The two passages we will be examining today are usually
taken separately, but it is clear from the context that they happened quite
closely in time. Perhaps our attitudes about them separately might benefit
from the comparison.
The Children
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Matthew
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Mark
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Luke
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(Mat
19:13-15 NIV) Then little children were brought to Jesus for him to place
his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples rebuked those who
brought them. {14} Jesus said, "Let the little
children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven
belongs to such as these." {15} When he had placed his
hands on them, he went on from there.
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(Mark
10:13-16 NIV) People were bringing little children to Jesus to have him
touch them, but the disciples rebuked them. {14} When Jesus saw this,
he was indignant. He said to them, "Let the
little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God
belongs to such as these. {15} I tell
you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little
child will never enter it." {16} And he took the children
in his arms, put his hands on them and blessed them.
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(Luke
18:15-17 NIV) People were also bringing babies to Jesus to have him touch
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} I tell
you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little
child will never enter it."
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The custom of the time was for mothers
(recall the status of women in this society) to bring their children to be
blessed by any prominent rabbi. The rabbi would lay hands on them and pray a
prayer of blessing.
The concept is not as unfamiliar as it might
seem. Oliver Wendell Holmes, the Supreme Court justice, relates a story of a
young man who went up to him to shake his hand. “You don’t know how it feels,”
the young man said, “to shake the hand of a man who fought at Gettysburg.” “Oh
yes I do,” replied Holmes. “When I was a boy, I shook the hand of a man who
was with Washington at Valley Forge.” A rabbi’s blessing carried something of
the same feeling.
The Symbol for Humility
Christ had a way of teaching in symbolic
actions. The method is highly effective. I recall one particular manager who
was taught such a lesson. He took the last cup of coffee from the pot. One of
the secretaries admonished him to make the next pot. He refused, explaining
how important he was and, after all, what do we have secretaries for? While he
was ranting, his boss (a vice-president) walked in and without a word
made two things: the next pot of coffee – and the point.
Children were the most humble members of that
society. Christ has already made the point that of such is the kingdom of
heaven (Matthew 18:2-5). By taking charge this way, he tells us that the
humble are his concern. It is a symbolic lesson.
The disciples’ reaction
It is tempting to look at the disciples and
imagine all sorts of wicked thoughts. But I think the truth lies elsewhere.
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The
disciples thought they were doing a sensible thing. They were keeping petty
details away from the boss. After all, he is too important to deal with such
trivial things. This is a good example of a good thing getting in the way of
the best thing.
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But
indeed, what is trivial? What is petty? When I was a young manager, I thought
tasks and technicalities important, and people less so. I’m an old manager
now, and people grow more important every week. Perhaps this is just the
judgment of the young?
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The
key to the difference is just this: knowing the Master’s mind. How often have
I complained that my people did just what I asked them to do – but not what I
wanted them to do. Knowing His mind is crucial to doing His will.
Jesus’ reaction
Mark’s Gospel records that Jesus was
“indignant.” The word is sometimes translated “sorely grieved.” Why? I
suspect it comes from deep in the heart of God. Throughout the Old Testament
the concern of God is to be the defender of the widow and orphan and the help
of little children. Of such, he says, is the kingdom. It is as if the
disciples had not only missed the point, but also had (after three years of
teaching) completely misunderstood who He is.
It brings up the point: how many of us are
willing to pay attention to the important things before the important people,
and have no time left for the humble and small. We are impressed with Oz the
great and powerful and ignore Dorothy the small and weak.
The Rich Young Ruler
We now meet one of the saddest characters in
the New Testament.
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Matthew
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Mark
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Luke
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(Mat
19:16-22 NIV) Now a man came up to Jesus and asked, "Teacher, what good
thing must I do to get eternal life?" {17} "Why do you ask me about what is good?" Jesus
replied. "There is only One who is good. If you
want to enter life, obey the commandments." {18} "Which
ones?" the man inquired. Jesus replied, "'Do
not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony,
{19} honor your father and mother,' and 'love
your neighbor as yourself.'" {20} "All these I have
kept," the young man said. "What do I still lack?" {21} Jesus
answered, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell
your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven.
Then come, follow me." {22} When the young man heard this,
he went away sad, because he had great wealth.
