How to Enter God's Kingdom

Byron Hand

Luke 18 • Sermon • Submitted 7 years ago

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Find a Baby --- Tell me what is characteristic of this little one … all little ones?

Cute

Small … maybe some would say humble

Often Tired

Hungry … That is usually the case

How about messy … That Often happens

WHEN THEY get older they have a multiplicity of questions … Oh yeah

There is one thing that is AlWAYS THE CASE - They are DEPENDANT

Completely and Utterly Dependant on another for their life and well being

PIC of Babies -

People were bringing babies (word in text denotes babies - possibly newborns - Nursing children) for Jesus’ touch

Touch distinguishing mark of Jesus’ ministry - Most often in process of healing

Here was a blessing touch - He wasn't conferring grace … who wouldn't want His touch

The touch was a tangible expression of his love and concern

It was most often reserved for the lowest on the societal ladder - Lepers; Women; the Lame; Sick and the Children

This was a continual thing

Disciples … Rebuked the Parents … this isn't going to go well for them

Why the Rebuke???

Maybe he was on a tight schedule … disciples trying to manage his calendar

Also remember the rich rule was waiting (Can’t keep the man with the money waiting)

v:16 - Jesus’ point will be potent – Infants are models of how the reign of God is to be received!

Children, unlike adults, realize that they are receivers, and this is probably why Luke chose to put this story about them right after the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector. The tax collector resembles the children in that he humbles himself, unlike the Pharisee who represents those who trusted in themselves that they are righteous (cf. )

v:17 - A Child’s faith … Receives, Trusts, There is Humility, weakness, wholehearted

DEPENDANT TRUST

To Receive the K of God = to accept God’s rule … Accept Him as King … Submit to His Rule

This can be expressed as ‘whoever doesn’t accept the kingdom of God as a child receives it’ or ‘whoever doesn’t accept the kingdom of God as though he were a child’. It means to have a child’s kind of faith. This refers to being receptive and trustful like little children are. A childlike character is humility, being conscious of weakness, and having a wholehearted faith. It refers to receiving the kingdom as readily and trustfully as a child receives a gift (Blight)

[1] Blight, R. C. (2008). An Exegetical Summary of (2nd ed., p. 256). Dallas, TX: SIL International.

SHIFT

Ten Commandment Slide

A Ruler Asks a Question - Heading = Rich Ruler

Here we are going to see a CONTRAST … With what it means to receive the K of God as a Child

The word Ruler = Magistrate; Leader; NLT = Religious Leader; CEV = Important man - Maybe head of local synagogue

One question - What must I do to inherit eternal life (The man knew he had a need)

· Eternal Life – At end of age He wanted assurance of being in God’s Kingdom --- His Rule

· The ruler is asking, “How can I be sure I’ll be saved in the final resurrection?” (Bock)

v:19 --- Jesus’ response startles us …

His response tells us that the man’s motive may have been to flatter him.

Jesus is not denying his God-ness

He is deflecting the flattery and redirecting the man’s question

He is Bringing the man back to the ten commandments … particularly the FIRST ONE … - You shall have no other God’s before me.

Observation 1 - God ALONE is Good in the absolute sense of the Term

Observation 2 - If Jesus is God’s Teacher … and Is Good … Then you should observe what He says

Observation 3 - Flattering God’s Teacher does not bring commendation … Obedient response to God does! (LIKE A CHILD)

Observation 4 - Human goodness is insufficient for attaining eternal life

v:20 - Jesus begins to drill down into the core of this man’s problem

He begins to list some of the ten commandments - Particularly the ones dealing with moral righteousness

Jesus addresses commandments - 7, 6, 8, 9, and 5 (in that order)

v:21 - The ruler is saying in effect, “If this is all that is required, then I am in good shape.”

v:22 - Jesus heard this and responded:

Luke 18:22 ESV

When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “One thing you still lack. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.”

