Understanding Greatness (Matthew 19:13-30)
I have tried to teach others math on occasion. I have learned that many people like to just memorize the process instead of understanding it. I sympathize with them. It takes much more time to understand than it does to memorize. In some cases, it's challenging for me to wrap my head around why we do this or that. I will occasionally just memorize the process too. But it is always better to understand why. People who just do the work without understanding are missing out.
Think of the spiritual side of this. How many people just want to know the right things they need to do? Wouldn't it be easier just to memorize the process required by God and become efficient at it? God should just give us a simple rulebook to follow. Then, everyone would gain eternal life. It would be so much easier. We don't want to take the time to understand things. We just want to be told what to do and do it. Then, we can move on to more important things.
Let The Children Come
Everyone around Jesus is like that in the section we have been studying in Matthew. They want to know the details of the process, but they don't really understand the bigger picture. The disciples especially fail to understand.
Matthew 19:13--15 (ESV) --- 13 Then children were brought to him that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples rebuked the people, 14 but Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.” 15 And he laid his hands on them and went away.
This event sticks in our minds and helps us see the gentle and tender side of Jesus. He is so compassionate and caring. There is nothing that draws us to him more than this aspect. People are bringing him their children to have him lay hands on them and pray. Why would they do that? It doesn't indicate that the child has any sickness or infirmity. But they are being touched by Jesus, and he is praying over them. You get the sense that the parents want Jesus to bless these children.
But the disciples don't really like how they are monopolizing Jesus' time. He has more important things to do than bless a bunch of children. He could be healing people or teaching people about the kingdom. That's what he has always done in the past, after all. So they start rebuking the people and telling them to leave Jesus alone. Jesus responds by telling them that he wants the children to come to him. They are as much a part of his mission as everyone else. He says, "To such belongs the kingdom of heaven." Do we see how they have completely missed the big picture? Somehow, they failed to really understand Jesus' purpose.
This is a sweet story of Jesus' affection toward children. We love to sing Jesus Loves The Little Children and Jesus Loves Me. But there is an important lesson that we just learned in the last chapter that should be standing out to us. Back in Chapter 18, he took a small child and placed him or her in the disciples' midst. Then, he said, "Unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven." That little event is essential! Matthew brings up Jesus interacting with children again to emphasize the same idea: God will accept only humble disciples into the kingdom. The small, seemingly insignificant children possess a quality that needs to be in us all. They can approach Jesus and find complete acceptance.
A Great Man
The next story is intended to really hit home on this idea of greatness through humility. They have missed the big picture up until now. Maybe this event will help.
Matthew 19:16--24 (ESV) --- 16 And behold, a man came up to him, saying, “Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?” 17 And he said to him, “Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. If you would enter life, keep the commandments.” 18 He said to him, “Which ones?” And Jesus said, “You shall not murder, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness, 19 Honor your father and mother, and, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 20 The young man said to him, “All these I have kept. What do I still lack?” 21 Jesus said to him, “If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” 22 When the young man heard this he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. 23 And Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly, I say to you, only with difficulty will a rich person 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 person to enter the kingdom of God.”
"What Good Deed?"
First, notice that in this recording of this event, the man asks Jesus, "Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?" To this, Jesus responds, "Why do you ask me about what is good?" I think it is necessary to understand what is being asked of both parties because Other gospels use this story differently. Here the ruler is not calling Jesus "Good Teacher." He is asking Jesus about what is good. To this, Jesus responds with annoyance saying, "There is one who is good. If you would enter life, keep the commandments." Jesus wants to clarify that this man should not be going to a teacher for this information, but he should be going directly to the source. He shouldn't be looking for some new teaching all the time. Instead, he should focus his mind and heart on the teaching God has given him from the beginning. Those commandments are what God has prescribed for life.
"Which Commands?"
The second stage of the conversation takes an odd turn. The man asks, "Which ones?" Why would he ask that? Is he hoping to skip out on some, or is he just wanting to really focus his attention on a few that Jesus considers extremely important? We don't know, but Jesus starts to summarize the Ten Commandments for him in response. As we hear these commands coming out of Jesus' mouth, let's evaluate ourselves to see if we will obtain eternal life. Have we ever murdered, committed adultery, stolen, lied, disrespected our parents, or failed to love our neighbor as ourselves? These are really just the second half of God's Ten Commandments. The Ten Commandments have four commands about loving God and six commands about loving others.