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(Mark
10:17-22 NIV) As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on
his knees before him. "Good teacher," he asked, "what must I
do to inherit eternal life?" {18} "Why
do you call me good?" Jesus answered. "No
one is good--except God alone. {19} You
know the commandments: 'Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal,
do not give false testimony, do not defraud, honor your father and
mother.'" {20} "Teacher," he declared, "all
these I have kept since I was a boy." {21} Jesus looked at him
and loved him. "One thing you lack," he
said. "Go, sell everything you have and give to
the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."
{22} At this the man's face fell. He went away sad, because he had great
wealth.
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(Luke
18:18-23 NIV) 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: 'Do not commit adultery, do not murder, do not steal,
do not give false testimony, honor your father and mother.'"
{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 a man of great wealth.
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Why did he ask?
The fascinating thing about this man is that
he asked the question. The tragedy is in his response. One must ask: why did
he ask? The answer is quite simple: something was missing in his life. But
what was it?
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Like
Linus in Peanuts, he was sincere. This is no hypocrite. But sincerity
alone is no guarantee of eternal life. The Thuggees, the sect in India which
gave us the English word “thug,” sincerely believed that murdering travelers
sent them on their way to a better life.
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Nor
was it a lack of obedience. Christ does not challenge his statement that he
has kept the commandments. He has known the joy of the obedient life.
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Ultimately
what was missing was his willingness to pay the price. He would not risk all
on God; only a part of him was available. Something else came first in his
life.
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He
has missed the opportunity of a lifetime. “He is no fool if he would choose to
give the things he cannot keep to buy what he can never lose.”
The reaction of Jesus
One of the most fascinating aspects of this story
is the reply Jesus gives. We will return to his first answer. Please,
however, note how Jesus handles the commandments:
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He
does not quote all the commandments – only those which deal with the
relationships between people. He omits any reference to any of the
commandments which deal with the relationship between God and man.
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He
does not quote the commandment about envy – which is typically the sin of the
have-nots against the haves.
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So
what is the lack in this ruler’s heart? It is the lack of the relationship
with God. He has behaved well toward his fellow man. He is not willing to
face his God.
This is clearly shown in Jesus’ initial
reaction: “Why do you call me good?” The issue is not “goodness.” The issue
is perfection itself. Only God possesses perfection, and only God possesses
eternal life. By reminding the ruler of the goodness of God he is telling him
of what he seeks.
He is also placing before him the ultimate in
choice. The man before him is God in the flesh, or so He claimed. That claim
may be denied, but can it be ignored?
The instruction
So now Christ tells the answer:
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Get
rid of the thing which stands ahead of God in your life: the money. But this
is not sufficient.
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Then,
follow me. No great feat of service, no grand sacrifice. The sacrifice is not
even in the money: that’s just disposing of the obstacle. The service is
simple: follow me.
Hard for the Rich Man
Jesus now proclaims a doctrine which, to the
disciples, was astonishing.
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Matthew
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Mark
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Luke
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(Mat
19:23-30 NIV) Then Jesus said to his disciples, "I
tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.
{24} Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel
to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of
God." {25} When the disciples heard this, they were
greatly astonished and asked, "Who then can be saved?" {26} Jesus
looked at them and said, "With man this is
impossible, but with God all things are possible." {27} Peter
answered him, "We have left everything to follow you! What then will
there be for us?" {28} Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, at the renewal of all things,
when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me
will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
{29} And everyone who has left houses or brothers
or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for my sake will receive
a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life. {30} But many who are first will be last, and many who are last
will be first.
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"How hard it is for the rich to
enter the kingdom of God!" {24} The disciples were amazed
at his words. But Jesus said again, "Children,
how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! {25} It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle
than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." {26} The
disciples were even more amazed, and said to each other, "Who then can
be saved?" {27} Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but not with God; all
things are possible with God." {28} Peter said to him,
"We have left everything to follow you!" {29} "I tell you the truth," Jesus replied, "no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or
mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel {30} will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this
present age (homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields--and with
them, persecutions) and in the age to come, eternal life. {31} But many who are first will be last, and the last
first."