Something is missing … Two Imperatives

Sell and Distribute - Liquidate all your assets and give it away to the poor and needy

Point here is NOT - Become a Philanthropist

First of all - Treasure in Heaven = This treasure is the fullness of blessing associated with eternal life and comes in this age and the next.

John 17:3 ESV

And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.

· Why such a radical command?

o Several Observations –

§ In Luke’s account the Author Leaves out command 10 – Do not Covet – Relieving Himself of all His goods showed his failure to really keep the law – and tie greed to Idolatry (Command 1)

§ The selling of his goods forced the ruler to trust God completely and humbly rely on Him … Like Zacchaseus – 19:1-10

§ God is to be trusted and to have first place ( = )

Of all the commentators who deal with the Ten Commandments - Martin Luther is one of the best:

[1] Bock, D. L. (1996). (Vol. 2, p. 1483). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic.

Martin Luther on the First Commandment:

Thou shalt have [and worship] Me alone as thy God. What is the force of this, and how is it to be understood? What does it mean to have a god? or, what is God? Answer: A god means that from which we are to expect all good and to which we are to take refuge in all distress, so that to have a God is nothing else than to trust and believe Him from the [whole] heart; as I have often said that the confidence and faith of the heart alone make both God and an idol. If your faith and trust be right, then is your god also true; and, on the other hand, if your trust be false and wrong, then you have not the true God; for these two belong together faith and God. That now, I say, upon which you set your heart and put your trust is properly your god.

Therefore it is the intent of this commandment to require true faith and trust of the heart which settles upon the only true God and clings to Him alone. That is as much as to say: "See to it that you let Me alone be your God, and never seek another," i.e.: Whatever you lack of good things, expect it of Me, and look to Me for it, and whenever you suffer misfortune and distress, creep and cling to Me. I, yes, I, will give you enough and help you out of every need; only let not your heart cleave to or rest in any other.

This Ruler’s Trust was in His Money … his stuff … Not God … He had an Idol that gripped his heart and THAT is where he placed his Trust … His Dependance

That is seen in His Response … One commentator describes his response as tragically brief

Luke 18:23 ESV

But when he heard these things, he became very sad, for he was extremely rich.

Luke 18:24 ESV

Jesus, seeing that he had become sad, said, “How difficult it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!

Jesus’ response

Luke 18:24 ESV

Jesus, seeing that he had become sad, said, “How difficult it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!

SLIDE

Luke 18:25 ESV

For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.”

Jesus uses HYPERBOLE … Comparison

Camel was largest animal in Palestine

It’s hard enough to get a piece of thread through the eye of a needle

Imagine a Camel … That’s Jesus’ point

§ The widely held belief that there was a gate in Jerusalem named “The Needle’s Eye” and that a camel could get through if it threw off its burden, got down low, and sucked in its insides is a myth.

· Image startled his listeners … Garland

SLIDE

Luke 18:26–27 ESV

Those who heard it said, “Then who can be saved?” But he said, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.”

Luke 18:

We come full circle … Is your Complete Dependant Trust in God through His Son Jesus Christ?

You See … There are no adults in the Kingdom of God … Only Children … dependant children

Conclusion

This week I was re-reading Paul Millers book “The Praying Life” … Listen to some of His gems:

The difficulty of coming just as we are is that we are messy.

The criteria for coming to Jesus is weariness. Come overwhelmed with life. Come with your wandering mind. Come messy. What does it feel like to be weary? You have trouble concentrating. The problems of the day are like claws in your brain. You feel pummeled by life.

What does heavy-laden feel like? Same thing. You have so many problems you don’t even know where to start. You can’t do life on your own anymore. Jesus wants you to come to him that way! Your weariness drives you to him. Don’t try to get the prayer right; just tell God where you are and what’s on your mind. That’s what little children do. They come as they are, runny noses and all. Like the disciples, they just say what is on their minds.

