seekeroftruth
Well-Known Member
Luke 18:1 Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. 2 He said: “In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared what people thought. 3 And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, ‘Grant me justice against my adversary.’
4 “For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or care what people think, 5 yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually come and attack me!’”
6 And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. 7 And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? 8 I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?”
9 To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: 10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’
13 “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’
14 “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
15 People were also bringing babies to Jesus for him to place his hands on them. When the disciples saw this, they rebuked them. 16 But Jesus called the children to him and said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 17 Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”
18 A certain ruler asked him, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
19 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. 20 You know the commandments: ‘You shall not commit adultery, you shall not murder, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, honor your father and mother.’[a]”
21 “All these I have kept since I was a boy,” he said.
22 When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
23 When he heard this, he became very sad, because he was very wealthy. 24 Jesus looked at him and said, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God! 25 Indeed, 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.”
26 Those who heard this asked, “Who then can be saved?”
27 Jesus replied, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.”
28 Peter said to him, “We have left all we had to follow you!”
29 “Truly I tell you,” Jesus said to them, “no one who has left home or wife or brothers or sisters or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God 30 will fail to receive many times as much in this age, and in the age to come eternal life.”
31 Jesus took the Twelve aside and told them, “We are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written by the prophets about the Son of Man will be fulfilled. 32 He will be delivered over to the Gentiles. They will mock him, insult him and spit on him; 33 they will flog him and kill him. On the third day he will rise again.”
34 The disciples did not understand any of this. Its meaning was hidden from them, and they did not know what he was talking about.
35 As Jesus approached Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging. 36 When he heard the crowd going by, he asked what was happening. 37 They told him, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.”
38 He called out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”
39 Those who led the way rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”
40 Jesus stopped and ordered the man to be brought to him. When he came near, Jesus asked him, 41 “What do you want me to do for you?”
“Lord, I want to see,” he replied.
42 Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight; your faith has healed you.” 43 Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus, praising God. When all the people saw it, they also praised God.
a. Luke 18:20 Exodus 20:12-16; Deut. 5:16-20
The commentaries for this morning are blueletterbible.org and the easy English site.
To some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: The connection between those who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and those who despised others is almost inevitable. If I credit myself for my "great, spiritual walk with God," then it is an easy thing to despise you for your "low, carnal walk with God."
He became very sorrowful: The rich man was sorry, and now Jesus was sorry. Jesus did not want the man to walk away in his idolatry, loving his riches more than God. Yet, Jesus still let him walk away.
The things which are impossible with men are possible with God: However, God's grace is sufficient to save the rich man. We know of many rich men in the Bible who were saved, including Zaccheus, Joseph of Armithea, and Barnabas.
Sadly, the disciples understood none of these things. They heard the words right from the mouth of Jesus, and saw the expression on His face, and still did not understand. We can never see God's truth unless He opens our eyes.
The ruler asked Jesus what he must do to have eternal life. He thought that somehow he could earn eternal life. Jesus said that nobody is good except God. Therefore, nobody can achieve eternal life because nobody is good enough.
People thought that it was good to be rich. It showed that God had blessed that person. So, a rich person should have the best opportunity for life after death. So, if it is so difficult for them, it must be worse for other people. If rich people cannot achieve salvation, then nobody else can. That is true. Nobody can achieve salvation. But what is impossible for people is possible with God. Salvation for rich people and for poor people is by the kindness of God. Eternal life is a gift from God that no person can earn.
Anybody who has been reading what I have been writing over the past few years can tell that I am not a fan of the rich guy. I am pretty consistent at pointing out that Jesus said "it's easier for a camel to walk through the eye of a needle". What I don't mention.... to be fair.... is Jesus also said "all things are possible with God". It's up to God.... ultimately it's God who has control over anything.... and if God wants the rich guy to come along then the rich guy will come along with the rest of us. The rich guy wanted to know what he could do..... fact is... that's the problem.... there's nothing I can do to get me to God. Fact is.... if I don't change a thing and God wants me... then God will take me.... I have no say in the matter. I can accept it... and look forward to it.... but I can't change it. God knows who will choose Him.... God controls time.... He knows how the story ends.
Yesterday I was talking to a dear friend. She is a believer. She was saying "God is Good" and then she followed that statement with "God cannot stand evil". She is a believer. Now I ask..... here..... as I should have asked yesterday if I had been on my game.... now I ask.... really.... "Is there anything God cannot do?" God can do anything.... He's the one that thought up everything everywhere every time and every way. There is nothing God cannot do.
The Pharisee said "I thank you that I am not like other people". What an incredibly big head.....