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"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 a rich man to enter the
kingdom of God." {26} Those who heard this asked,
"Who then can be saved?" {27} Jesus replied, "What is impossible with men is possible with
God." {28} Peter said to him, "We have left all we
had to follow you!" {29} "I tell you
the truth," Jesus said to them, "no
one who has left home or wife or brothers 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."
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False Doctrine: Salvation by Works
The disciples are rooted in an Old Testament
conception (and still a very valid one today): God blesses those who honor
him. Whether by “natural” causes (the “Protestant work ethic”) or by the
supernatural, it is the clear teaching of the Old Testament that money can be
taken as a sign of God’s favor. But kindly notice the logic:
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If
God favors you, he will (in some sense) make you wealthy. That does not mean,
however, that wealth is automatically a sign of God’s favor. It may be. It
may also be a snare permitted by God.
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This
also does not imply a bargain, for God works by grace. He is the heavenly
Father, giving good things to his children.
Moreover, the blessing of God is not really
riches; it is the right amount of money!
(Prov
30:8-9 NIV) Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor
riches, but give me only my daily bread. {9} Otherwise, I may have too
much and disown you and say, 'Who is the LORD?' Or I may become poor and steal,
and so dishonor the name of my God.
The Peril of Wealth
In speaking of wealth, our Lord most
frequently cites its perils:
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In
the parable of the seed he cites two perils --
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The
worry over money, and
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The
deceitfulness of money – the sense of false security money brings.
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There
is also the trap of our society. If you live in the richest country in the
world, you tend, like sheep, to act like it. Sometimes our wrong attitude
about wealth is just following along.
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Our
Lord also speaks of two masters – and the impossibility of serving both. It
has been well said that “money is a fine servant but a poor master.”
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God
also is clear about the problem. Money tends to promote self-reliance rather
than God reliance.
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Finally,
there is one of those ultimate questions: is it really your money? You think
so? Is the answer the same in a hundred years?
Who, then, can be saved?
The disciples then ask (thinking still in
terms of the good works this man has done, and the blessing of wealth) who can
be saved? Jesus does not correct them for presuming that wealth is a sign of
favor – rather, he points to the power of God. Yes, even a man so good that
God blesses him that much cannot make it – by his own works. But with God,
nothing is impossible.
The disciples are still not reassured. What,
after all, will happen to them? They’ve left everything to follow Jesus – and no
one has showered them with gold. Jesus reassures them that God does not balance
his books at the end of any single day.
He goes on to lay out the supreme principle
of how God acts towards us:
(Mat 20:1-16 NIV) "For the
kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire
men to work in his vineyard. {2} He
agreed to pay them a denarius for the day and sent them into his vineyard.
{3} "About the third hour he went out and saw
others standing in the marketplace doing nothing. {4} He told them, 'You also go and work in my vineyard, and I
will pay you whatever is right.' {5} So
they went. "He went out again about the sixth hour and the ninth hour and
did the same thing. {6} About the
eleventh hour he went out and found still others standing around. He asked
them, 'Why have you been standing here all day long doing nothing?'
{7} "'Because no one has hired us,' they
answered. "He said to them, 'You also go and work in my vineyard.'
{8} "When evening came, the owner of the
vineyard said to his foreman, 'Call the workers and pay them their wages,
beginning with the last ones hired and going on to the first.' {9} "The workers who were hired about the eleventh hour came
and each received a denarius. {10} So
when those came who were hired first, they expected to receive more. But each
one of them also received a denarius. {11} When they received it, they began to grumble against the
landowner. {12} 'These men who were hired
last worked only one hour,' they said, 'and you have made them equal to us who
have borne the burden of the work and the heat of the day.' {13} "But he answered one of them, 'Friend, I am not being
unfair to you. Didn't you agree to work for a denarius? {14} Take your pay and go. I want to give the man who was hired
last the same as I gave you. {15} Don't I
have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because
I am generous?' {16} "So the last
will be first, and the first will be last."
There is a reason this parable is told at the
end of this incident. The disciples have asked how a man that good could miss
the kingdom of heaven – and if so, what hope have they, the poor? Jesus makes
it clear that entry into the kingdom of God does not depend upon good works –
but upon the loving grace of God. It is his kingdom. He gives it to whom he
pleases. He pleases to give it to those who throw aside all barriers
(including their pride, little children) and give themselves wholly to His Son,
Jesus Christ.