat brusque, "Why are you asking me about the good? One is The Good. No one is good except God "(Matt. 19:17; cf. Mk. 10:18). This response was designed to direct the man’s attention away from putting his hope in good performance, or even the counsel of so-called good people, so that he might look to the only true source of goodness, God Himself.

"But if you are wishing to enter into life, keep the commandments." This played more toward the man’s expectations. He was expecting that if he did some good thing, he would earn spiritual life. Jesus said that following the OT law would lead him to life. Some people think that Jesus was saying that keeping the commandments would bring him life, but that is not what He actually said. He directed him to the law because, as Paul later says, the law is a schoolmaster that will show us our need for a Savior (Gal. 3:24). No one is able to be justified by performing works of the law, nor does righteousness come from trying to keep the law (Gal. 2:15,16,21; 3:21). By directing this man back to the law, Jesus was trusting that the law would lead him to see the bankruptcy of his own self-righteousness, so that he would become open to the righteousness and goodness that could only come to him as a gift from Him who is Good.

You see, pure goodness is not in us, so no matter how hard we try by doing good things, our essential make-up does not change. Eventually the sinful nature will be expressed in some way. God comes to change our essential nature, so that we will learn to live out of the inner core of Spirit-produced goodness. The change in our behavior comes from the change in our heart, not the other way around.

The man asks, "Which ones?", hoping that there will be something to do that he has not yet done. Jesus recites from the ten commandments those which are about our relationships toward other people. The man, whom Luke had earlier identified as a "ruler", is now also described by Matthew as being young (Lk. 18:18; Matt. 19:20). He replied, "Teacher, I have kept all these things from my youth up. What am I still lacking?"

At this point, Mark records, "Jesus, looking at him, loved him…" At first blush, you might think that this means that Jesus loved the young man’s sincerity and drive to find the solution for his spiritual need, or that He valued the fact that he seemed to want to really be sold out for God, and Jesus appreciated that about him. Some versions kind of lead the reader to think that the word for "love" here is primarily a feeling or emotion. It is not. It is a verb. Jesus loved this young ruler by revealing to him what it was that was holding him back spiritually.

"If you would be complete or mature, there is one thing that you lack. Go and sell all that you possess, and give to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven, and come follow Me." This kind of love, agapao, is more about benevolent action than about emotional affinity. Jesus loved by revealing his real problem, and by inviting him to follow Him. Jesus modeled here what it is we are supposed to do for one another when we gather as the Body of Christ. We are to speak and do the truth to one another in agape love (Eph 4:15). In other words, our good-hearted choice to show value and do good for one another is expressed by serving one another and by helping one another grow and mature through honest, benevolent interaction with one another.

The reaction of the young man, and the reason given for his response, is very descriptive in each gospel. If we put them all together, we get an even clearer grasp of his emotional struggle, as well as his level of wealth. Mark has, "the one being shocked (or horrified) by this word went away grieving; for he was having many possessions" (10:22). Luke has, "the one hearing these things became deeply distressed (grieved beyond measure – an intensive form of the word used for "grieving" in Mark); for he was exceedingly wealthy" (18:23). Matthew writes, "The young man, hearing the word, departed grieving; for he was having many parcels of land" (19:22).

This was not your middle class or upper middle class individual Jesus was dealing with. This young man was extremely well off. He had a multitude of possessions, much property, and an exceedingly large fortune. He had an awful lot to give up, if he was to do as Jesus suggested. At that time in his life, he could not bring himself to do it, and went away in deep distress and sorrow. He had been so eager to find the one thing that could bring him life, but he was horrified at what Jesus said, and was unable to follow through. We can only hope that eventually he was able to surrender himself and all he had to God, but at this moment he could not.

As they watched him leave, sullen and defeated, Jesus commented on how difficult it was for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. He used a ridiculous word picture to illustrate the point. "It is easier for a camel to go through an eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven." (Some have taught that there was a small gate that a camel could go through only if it was unloaded, called "the needle’s eye". This gate was not built until much later. Jesus was not referring to it. The Lord makes clear that the word picture He was describing was "impossible" [Matt. 19:26].)

Other passages reinforce what Jesus says here.

In Luke 14, the Lord talks about the need to count the cost of becoming a disciple. A builder must calculate the cost before building a tower, so that he has enough materials to finish. Otherwise, people will ridicule his unfinished work.

In the same way, a king must calculate if his men can defeat an invading army, even if outnumbered two to one. If not, he would be wise to send emissaries for peace long before the opposing army comes near, if he wishes to avoid disaster.

The conclusion after these two parables?

"So, therefore, no one of you can be My disciples who does not give up all his possessions."

The word translated as "give up" means to "take one’s leave of", to "say goodbye to", to "separate from", or to "renounce or forsake". At the very least, in your own mind and heart you must give up all sense of self-ownership of your possessions, or even your very life, if you want to follow Jesus. Your possessions, wealth and property must be laid at the feet of Jesus. You must acknowledge Him as the giver and provider of all you have, and be willing to be His steward. As the apostle Paul says, "What do you have that you did not receive? But if you did receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?" (I Cor. 4:7) God is the One who provided it, who gave you the power to make wealth, and to keep it (Deut. 8).

To place riches before obedience is to make money and wealth as idols. We cannot be a faithful disciple and be trusting in money. In another place, Paul writes, "For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either. 8 If we have food and covering, with these we shall be content. 9 But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. …17Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy. 18 Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, 19 storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is life indeed" (I Tim. 6:7-10, 17-19).

The disciples were exceedingly amazed, astounded, astonished or bewildered at what He said. Why? Because the wealthy always seemed to have access and opportunity that commoners did not enjoy. Generally, they were clean and well mannered. They were educated and well spoken. Their lives seemed so much more proper, respectable and peaceful. Everyone wanted to be wealthy, and now Jesus was saying that it was virtually impossible for them to enter the kingdom? If they couldn’t, who could? "With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."

Then Peter spoke up, "Behold, we have everything and followed You; what then will there be for us?" Always eager to express his devotion and loyalty to Jesus, and painfully aware of what sacrifices they had made to follow Him, Peter wanted to hear what was going to be their reward for counting the cost and leaving everything for Jesus. What was in it for them?

Jesus replied, "In the regeneration, when the Son of Man will sit on the throne of His glory, you also shall sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel." Pretty radical thought, isn’t it? This band of rag-tag nobodies judging the nation of Israel? How they processed this statement is not clear, but we would not be surprised if they mistakenly thought of it in terms of political positions in this world. We have a similar destiny as them. Did you know that we are to judge the world? Angels, too? Cf. I Cor. 6:2,3.

Jesus then asserts that no one has given up anything for His sake, who will not receive many times more in this life what he or she left behind. Notice that He focuses His remark on two basic areas, property and relationships, with the emphasis by far on the latter. We often have to leave behind relationships to follow Jesus. It will work out. Either they will change, or we will find other friends and "family". Unfortunately, being different will bring persecution as well, but both here and in the age to come we receive eternal life (Mk. 10:29-31; Jn. 5:24). What have you let go of in order to follow Jesus? Is He asking for more, so you can go deeper? Can you see the truth of what He promised coming to pass in your life?