Entering the Kingdom of God
Introduction
The 1st parable speaks about children and young people
Children
In times past many children went to Church
This is no longer the case
Jesus entreated children to come to Him as the disciples were trying to prevent parents from bringing their children
Are children being hindered from coming to Church?
What about Christians?
We have a responsibility to teach our children about God – Deut 6
Young People
Some may remember rallies of old
Example of Steve Levy
Today it is very hard – we need much prayer
The 2nd parable speaks about a man – a young man (the other Gospels tell us)
Jesus spoke about the Ten Commandments – He knew what this man needed to hear
Looking at both passages but concentrating on the Rich Young Ruler
What links these passages?
v17, 24, 29
Jesus preaches of the kingdom of God
Not everyone is a child of God
Verse by Verse
The young man asks about eternal life (v18)
Mark’s gospel tells us he is eager / he runs to Jesus
Mark’s gospel tells us he kneels before Jesus
If someone ran to church and knelt down crying out ‘what must I do to have eternal life?’, we would think they were really searching
But what would we say to them?
Example of the Philippian Jailer
Jesus takes a different approach
He knew this man was trusting in his own righteousness
He had kept most, but not all of the law
Do not many today think they are good people and that perhaps there is something more they need to do?
They do not understand that God demands perfection and total obedience
A child comes with nothing and receives everything
This young man cannot trust in himself, but give up these things and come empty handed to God
Salvation is a free gift
Total grace
No self-reliance – just like a child
Challenging the young man as He calls Jesus good (v19)
All humans are sinners but there is only one who is pure and intrinsically good – that is God
Do you understand that Jesus is God?
He is fully good
He never sinned
He is absolutely perfect
Example of Nicodemus – a fellow teacher of the law
Jesus’ life will be a payment for our sin
His righteousness will be transferred to us
The Ten Commandments quoted out of order (v20)
Is there a significance to the order quoted by Jesus?
The young man assumes he has kept all these commandments (v21)
He assumes he is an upright moral man – like Paul
He may certainly be outwardly clean
Jesus tells him there is one thing he lacked – on the commandment He did not quote – covetousness
Why does Jesus say this?
“Through the law comes the knowledge of sin”
No-one will believe in Jesus unless convicted of their sin
The young man may appear outwardly clean but this is not true inside
Jesus tells him to sell everything (v22)
He did not need to say this to Zacchaeus as his heart was already moved to freely payback his ill-gotten riches
Mark’s gospel tells us this young man had many possessions – that he lived for
Not that works would save him but that he repents
Jesus needs to be his highest treasure
If we follow Jesus we will have treasure in heaven (v22)
He could not make the commitment to come under Jesus’ Lordship and follow Him
Example of Ruth and Naomi
Speaking about riches (v24-30)
It is not riches that stop people from going to heaven but the love of riches
With riches comes responsibility
Riches are dangerous
1 Tim 6
Riches become all consuming
It is harder for a camel to go through the eye of a needle (v25)
Example of the Talmud
Jesus uses a similar proverbial saying
The disciples do not understand (v26)
It is impossible for men to save themselves
But God has the power to save
The disciples have given up all (v28)
This may be hard but you will receive provision and blessing
Not to become rich
A pernicious teaching – come to Jesus and He will make you rich
This exalts people to live for riches
To follow Jesus to have, to claim and to get
This is not the Gospel teaching and not found in the Bible
Yes those who work hard will become rich
You must come as a little child – with nothing but your vulnerability
We must rely totally on Jesus Christ
Closing Remarks
Enter through the narrow gate