Sermons

Matthew 19:16-30 Winning our world like Jesus (pt. 2).

Intro: When this Gospel is given, most people turn away.

• What’s worse is watering it down, where people feel safe when not.

 

• Giving a solid message is less @/intellect (affects mind) and more conviction.
  • Cannot think your way into heaven, any more than you can work your way or buy your way or punish yourself into heaven.
    • Christ’s only demand is full surrender.
      • This is believing in who he is and what he has done.
      • Embracing him by faith alone.

 

• Watering down, gospel disregards the need for engaging heart convictions.
  • A watered-down gospel misses the heart.
  • Is drained of its power to save.

[Appl] You may have heard that one of the most popular evangelicals of our era, Rick Warren was voted out of the SBC this past week at 88%. This, due to his position women pastors. Issue of egalitarianism verses complementarianism. I believe the real issue beneath the issue is where the SBC has lost confidence in Rick Warren’s lack of convictions.

• Culture, falling in a death spiral as a backdrop to this decisions, exposing when there is slide from truth. Like never before, does our world need gospel-convictional churches with a real and powerful answer. A conviction-driven church w/conviction-driven gospel.  

[TRANS] This section along with Mark and Luke’s account, puts us on the front row for how Jesus presents conviction-driven, gospel.

[Prop] Jesus two-part “how to” school of evangelism.

Review

1. Christ’s evangelistic approach (vv. 16-22).

 

1. Providence (v. 16a)
2. Question (v. 16b)
3. Discernment (v. 17)
4. Exposure (vv. 18-20)
5. Challenge (v. 21)
6. Choice (v. 22)

 

1. Christ’s evangelistic debrief (vv. 23-30).

 

1. Diagnostic (v. 23)

[KEY] X’s immediate analysis says, rich man’s rejection, not exception but the norm.

• Ruler’s rejection, example of most facing, conviction-driven Gospel.
  • Hard to let go of wealth’s grip.
  • His allegiance was elsewhere, and Jesus knew it.

[Appl] Issue was never money in and of itself.

Patriarchs and Job all had wealth and resources (Abraham, David, Solomon, Joseph of Arimathea). Paul told Philemon to count, loss of the fleeing slave Onesimus, to be put against his account.

Xians called as stewards of what God provides, so we can eat and take care of loved ones and be generous. To avoid laziness. To work. To run away from debt.

Never called to a life of magical thinking, where because we are Christ’s children, we are not responsible.

When money becomes your highest end is when in trouble. Stewardship and idolatry draw a very fine line. Someone’s heart and trust and stewardship are not contradistinctive but are concomitant realities.

• Jesus uses the word “difficulty” (v. 23) (repeated in Mark and Luke’s account).
  • Describes the war in someone’s heart who will not let go of their false god to follow Jesus.
    • Jesus defines dilemma in terms of heart.
    • Not actions.

[Appl] You cannot give your way into heaven, so this is the matter of full surrender. Jesus knew this man’s heart was still hard on the inside, though outwardly confessed a willingness to do anything to have eternal life. He had “a progressive darkening” [Hughes].

• The man went away sorrowful (cf. v. 22) because “he had great possessions” meaning he loved having so much as security.

 

• Jesus not blaming himself for this man’s response.
  • Not method, not message.
  • Jesus puts blame on man’s unchanged heart condition.

[Illus] Jesus would be a total failure in terms of every missions and evangelism course. What about winning this young man with culture or contextualizing?

[Illus] I fought this battle in ministry classes at LU. The youth pastors became senior pastors and kept a youth Phil Of Min. “Use culture to reach culture.” I was blasted for standing for preaching depth, leaving the breadth to sovereign God.

• “…only with difficulty” (v. 23).
  • Meaning, “…only with making this difficult decision.”
  • To let go of your love for the world.”

 

• He was a “rich” “young” “ruler.”
  • Had money, health, and power.
    • Lust for money exposed what he was truly trusting in.
    • Humble renunciation of trusting in these power-attributes is what’s difficult.   

 

1. Diagram (v. 24)

[TRANS] Jesus goes on in v. 14 to describe what means w/a picture.

“…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” (v. 24).

• Been misrepresented as illustration of stripping down your camel.
  • To squeeze through the “needle gate” – entry point into city of Jerusalem.

[Illus] Commentators have said that in addition to the various gates of Jerusalem, there was a small entrance known as the eye of the needle. It was not normally used by caravan traders, but in a pinch, by forcing a camel to its knees and prodding it forward, a trader could use the opening to enter the city. That’s a great story, but there is absolutely no scholarly confirmation that there ever was such a gate by that name in or around Jerusalem. Jesus is using hyperbole. [Sproul]

[App] If this was Jesus’ illustration, then it misses the core point Jesus is making. As if to say, all you need to do is strip away your finances so you can follow Jesus into heaven. This smack of works-based asceticism. Going without, so you can get in. Jesus instead is using to hyperbole, picturing the largest animal in Israel being thread through the eye of a literal needle.