The only way to come to God is by taking off any spiritual mask. The real you has to meet the real God. He is a person.

God would much rather deal with the real thing. Jesus said that he came for sinners, for messed-up people who keep messing up (see ). Come dirty.

Come overwhelmed with life. Come with a wandering mind. Come messy.

Jesus’ answer shell-shocks the listeners, “With man this is impossible ….”

Impossible.

He doesn’t say improbable. He doesn’t say unlikely. He doesn’t even say it will be tough. He says it is “impossible.” No chance. No way. No loopholes. No hope. Impossible. It’s impossible to swim the Pacific. It’s impossible to go to the moon on the tail of a kite. You can’t climb Mount Everest with a picnic basket and a walking stick. And unless somebody does something, you don’t have a chance of going to heaven.

Does that strike you as cold? All your life you’ve been rewarded according to your performance. You get grades according to your study. You get commendations according to your success. You get money in response to your work.

That’s why the rich young ruler thought heaven was just a payment away. It only made sense. You work hard, you pay your dues, and “zap”—your account is credited as paid in full. Jesus says, “No way.” What you want costs far more than what you can pay. You don’t need a system, you need a Savior. You don’t need a resume, you need a Redeemer. For “what is impossible with men is possible with God.”

Don’t miss the thrust of this verse: You cannot save yourself. Not through the right rituals. Not through the right doctrine. Not through the right devotion. Not through the right goose bumps. Jesus’ point is crystal clear. It is impossible for human beings to save themselves.

You see, it wasn’t the money that hindered the rich man; it was the self-sufficiency. It wasn’t the possessions; it was the pomp. It wasn’t the big bucks; it was the big head. “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!” It’s not just the rich who have difficulty. So do the educated, the strong, the good-looking, the popular, the religious. So do you if you think your piety or power qualifies you as a kingdom candidate.

And if you have trouble digesting what Jesus said to the rich young ruler, then his description of the judgment day will stick in your throat.

It’s a prophetic picture of the final day: “Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ ”

Astounding. These people are standing before the throne of God and bragging about themselves. The great trumpet has sounded, and they are still tooting their own horns. Rather than sing his praises, they sing their own. Rather than worship God, they read their résumés. When they should be speechless, they speak. In the very aura of the King they boast of self. What is worse—their arrogance or their blindness?

You don’t impress the officials at NASA with a paper airplane. You don’t boast about your crayon sketches in the presence of Picasso. You don’t claim equality with Einstein because you can write “H2O.”

And you don’t boast about your goodness in the presence of the Perfect.

“Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers.’ ”

Mark it down. God does not save us because of what we’ve done. Only a puny god could be bought with tithes. Only an egotistical god would be impressed with our pain. Only a temperamental god could be satisfied by sacrifices. Only a heartless god would sell salvation to the highest bidders.

And only a great God does for his children what they can’t do for themselves.

That is the message of Paul: “For what the law was powerless to do … God did.”

And that is the message of the first beatitude.

“Blessed are the poor in spirit ….”

The jewel of joy is given to the impoverished spirits, not the affluent. God’s delight is received upon surrender, not awarded upon conquest. The first step to joy is a plea for help, an acknowledgment of moral destitution, an admission of inward paucity. Those who taste God’s presence have declared spiritual bankruptcy and are aware of their spiritual crisis. Their cupboards are bare. Their pockets are empty. Their options are gone. They have long since stopped demanding justice; they are pleading for mercy.8

They don’t brag; they beg.

They ask God to do for them what they can’t do without him. They have seen how holy God is and how sinful they are and have agreed with Jesus’ statement, “Salvation is impossible.”

Oh, the irony of God’s delight—born in the parched soil of destitution rather than the fertile ground of achievement.

It’s a different path, a path we’re not accustomed to taking. We don’t often declare our impotence. Admission of failure is not usually admission into joy. Complete confession is not commonly followed by total pardon. But then again, God has never been governed by what is common.