what did jesus disciples give up to follow him
James J. Tissot, detail of 'Jesus Discourses with His Disciples' (1886-94), gouache on grey wove paper, Brooklyn Museum, New York.
"24 Jesus looked at him and said, 'How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God! 25 Indeed, information technology is easier for a camel to become through the center of a needle than for a rich human being to enter the kingdom of God.' 26 Those who heard this asked, 'Who so tin 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 yous!' 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 thirty will fail to receive many times as much in this age and, in the age to come up, eternal life.'
31 Jesus took the Twelve aside and told them, 'Nosotros are going upwardly to Jerusalem, and everything that is written past the prophets nigh the Son of Homo will exist fulfilled. 32 He will be handed over to the Gentiles. They volition mock him, insult him, spit on him, flog him and kill him. 33 On the third day he will rise again.' 34 The disciples did not understand whatever of this. Its meaning was subconscious from them, and they did not know what he was talking nearly." (Luke xviii:24-34, NIV)
The very wealthy young ruler has heard Jesus' direction to him: "Sell everything you take and requite to the poor.... Then come, follow me."
Mark'south Gospel records: "At this the man's confront fell. He went abroad sad, because he had neat wealth" (Mark 10:22). The man is moving away at present, and Jesus, who Mark says "loved him," is watching him every bit he goes.
I can hear a sigh, a sorrow, in Jesus' voice as he reflects on the encounter. "How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!" (18:24).
Camel Going Through the Eye of a Needle (Luke xviii:25)
I'm going to take Jesus' sayings out of order for a moment, because to understand what he is saying in poetry 24, we need to understand his effigy of speech in verse 25:
"Indeed, information technology is easier for a camel to become through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." (18:25)
Camels were a marvel to Israelites. Farmers didn't apply them -- the ass was their animate being of choice. But camels were used by traders whose caravans would travel through Galilee on their mode to Jerusalem and the trading centers of Egypt. Nevertheless, the camel was the largest animal they regularly saw in Palestine. I can imagine Israelites looking upwardly at these towering beasts as the caravans made their way through town.
The centre of a sewing needle was a tiny opening. If you've ever tried to thread a needle, and so you know just how tiny it is. In some rabbinical writings we see a similar phrase: "Draw an elephant through the eye of a needle."787 Both this maxim and Jesus' saying share the aforementioned contrast between the huge brute and the proverbially small-scale centre of a needle. The point of both these figures of speech communication is impossibility; they are proverbs of impossibility. We know this considering Jesus uses the word "impossibility" (Greek adynatos) in verse 27.
The Gate of Jerusalem Myth
For hundreds of years there accept been diverse explanations floating around to soften Jesus' pedagogy of "impossibility" to some kind of "yous can practise it if you lot really try" approach. I of these pseudo-explanations imagines a gate through the wall of Jerusalem called "the needle's eye," and then small that a laden camel couldn't become through unless it were to be unloaded and kneel downward. Preachers and tour guides love the story. It is very picturesque. But it has absolutely no support in fact. It as well distorts what Jesus is trying to say from "impossible for human" to "possible by human." Note that the disciples' reaction was surprise at the impossibility of conservancy for the rich.
I take researched this considerably and plant nil that provides whatever support whatsoever for the "gate in the wall" theory. All my sources -- from older commentators such as Matthew Henry (1710), to respected scholars in the International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (1974), to my newest scholarly commentaries on Matthew, Mark, and Luke -- all of them, discredit the story as unsupported, if they mention it at all.788
How Hard for the Rich to Enter the Kingdom (Luke 18:24-27)
"Jesus looked at him and said, 'How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God! Indeed, it is easier for a camel to get through the center of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.'
"Those who heard this asked, 'Who and then can be saved?'
Jesus replied, 'What is impossible with men is possible with God.'" (18:24-27)
Riches and prosperity were normally seen as a sign of God'due south blessing. Retrieve Job? When he was wealthy his friends saw him every bit righteous. But when he had a plough of fortune and lost his family unit, his wealth, and his health, his friends ended -- wrongly -- that he must accept sinned.
For this reason Jesus' hearers questioned, every bit if to say, "If the rich tin can't exist saved, then can anyone?"