[Illus] The Talmud (Jewish commentary of the law) uses this same hyperbole to make a different point: “It is easier for an elephant to go through the eye of a needle” which is likewise ridiculous. The elephant was largest animal in the middle east and the camel was largest in Israel. Both make the point of impossibility.

[POINT] Someone trusting in their wealth renders salvation an impossibility.  

 

1. Disillusionment (v. 25)

[KEY] The disciples, still thinking in a man-centered way, are “greatly astonished,” saying, “Who then can be saved?’” (v. 25).

[Appl] Their rhetorical question is (underlying) question for the church; the question of compromise.

[Point] Instead of being too critical of disciples or modern-day church, understand their astonishment, fueled by a good motivation.

• Wanted salvation for all, so pushed back on X’s standard.
  • Gospel, too hard w/standard too high.
    • Wonder if their astonishment was from X being 100% clear that he knew he was not being too hard on the rich, young, ruler.
    • “Jesus’ message and method needed dialing back.
      • This young talent was turned off by this message.
      • Too uncomfortable and too costly to join.

 

• So, Jesus if you are going to keep the standard up here, then we are incredulous.

[Key] Thus their rhetorical question, “Who then can be saved?”

• If he can’t get in, someone clean cut, w/o a checkered past, who has leadership qualities:
  • Then who’s to say that I qualify?”
• Same questions the church asks today.

“Where can we water things down to the level of social acceptance, so as many as we call out to, will come in?”

 

1. Determination (v. 26)

[KEY] This was the question Jesus was waiting to answer.

• “…with man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible” (v. 26).
  • Clear X’s dealing w/heart change.

Only when someone concludes w/o God’s intervention, heaven is impossible.

Only then is salvation possible.  

 

1. Demand (v. 27)

[KEY] I want to go out on a limb (possible conjecture), assuming on Peter’s motivation.

• Expecting nothing less than Peter’s boldness and brashness.
  • Borderline inappropriate address to X.
    • Exasperation, in response to X.
    • “See…we have left everything”
      • Luke 18:28 he adds, “we have left our homes…”
      • “And followed you.”

 

• “What then will we have?”

 

• Appears, passive/aggressive.
  • You could believe this an innocent affirmation of what X demands.
    • Peter still is saying, if X’s demand is being met, then what will we get in return, on the other side?

 

• Peter still working through a works-righteous mentality?

 

• Peter may have expected X to overthrow Rome.
  • A political blessing now (why pulls his sword soon after this).
  • X’s answer is not based on here but heaven.

 

1. Declaration (vv. 28-29)

 

1. To the twelve

[KEY] What is unexpected, X is gracious back to Peter (…disciples), declaring promises of heaven.

“Jesus does not castigate the disciples for being mercenary” [Ex. Bible Comm.].

• “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” (v. 28).
• A lot packed in declaration.
  • “Truly” [amnv] transliterated A’men [“let it be!”].
  • Will happen for “you who have followed…”

[Question] “What is going to happen?”

• “new world” [ἐν τῇ παλιγγενεσίᾳ] “in the regeneration.”
  • Meaning “realm of the reborn.”
    • Titus 3:5

^ESV  Titus 3:5 he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, (Tit 3:5 ESV)

^ESV  Acts 3:21 whom heaven must receive until the time for restoring all the things about which God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets long ago. (Act 3:21 ESV)

• “the Son of Man” will sit on his rightful throne.
  • Then co-regency given to the “twelve.”
  • This is grace.

 

• Peter’s nearing belligerence, while Jesus responds with visions of heaven.
  • Could indicate Peter’s pure statement?
    • I think context of 19, pushes otherwise.
    • BTW, how Christ is toward us?

[Question] “What is heaven like?”

• No less personable than interactions btwn/X and disciples, but w/o sin.
• Reborn, sinless state is why Jesus foretells their role over the twelve tribes.

 

• I understand twelve tribes here represents unbelieving Israel.
• Opposite, believing 12 Apostles (Matthias would take Judas’ seats).

 

• What role will have in heaven is not dependent upon our self-righteousness but based on Christ’s righteousness given to us.

 

• Why we give conviction-driven Gospel – results are so high and completely up to God.

 

• Bible gives a clear window into this privilege.

^ESV  1 Corinthians 6:1-3 When one of you has a grievance against another, does he dare go to law before the unrighteous instead of the saints?

² Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world is to be judged by you, are you incompetent to try trivial cases?

