May 13 – Reading Luke 18:15-34

A five-days per week study.

NOTE: In the last several months, WORDPRESS has changed the formatting process of its posts several times. It’s hard to keep up, and it takes me some time even to get TO the Bible study each day. Please pardon the later posting times.

Read and believe in Jesus.

“What must I DO to inherit eternal life?”  Luke 18:18

The Gospel according to Luke 

Review – Jesus used two parables to teach about prayer. The first urges us to be PERSISTENT in prayer (the widow and the unrighteous judge). The second one taught us about our ATTITUDE when we pray (the Pharisee and the Tax Collector).

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Vss. 18:15-17.

The right way and the wrong way to “come to Jesus.”

Moms began bringing their babies and little children to Jesus so He could touch them and “bless” them.  It was a sweet, gentle picture, and Jesus loved it.  He took them eagerly into his arms, smiled at their wiggly joy, stubby finger pokes, and tugs on his beard.  Even toddlers did not seem a bit afraid of this teacher. In fact, they came to Him with arms raised, seeking His embrace and acceptance.

“Hey, get those sticky babies away from the Master,” said Jesus’ disciples, herding the moms and little ones off to a “safe” distance.

“No. ALLOW the children to come to me!  Do not hinder them!  The kingdom of God is made up of such trusting ones!” was Jesus’ rebuke.  

“Whoever does not ‘receive’ the kingdom of God like a child shall NOT enter it.”

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This is how Jesus pictured conversion. Faith is a simple, helpless, trusting dependence of those who have no resources of their own. They come with no accomplishments to commend themselves. 

(Unlike the next fellow.)

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Vss. 18:19-23.

The right way and the wrong way to “come to Jesus.”

As the children left, a man of substance approached.  He’s called the rich, young ruler, and as such, he had it all: wealth, youth, and power.  What could he possibly need?  He is the kind of important person the disciples gladly escorted to Jesus’ side.

“Good Teacher, what must “I” do to inherit eternal life?”  Was he expecting Jesus to say, “Nothing. You’re good.”

But no, Jesus asked a question in return, causing the man to adjust his thoughts and his bold manner.  “Why do you call Me good?”  Jesus asked him. “No one is good except God alone.”

Was this synagogue ‘ruler’ saying he believed Jesus was … God?  If so, he needed an attitude adjustment.

After a minute or two, Jesus said, “You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery; Do not murder; Do not steal; Do not bear false witness; Honor your father and mother.’”

(These were the six commands dealing with person-to-person.)

Relieved, the young man straightened and said, “All these I have kept from my youth.”

When Jesus heard this, He identified the rich man’s problem.  He loved his wealth and possessions MORE than God (the first four commandments concerned person-to-God relationships).  His riches had become idols to him, a god, even.

I think Jesus said these words tenderly, “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.”

(Wealth is not evil, except when it replaces God in your life.)

When the rich young ruler heard this, he became very sad, for he was extremely rich.

Seeing his sadness as the man walked away, Jesus said, “How difficult it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God. Yep, it’s easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.”

How different from the little, trusting children was this assured man, who thought he had all that was needed to enter Jesus’ kingdom.

(Sincere trusting VS assurance of wealth and a half-righteousness.  A good lesson for you and me today.  What are WE depending on for heaven and eternal life?)

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Vss. 18:26-30.

Now the disciples (and the crowd around Jesus) were totally confused.  Jesus desired little children MORE than wealthy patrons?  Surely a man’s wealth revealed that God was pleased with him.  And, as for the commands, how many of THEM could say they kept ALL of the last six commands?

“Who then can be saved?” they asked Jesus.

“What is IMPOSSIBLE with men is POSSIBLE with God.

Peter (and perhaps the other disciples) thought about their own lives.  “See, WE have left our homes and followed you….”

And Jesus gave them a deeper answer than they expected.

“Truly, I say to you, there is NO ONE who has left house… or wife…or brothers… or parents… or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, who will not receive many times more in this time. And in the age to come… eternal life.”

(Is that enough, Peter?)

Food for thought. 

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Vss. 18:31-34.

And while they thought about how that all would work out, Jesus overwhelms them – for the third time – with the prediction of His soon-to-be death.

“See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written about the Son of Man by the prophets will be accomplished.  For He will be delivered over to the Gentiles and will be mocked and shamefully treated and spit upon.  And after flogging him, they will kill Him.  And on the third day, He will rise.”

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“Hmm…” thought Peter. “I wonder how I will get a new house.  Another wife?”  Wives??”

James and John might have been thinking, “Another set of parents?  What about Zebedee?”

And John, “We will receive… eternal life?”

But Jesus knew that these, His beloved disciples, understood none of what was about to happen. “This saying was hidden from them, and they did not grasp what was said. “

(They probably would have wanted to whisk Him away and keep Him forever out of Jerusalem.)

But then, what of our salvation?