It Costs Too Much

Luke 18:18-27

Many of the preceding lessons have been parables to teach the disciples basic principles. Today, we get to see a real example of what Jesus has been teaching. Many times the Jewish leaders questions were designed to trap Jesus. The ruler here seems to be sincere, and Jesus treats the question as being sincere.

“And a certain ruler asked him, saying, Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” (Luke 18:18)

Several years ago, a lady commented that she felt a little dumb asking questions when no one else did. One of the men overheard her and asked her to keep on asking the questions because lots of times he had the same question but wasn’t sure how to express it. Further questioning showed that many others felt the same way. That people ask indicates they are considering what they are hearing seriously. By asking, they commit themselves to listen to and think about the answer.

How we deal with the question affects whether they continue to think about what they are learning or just turn us off. Initially, he focuses the man’s attention on who is really speaking and why he takes his statements seriously.

“And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? none is good, save one, that is, God.” (Luke 18:19)

If God is the only good one, then he is the only one qualified to answer the question. The opinion of some man on the street is of little value unless you know his qualifications. So what does God say? It is critical that they know what God said before we express our opinion. While Jesus is God, he made sure the man was aware that it was God’s command.

“Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother. And he said, All these have I kept from my youth up.” (Luke 18:20-21)

The man’s response indicates that he was sincerely trying to do what God had commanded, but had the feeling that something was lacking. He was right, but his error was the same that many people make today, thinking that serving God is a matter of mechanically doing certain things. In Matthew 22:36-40, Jesus declares that all the law could be summed up in loving God, and loving those around you. “Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.”

One can mechanically do all the deeds called for under the Law without any real love, just as a guy can buy a girl flowers even though he doesn’t care for her at all. With out love, the deeds lose most of their value, and as Paul says in I Corinthians 13:1-3, they are wasted effort, just as the man felt.

“Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me.”(Luke 18:22)

Jesus challenges him to change his attitude, and put God first, rather than his own goals. It is exactly what he said was necessary in Luke 14:26-27. “If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.” Until God is more important than anything else, we will not be saved.

“And when he heard this, he was very sorrowful: for he was very rich. And when Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful, he said, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God! For 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.” (Luke 18:23-25)

The man clearly wanted salvation, but he was not willing to give up his own life for it. He chose to keep his belongings rather than be saved. As Jesus warns, the more one has, the harder it is to come to Christ by faith.

Many old pueblo cities had very short doors, with the theory that an enemy would have to come in stooped in a position where it would be hard to defend himself and any one with a club of some kind could stop him. Jewish cities had huge gates for daytime use but they also had a night entrance for those who were caught out after hours. They used a similar idea to the Pueblo’s, making it small and putting an intruder at a disadvantage. It was called the eye of the needle because, like threading a needle, it was difficult to get through.

While it was awkward for a man to get through, it was far harder to get a camel through. The camel had to be completely unloaded, then persuaded to get on his belly and bend his head down, them push himself through the opening. It is an unnatural activity for camels, and very difficult for them to do. The larger the camel, the more difficult it becomes to get his legs in position. The more materialistic a person is the harder it is to lay aside their belongings and put the Lord first.

“And they that heard it said, Who then can be saved? And he said, The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.”(Luke 18:26-27)

It is human nature to want things, and it is only by God’s power that we can give them up. Sadly, many who profess Christ are never willing to lay aside their stuff, whether fame, or actual belongings, or a career, or family relationships to please him. Until we are willing, we cannot be his disciples.