Jesus teaches the impossibility of salvation through one's own merits. The word "difficult" in 18:24 is Greek dyskolos, "pertaining to that which is difficult to fulfill or do, difficult, difficult."789 But entering the Kingdom (18:25) -- used synonymously with "being saved (xviii:26) -- is more than difficult. Jesus gives a common parable of impossibility. And then concludes, "What is impossible with men is possible with God" (18:27).
The rich trust in their wealth to open up doors for them. But the net value of their estates in heaven is Zero. Only if they become equally little children will they enter the Kingdom -- apprehensive, trusting.
Yous've probably heard the story most how to capture a monkey. You lot attach a chain to a muzzle with narrow bars -- just wide plenty for the monkey's hand to slip through. In the cage y'all place a piece of nutrient. The monkey reaches through the confined and grasps the nutrient, just his fist is besides big to slip back through the bars -- and he is determined non to let go of the food he is belongings. He is now captive, and can exist led effectually by the concatenation on the muzzle.
I've never tested this out with a real monkey, but it illustrates how our grasping desire to concord onto our wealth can enslave united states of america and render us prisoners to our possessions. Just when we release them tin can we be costless. The rich young ruler could accept get free. But unwilling to permit go, he remains a convict.
Salvation is incommunicable for men to accomplish past their own efforts. Just God does the impossible in rescuing the states, cleansing us, making us holy, and changing our hearts. How hard it is for the rich to enter the Kingdom -- impossible, in fact. Just possible through God.
Leaving All We Have (Luke 18:28)
"Peter said to him, 'We have left all we had to follow you!' (18:28)
Peter, frequently the spokesman for the group, sees the rich immature ruler who is unwilling to give up everything to follow Jesus. The human being has been unable. Only impetuous Peter says, "We've left everything! We've done what this rich man has been unable to practice." Matthew'south Gospel adds the implied question, "What then will there exist for us?" (Matthew 19:27b).
I don't think Peter's question arises from greed. Peter has only heard Jesus offer the rich young ruler "treasure in heaven." I think Peter is actually asking, "If the rich young ruler can exchange all of his fabulous wealth for treasure in heaven that allows him to inherit eternal life, what volition nosotros receive since nosotros oasis't given up anywhere nearly equally much."
Peter says, still, "We take left all nosotros had." They have no more than to give just their all. Aye, Peter may have still owned a boat rented out to other fisherman. And his married woman probably still lives in the family unit home in Capernaum. Peter doesn't irrevocably distribute all his coin to the poor. But Peter and his friends practise surrender everything they have of value to follow -- the condolement of their homes and wives and children, their condition in the customs, a place to sleep at nighttime, relative security compared to the death-threats of Jesus' growing list of enemies. Peter and his friends have given up everything they had to requite in order to follow Jesus -- everything that has dimensions of space and fourth dimension.
I wonder if we tin fail give up less than our all to serve Jesus and however be counted as disciples? Equally nosotros considered in the previous lesson, to enter the Kingdom volition take all we have and more. The Kingdom with its hope of salvation is similar the Pearl of Slap-up Price for which the merchant exchanges everything he has (Matthew thirteen:45-46). The Kingdom with its promise of salvation is like Hidden Treasure for which a man sells all he has and purchases the field in which treasure is buried (Matthew 13:44).
Jesus has specifically told his disciples, "Any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple" (14:33). This isn't just a requirement of the rich young ruler, it is required of all united states of america disciples.
Rewards of Post-obit (Luke eighteen:29-xxx)
Jesus answers Peter'south question simply and fully:
"'I tell you the truth,' Jesus said to them, 'no one who has left dwelling or wife or brothers or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God will fail to receive many times every bit much in this historic period and, in the historic period to come, eternal life.'" (18:29-30)
He doesn't say that somehow the rich young ruler volition receive more than in the Kingdom. Jesus lists the various kinds of sacrifices his disciples accept made for the sake of the Kingdom -- leaving homes, wives, brothers, parents, and children -- and promises that they volition receive many times every bit much in this age, that is, in this present life.
Marker and Matthew are even more specific: 100 times as much. In other words -- super abundantly, far more than than they take given up! But Mark reminds the states that these temporal rewards have a complement -- "and with them, persecutions" (Mark 10:30).
