Luke

By Joyce Webb 2021

Chapter 18     Verses 15-30

Vs. 15 People brought their children to Jesus —so Jesus would bless them. The disciples thought Jesus was too busy to be taking time with children. They tried to stop the children from coming.

But Jesus said to the disciples–Do not stop the children from coming.

Unless everyone has the faith of a little child, he will not enter into heaven.

Children usually believe what they are told. It is easy for them to believe and have faith.

Adults–grown ups— have many doubts. They find it hard to believe things. They find it hard to believe things that they can not completely understand or explain.

It is hard to understand that the Son of God would come into a human body and be willing to die on a cross.

It is hard to understand how he could come alive again.

It is hard to understand that God can forgive sin as bad as murder.

It is hard to understand heaven.

But for us to get to heaven—we have to have faith like a child—and believe that it is true and accept it.

Vs. 18 A leader of the people asked Jesus, “What do I have to do to get eternal life?”

Vs. 19 Jesus said, Why do you call me “good”, there is only one who is good, and that is God.

Jesus is telling the man that if he thinks Jesus is good, then he must be thinking that Jesus is God.

Jesus is God. Maybe the man did not understand that then. But Jesus is trying to get him to see it.

Vs. 20 Then Jesus told him that he should keep the 10 commandments. The man said that he did that—he had done that from the time he was young.

Vs. 21-23 Then Jesus told him to sell all that he had and give it to the poor.

The man was very sad at that answer. The man was very rich.

He turned and walked away from Jesus.

Vs. 24-27 When Jesus saw him walk away, it made Jesus sad.

Jesus said, It is hard for those who are rich to enter into the Kingdom of God—meaning—to become a follower of Christ and a believer.

Vs. 25 Jesus said It is easier for a camel to go through a needle’s eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.

Some Bible teachers explain what Jesus meant by this:

In those days, towns had wall round them. To enter into the town, you went in through a wide gate.

In some walls, there was a small doorway beside the wide gate—it was big enough for a man to go through. Sometimes this was called a “needle’s eye”.

For a camel to go through this small doorway would be very hard and probably impossible.

There are some Bible teachers who say the explanation of the small doorway is an idea that can not be proven in history.

The idea that Jesus is giving is—it is that—- this is an impossible thing.

A camel going through a needle’s eye is an impossible thing, and a rich man giving up all to follow Jesus—-is also a hard thing to happen.

People who are rich—-usually have worked hard to get rich—they trust that all that money will give them a good comfortable life.

They will not easily give it up.

Why would they want to give it all away?

Is getting heaven and eternal life worth all that money? Yes !

Heaven is beautiful. Heaven has no sickness or trouble. Heaven is forever.

A wise man would give everything he had to live in heaven forever.

That is what Jesus is saying.

We look at life here on earth and want a good life. Life here on earth does not last long. Maybe 70-80 years.

Eternity lasts for millions, and millions, and millions of years.

Eternity can be in one of two places—heaven or hell.

Millions, and millions of years in hell?

A wise person would gladly give all their riches to be in heaven and not hell.

We humans think mostly about life here on earth. We find it hard to think beyond our death.

Does God expect us to sell every item we have and live on the street and eat garbage?

No. The idea is —-are you willing to see the importance of heaven and following Jesus.

Do you see that following Jesus to get to heaven is more important than anything you have here on earth?

It is a heart thing. If God asks you to give up your nice house and live in a poorer one—would you be willing to do it for God?

A person who goes as a missionary to Africa or somewhere—gives up living in America —he is willing to give up all the nice things we have in this country to go preach to people.

A person who goes as a missionary to other people—no matter what country he lives in—has to give up being with his family and relatives, give up his home, give up what he is comfortable with—and goes somewhere strange and different.

This is the willingness— God wants from everyone. Are you willing to give up—-“things” of earth—to follow God and what He wants you to do?

Is following God—more important to you than “things” ?

God may not ask you to go be a missionary. But God wants your heart and your willingness to follow Him. He wants you to see that the things you have —are not as important as doing what God wants of you.

 

Vs. 27 Jesus said, The things that are “impossible” with men, are “possible” with God.

It is not natural to our human thinking to give up all that we have to follow Jesus.

Our natural thinking is to save things and be prepared for life so we have what we need to live. We hold on to things. We may need them.

When we open our hearts up to God—and completely trust Him—we have faith—we believe—that God will take care of anything we will need in the future.

We are free to follow Jesus—because we have faith to believe—He will give what we need—-when we need it.

Also, in the Jewish mind—-all their teaching—from Old Testament times—was that God’s blessings of riches and good things—showed that your life was pleasing to God—and he blessed you.

So then—how could having blessings and riches be a problem?

It showed that God was pleased with you.

The problem with riches is—-that as humans—we trust in the riches to have what we need.

If we have a lot of money—-to buy what we need—-we do not have to trust God to give it to us—-we just go buy what we need.

If we have money or insurance to go to a Doctor—-we do not need God to heal us—-we just go to a Doctor.

Does that mean we should not go to a Doctor—-or that we should not have money?

No, but you see how easy it is to trust the money or the Doctor —rather than go to God and trust Him for what you need.

That is the heart of the thing. Trusting God. Putting God first.

Having God be the most important in our life —above all other things.

Vs. 28-30 Peter said to Jesus—we (disciples) have left all and followed you.

The disciples did leave their families for long periods of time to follow Jesus. They lived on offerings that people gave them to take care of themselves and their families.

Jesus said to them—any one who leaves his family—to follow me and do the work for the kingdom of God will receive a reward—now on earth and also in heaven. He will receive much more than he gave up.