³ Do you not know that we are to judge angels? How much more, then, matters pertaining to this life! (1Co 6:1-3 ESV)

 

^ESV  Revelation 2:26 The one who conquers and who keeps my works until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations, (Rev 2:26 ESV)

 

^ESV  Revelation 3:21 The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne. (Rev 3:21 ESV)

 

^ESV  Revelation 20:4 Then I saw thrones, and seated on them were those to whom the authority to judge was committed. Also I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. (Rev 20:4 ESV)

 

^ESV  Revelation 21:12-14 It had a great, high wall, with twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and on the gates the names of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel were inscribed—

¹³ on the east three gates, on the north three gates, on the south three gates, and on the west three gates.

¹⁴ And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. (Rev 21:13-14 ESV) (Rev 21:12 ESV)

 

1. To everyone who follows

[KEY] Promise multiplies to all willing to follow Christ.

[Question] “What will someone need to be willing to leave?”

“And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for my name’s sake…” (v. 29).

• Actual or metaphorical?
  • In terms of willingness, actual.
  • Case by case situations make, actual.

 

• X’s never asking leave anyone, in a way contrary to Scripture.
  • Sensitive categories to consider.
    • “Houses” (what Peter mentioned) means your security.
      • Home base and basic livelihood.
        • Your immediate and extended family.
        • Your “children” (v. 29).
          • Morbid unless adults.
          • Openly rejects the Lord and truth.

 

• Your “lands” is your wealth in toto.
  • Called to steward.
  • Categories represent person’s heart.

[Question] “What does everyone receive; willing to sell out for Christ?”

[KEY] They receive “…a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life” (v. 29).

• Not 100 more, but one hundredfold, 100x what the twelve receive.

“I like Jesus’ math. He does not say 100 percent more, but a hundredfold more! One house gone; but a hundred doors open! One brother in the flesh lost; but a thousand brothers in the spirit, whose love is deeper” [Hughes].  

^ESV  Acts 2:42-47 And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.

⁴³ And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles.

⁴⁴ And all who believed were together and had all things in common.

⁴⁵ And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need.

⁴⁶ And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts,

⁴⁷ praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved. (Act 2:42-47 ESV)

 

• What this practically means in terms of heaven is undisclosed.
  • Jesus makes clear, following X means, co-regent w/X.
  • BTW, you receive what the rich young ruler wanted, “inheriting eternal life” (v. 29).

 

1. Diffusion (v. 30)

[Question] “Who are the first and who are the last?”

• Like the parable of the day-laborer, each laborer receives the same day’s wage, whether working an all-day shift or being looped in for the final hours.

 

• “How is this fare?”
  • The point is that it isn’t!
    • Fare for sinners is eternal Hell.
    • Meaning anyone who is brought into the kingdom is there by grace and grace alone.

 

• One person said, “first will be last, and the last first” means, no matter how the runners take off and run their race, in the final leg, all the runners cross the finish line at the same time.

 

• All grateful because all unearned and ill-deserved.
  • This is grace.
  • Grace is a one hundredfold reward.

Conclusion: While originally typing this sermon, I was connected on a zoom-like call (as a study group) w/a young man whom I have never met.

He saw the pictures I have of some church history heroes I have on my wall.

He began to name each of them and used this to bridge into asking me about my personal testimony.

I gladly began to share my conversion story, what it was to be born again at age 17 and to enter a living relationship with Christ.

He astutely asked me to define being born again and then followed this with the question how I know, or someone knows they are born again? I took my opportunity, to say the least.

After about 5 to 10 minutes, pouring my heart out, this man from southern California shifted gears, naming modern reformed preachers as those who’s doctrines, beliefs, and being expository preachers had deeply hurt him.

The more I spoke to him, the more he turned his hurt towards me. His hurt turned to anger and attack.

I was able to shift the focus off his angst toward me to truth, sharing about the exchange Jesus had with the rich, young, ruler, stating, all Jesus was doing was holding up the word of God as a mirror to expose where someone needs to repent.

The word reveals the area that someone will need to let go of, to fully follow Christ. In the case of this man, I quoted Galatians 5:22, the fruit of the Spirit, to expose what this man was lacking.

Though he was hurt, he was also angry. Not gentile, not gracious, but angry and hostile. The truth slowed him, but he would not budge.

I told him that though he had been hurt, I was not the one who had hurt him and that my heart is solely to follow Christ (not mere men or not theological schemas).

I showed him my open Bible, I was using to write my sermon. Nevertheless, this man was angry, and I conveyed to him how his anger made me sad.

We parted and he, like the rich, young, ruler left “sorrowing.”

 

[Question] “Did I fail?” “Did Jesus fail?” No, why?

Simply, because I did lower the standard and I spoke to him with love.

Mark’s account, says Jesus, “…looking at him, loved him” (cf. Mk. 10:21).  

^ESV  Mark 10:21 And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” (Mar 10:21 ESV)

The goal of our instruction is love.

This applies to evangelizing.

God will make his determination on this man’s soul, but we will leave this with God.

When you understand God is in charge with the outcomes of every relationship, then you can rest in Jesus’ message, method, and outcome!