Is this a literal promise or a figurative i? The persecutions are literal enough! I think the promise is figurative, that Jesus is referring to precious relationships in the family of God that compensate for the natural family relationships we may demand to give up so we tin choose to follow Jesus. In some Muslim countries today, when a person becomes a Christian his family considers him to be dead -- and some feel duty-bound to help him towards expiry. The bonds of dear of Christians are our reward. How much we Christians must fulfill Jesus' saying,
"By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one some other" (John 13:35)!
Merely there is a sense in which Jesus' promise is literal, too. In Marker'due south Gospel Jesus includes "lands." The platitude is really truthful! We tin can't out-give God. Whatsoever nosotros give him he returns many-fold, in this life and in eternity.
Jesus' Third Prediction of His Death (Luke xviii:31-34)
At commencement glance the tertiary prediction of Jesus' death may seem unconnected to Jesus' teaching that precedes it regarding giving upwards everything:
"Jesus took the Twelve aside and told them, 'Nosotros are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written by the prophets almost the Son of Man will be fulfilled. He will be handed over to the Gentiles. They will mock him, insult him, spit on him, flog him and kill him. On the third day he will rise again.'
The disciples did not empathize whatsoever of this. Its pregnant was hidden from them, and they did not know what he was talking about." (18:31-34)
Certainly, this is a different topic. Merely in another manner it concludes this section past Jesus sharing with his disciples how very much he is willing to give up for their sakes. Information technology isn't but we who are asked to give. Jesus gave his all to follow the Male parent'southward will and to requite usa eternal life, the greatest treasure of all. Jesus' disciples can't comprehend this -- it makes no sense to them at all. Just after it takes place, they remember that he had said it. His death is no fluke, his resurrection is no afterthought. It is part of God's plan.
Lessons for Disciples
What are we disciples to larn from this week's lesson?
- The reality that our possessions can brand it impossible to inherit eternal life.
- That we must give up everything nosotros take to follow Jesus. Following is not just a religious phrase, information technology will cost us everything we have.
- God makes conservancy possible, though achieving salvation is incommunicable to united states. Salvation is the gift of God.
- God will reward us in this life for whatever sacrifices nosotros are chosen on to make. We cannot outgive God. He will as well reward u.s.a. in the age to come with eternal life. Sacrifices accept both a temporal and eternal advantage.
Through Jesus, God, too, gives that which is nearly precious to him. Jesus is willing to give his all. This talk of giving is non ane-sided, but is integral to the very nature of the Gospel itself.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, I tin can exist and so cheap and stingy towards y'all. I see in myself a tendency to want to give only what you crave -- and that just grudgingly -- not all of myself freely to you. Forgive me. Teach me how to give of myself without complaint. And teach me to be able to receive the arable blessings you desire to give me both here and in sky. Thank you for your ain unmeasured souvenir of Jesus Christ the Lord. In His proper noun, I pray. Amen.
Key Verse
"Peter said to him, 'We have left all we had to follow you!'
'I tell you lot the truth,' Jesus said to them, "no i who has left domicile or married woman or brothers or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God will fail to receive many times every bit much in this age and, in the age to come, eternal life.'" (Luke 18:28-30)
Questions
Click on the link below to discuss on the forum 1 or more of the questions that follow -- your choice.
http://www.joyfulheart.com/forums/topic/1997-81-leaving-all/
- Why is impossible for rich people to enter the Kingdom of God? Is information technology actually impossible? Is Jesus speaking in hyperbole in order to make a point? Why or why not? (eighteen:24-27)
- How is Peter's question in 18:28 similar to Jesus' direction in 18:22? In what sense must disciple surrender everything to follow Jesus? How literally should we take this?
- Are the rewards Jesus promises in 18:29-30 literal or figurative?
- How do Jesus' sacrifices to follow the Father'south will parallel our own sacrifices to follow Jesus? What are the points of comparing? What are the points of dissimilarity? (eighteen:31-34)
Endnotes
Abbreviations and References
[787] Marshall, Luke, p. 687 cites Ber. 55b; BM 38b; Strack and Billerback I, 828, dating from the tertiary century Advertizement.
[788] See Otto Michael, TDNT 3:592-594. Marshall, Luke, p. 687.
[789] Dyskolos, BDAG 265.
Copyright © 2022, Ralph F. Wilson. <pastor
dangelogookishe1942.blogspot.com
Source: http://www.jesuswalk.com/luke/081-leaving-all.htm
0 Response to "what did jesus disciples give up to follow him"
Post a Comment