"What Else?"
The third stage gets even weirder as the man claims to have kept all of those commands. Who here would say that they have kept the commands of God completely? This man says he has done all that, but he still doesn't feel like he has done enough to please God. At this point, we have to recognize that this man is probably just ignorant of his shortcomings like the rest of the Jews. He wants to receive eternal life. But Jesus' response is not very appreciative of his achievements. This man has failed to see his sin against his brothers. The people might have affirmed these words, but he desires to approach a holy God based on his righteousness. He does not see his sin! Eternal life is not for people who refuse to see their sin.
Jesus places a further requirement on the man to sell all that he has and give it to the poor. Then, he must come and follow Jesus. Why would Jesus place that requirement on this man? That seems so unfair!
Think About Greatness
Consider the similarities of what this man is doing and what the disciples asked at the beginning of Chapter 18. He sees eternal life as something that he can only earn by going above and beyond the law of God. But Jesus is trying to help him see that he needs to lower himself. He needs to let go of his achievements and abilities because he is heading in the opposite direction from where God wants him to be. God wants him to see that he is not good enough. He wants him to see that becoming good enough is one of the most impossible things anyone can ever do.
Riches and outstanding achievements have blinded him to how small he is. He is on the opposite end of the spectrum from the humble child. He may seem humble as he asks Jesus what he must do, but inside he is proud of his accomplishments. He doesn't want to lose what he has acquired up until this point. That is his identity. Jesus wants to make it clear that people who trust in themselves will always, always, always end up empty and unsatisfied. They think that eternal life is simply a reward for those who do their best. They overlook their shortcomings and think that they are doing "good enough." Then they feel empty, so they seek something more that they must do. Eventually, they become depressed because nothing seems to make them feel "good enough." The truth is that the law was given so that we could see our sin.
Romans 7:7 (ESV) --- 7 What then shall we say? That the law is sin? By no means! Yet if it had not been for the law, I would not have known sin. For I would not have known what it is to covet if the law had not said, “You shall not covet.”
Galatians 3:22 (ESV) --- 22 But the Scripture imprisoned everything under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.
Instead of seeing that they can't earn it, they just keep pressing on after failure. Those who are like this rich man can't forsake all the work they have done up until this point. They can't humble themselves and approach God with nothing. They can't possibly believe that will be enough for God. So they heap up monumental works to earn it, but the answer is always, "No, that's not enough."
1. We aren't Good Enough
The rich young ruler went away sorrowful because he finally understood that he wasn't good enough. He actually loved his possessions more than he loved God. The truth is that he loved his possessions more than he loved his neighbor as well. If he really loved his neighbor as himself, he wouldn't have had any problem giving his money to the poor. He is failing to keep the commandments.
What about us? Are we tempted to love our possessions more than we love God and each other? I can't tell you how many times I have wondered if I have done enough to please God. I ask myself, "What am I lacking?" and the number is too high to keep count. But this story is here because we need to understand we haven't done enough. We are pursuing perfection, but all of our law-keeping does not make us perfect. We, too, will never get there. We need to have that perspective because God blesses the poor in spirit.
Think long and hard about the phrase, "With man it is impossible, but with God all things are possible." If you have spent your life seeking some list of things you must do to be "good enough" for God to love you, please let that pursuit go. Jesus did not call all mankind to sell everything they own to be forgiven and made perfect. He called them to be humble. Then, he died to make the humble perfect.
The Disciples Don't Understand
Matthew 19:25--26 (ESV) --- 25 When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished, saying, “Who then can be saved?” 26 But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
The disciples are blown away that Jesus wouldn't add this man to the group. Here is a man who seems extremely faithful to God. Plus, he's rich. That's a massive bonus for the disciples. But we see that Jesus doesn't look at people based on the external. He cares about the heart. The heart of this man is that he can do it, but Jesus says, "With man it is impossible." It is only with God that eternal life is possible.
