Reading: Luke 18:15–19:10
In Luke 18:15-17 people are bringing
little children to Jesus that He might touch them. The disciples
think they need to help Jesus by putting a stop to this. Jesus
rebukes the disciples with a very well known saying, “Let the
little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom
of God belongs to such as these.”
It is what He says next, however, that I want to draw attention to
right now, for it sets up
the next three stories.
“Truly I
tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a
little child will never enter it.” (Luke
18:17)
What
does it mean to receive the kingdom of God like a little child? What
does it look like when one does receives it like a child, and
therefore enters the kingdom? I
believe the next three accounts answer these questions through the
responses of three different men. Which one best represents how you
have responded to the kingdom of God?
A
Sad Man (Luke
18:18-30)
A
ruler who had great wealth came to Jesus to ask how to inherit
eternal life. Rich rulers
are supposed to be very happy people.
This man had an air of self-confidence. Initially Jesus instructed
him to keep the commandments which this man professes to have done
since he was a child (Luke 18:20-21). Jesus informs 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.” (Luke 18:22)
The
one thing this man lacks is treasure in heaven.1
Jesus is offering this man a treasure that is greater than the wealth
and power he already has. One
might expect this man to be very happy to have the answer to the what
he pursued since a youth, but he is not.
23When
he heard this, he became very sad, because he was very
wealthy. 24Jesus looked at him and said, “How hard it is
for the rich to enter the kingdom of God! 25Indeed, 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.” …27Jesus
replied, “What is impossible
with man is possible with God.”
He became sad because he was very
wealthy. Before question why he would respond this way, consider:
How happy are you when you hear someone say, “Jesus isn't asking
all of us to sell everything and give to the poor, he was only asking
this man to do it because...?” If hearing that makes you
happy, it may be evidence that you too would have walked away sad.
Why would anyone walk away sad at the offer of Jesus to have
treasure in heaven? Because we are blind to the realities of
eternal life. We see our stuff, and we don't see the treasure in
heaven. In order to come to Jesus like a little child, we need to be
able to see treasure in heaven for the reality that it is. This man
could not.
Why is it so hard for the rich to
enter the kingdom of God. Because they can see earthly wealth so
clearly. They have comfort and ease; they don't long for another
day, a better place. They don't carelessly or foolishly, like little
children, just get rid of everything to follow Jesus. They have to
measure the costs; they have to think about the long term
ramifications; they have responsibilities; they have a reputation to
uphold. It is as hard for them
(us?) to take up this offer as it is for a camel to go through the
eye of a needle. The illustration is clear and simple: a
camel cannot go through the eye of a needle—it is impossible!2
This wealthy ruler left very sad
because he was not receiving the kingdom like a child but like an
important, powerful, comfortable person. This outcome shocks the
disciples (Luke 18:26). This man must be a likely candidate for salvation
since God has so evidently blessed him. They would never guess the next man to be a candidate for salvation.
A Desperate Man (Luke
18:35-43)
As Jesus is approaching Jericho, a
blind man is sitting there begging. Hearing the noise of the passing
crowd he asks what all the commotion is about. Then he began
shouting and could not be quieted. Just like the little children who
were rebuked for coming to Jesus, this blind man is rebuked for his
desperate pursuit of Jesus. It is as if the disciples are saying,
“Jesus has time for wealthy rulers, but not little
children or blind men.”
Jesus
asked him what he wanted: “Lord,
I want to see!” This
man understood his inability to see. He knew it was impossible; he
needed God's help, and he received it. He
received the kingdom like a child.
A
Child (Luke
19:1-10)
Now,
if we aren't careful, we might stop reading at the end of Luke 18 and
think, “Rich people can't get into the kingdom, but blind people
can.” (Or something like that.) However,
in the next account we have the embodiment of both the rich man and
the blind man in Zacchaeus.
Like the rich ruler, we are told that Zacchaeus is both rich and a
ruling tax collector (Luke 19:2). Like the blind man, we are told he
can't see Jesus and wanted to see (Luke 19:3).
Zacchaeus
won't be stopped: he runs ahead, allowing himself time to climb the
tree before Jesus gets there, and climbs the tree. Like a child he
forgets his power and his wealth, he isn't concerned about his
reputation. He seems to have caught glimpse of something more
valuable than any of it. Jesus comes to the place where Zacchaeus is
He invites Himself over for dinner.
Without
any instruction, Zacchaeus begins ridding himself of his wealth and
helping the poor. He spontaneously rights the wrongs that he has
committed. He is a truly repentant man for he has seen something; he
has seen Someone—the Someone Who is the Kingdom of God. Zacchaeus
didn't do these things sadly; he did them gladly. His
joy seems so foolish to the world—like a child's.
Which
of these three best represents how you have responded to Jesus
Christ?
Have you heard about this kingdom in which your sins are forgiven
because God Himself bore the punishment and guilt of your sin for
you? Would you gladly give up all to follow Him? Is He your
greatest joy?
Love the Gospel, Live the Gospel,
Advance the Gospel,
Jerry
1I
have previously written as to why Jesus is only telling him to do
one thing and not two things (How
Would You Answer This Question?).
2Before
you change that from “impossible” (Luke 18:27) to “difficult”
by thinking there was a gate called “the eye of a needle” which
was so small that a camel needed to be unloaded in order to pass
through, you should know: 1) there is no evidence that such a gate
ever existed. This appears to be a 5th Century A. D. idea that was
offered when the church was experiencing great wealth to explain
away this verse. And, 2) Jesus wasn't making the point that it was
difficult, but that it was impossible. So such an explanation of a
gate doesn't even make sense.