Don't miss the point as the disciples did. Don't think, as I have in the past, that God can make it possible for us to sell all that we have and earn it. If we think that, we are entirely missing the point. The point is that we need to give up on me accomplishing anything. It's not about me! Why do I have to make everything about me? If I have eternal life, it is not going to be because I have been good enough. I have heard so many people who look honestly at themselves, and they say, "I hope God accepts me." They are completely unsure about their salvation like this rich young ruler. They are thinking, "I just don't know if I've done enough." They want it badly. They want the peace, joy, hope, and love that God is offering. They would do almost anything to get it. Believe me when I say, "We haven't done enough, and we will never do enough."
2. We Think About Ourselves Too Much
I think sometimes I make everything about myself. What does this text tell me I need to do? What am I doing wrong? How can I do a better job? But eternal life does not start and end with me. If it did, it would be impossible to achieve. The disciples are in this weird, confusing stage where they can't understand what Jesus is saying. They don't see that eternal life starts with God's gift of Jesus. When we receive that gift, we must see that we owe God everything we have. He is worthy of all praise and glory and honor. He can use whatever I have to his glory. After we receive that gift, we can ask, "What now?" But the answer to that question is not a list of things that we can do to earn eternal life. That is already ours in Christ. That list contains what we want to do because of what we have been given.
The Reward For Sacrifice
Peter picks up on this teaching. He understands that the only way to receive eternal life and enter the kingdom is by letting go of this world. Then, he points out that they have done this, and he asks Jesus what they will receive for doing this. Jesus doesn't disappoint them. He explains that they will sit on their own thrones and receive a hundredfold of what they left behind. They will inherit eternal life and so much more.
Matthew 19:27--29 (ESV) --- 27 Then Peter said in reply, “See, we have left everything and followed you. What then will we have?” 28 Jesus said to them, “Truly, I say to you, in the new world, when the Son of Man will sit 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 lands, for my name’s sake, will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life.
It sounds like Jesus agrees with Peter. He and the other disciples have made great sacrifices, and God will reward all who do that in the new world. What a tremendous promise!
“But”
Matthew 19:30 (ESV) --- 30 But many who are first will be last, and the last first.
Notice the warning in the last verse. The first word is "But." They have all of this hope and promise, "But," He says, "The first will be last and the last first." What does that mean? That means that the disciples have to understand humility before they can receive that reward. They have to be small in their own eyes. They have to become like children. Peter's statement that they have left all shows that they are proud of themselves. That doesn't sound very humble. They might be inclined to look down their noses at that rich man.
3. Greatness Means Letting Go
Should we sell everything we own and give the money away? Sure, but don't back down in the middle of the deal like Ananias and Saphira! In all seriousness, we should be willing to do great works of faith for God’s glory. He is worthy of everything we have, but never think that will earn us salvation. Jesus promises a great reward in heaven, but only for those who have made themselves last.
Jesus was trying to help the man see that he won't make it based on his own effort. There is one thing we can all do. We can let go of our life. We have to let go of our ability to do "enough." It's not about what you can do for God; it's about accepting what he has done for you. Then, we gradually learning to let go of our lives, humbly submitting everything you have gained or ever will achieve to him. Paul said in Philippians that he gladly let go of all his accomplishments for the surpassing value of knowing Christ. We must do the same. I wonder if Paul is this rich young ruler. Wouldn't that be neat? If we sacrifice much for God, he promises to reward us bountifully. But not with eternal life. That is his gift to those who humble themselves.
Conclusion
Do we see how this whole section of the book has been about being small in our own eyes? That’s what greatness is all about. The last verse in this chapter is the beginning of the next. It will continue down this same path. Why do the disciples struggle with humility? They have fallen into the trap of the rich young ruler. They want to know how they can make themselves great or "good enough." But throughout all of this, Jesus wants the disciples to let go of their own accomplishments, give up on earning eternal life, and pursue knowing Christ sacrificially.
Do we understand? 1. We are too small and too weak to accomplish what will give us eternal life. We need God's help like a humble child. We must not think that we can ever be good enough to deserve God's grace. 2. When we study scriptures, it should be our goal to think about what God has done first and what we should do in response second. 3. To be the greatest in the kingdom of heaven, we must let go of this world and pursue God's glory.