Matthew Chapter 19 Verses 13 – 15

• I think this scene is awesome in light of what Jesus was just asked about. What God has joined together, let not man separate…why? So many answers to that question and we covered many of them last week but one answer to that question of why, is the little children…
• It’s no coincidence that this scene is given now…that Jesus makes a big deal about the little ones…because they are trusting in dad to love them, to protect them, to provide for them, to not only teach them what God the Father is like but also show them what God the Father is like…to never leave them nor forsake them…, (for the sake of their mom being so difficult to deal with)…and they are hoping beyond hope, a hope that has no other option on earth, they are hoping beyond hope that mom will love them, care for them, protect and provide for them, to not only teach them what God the loving Savior is like but also show them what their loving Savior is like…to never leave them nor forsake them…(for the sake of their dad being so difficult to deal with)…but the truth is, divorce forsakes the children…and so Jesus beckons them in this powerful succession scene…certainly no coincidence…

• Jon Courson points out that the parallel account given to us by Luke in Luke 18:15 says, “Then they also brought infants to Him that He might touch them…” And Jon points something out that I think is fantastic…that they word “they” in Luke 18:15 is given to us in the masculine gender…in other words, it was fathers…fathers were the ones that brought the little ones to Jesus. And notice this, Luke also tells us that these were little littles…infants…and thus we as a church today bring infants still to the Lord in baby dedications…

Matthew Chapter 19 Verse 16

• Now notice this as we enter this scene…there is a stark difference between the approach of this one and the approach of the father back in Matthew 17. Back there the father approached Jesus, it says, “A man came to Him, kneeling down to Him and saying, “Lord…”” But here we read this, “One came and said to Him, “Good Teacher.””

• Do you see the difference? The first came to Jesus proclaiming that He is Lord…while this man comes calling Him a good Teacher? It’s an important consideration…one humbles himself, one seeks for himself…one is satisfied, the other is greatly dissatisfied…

• An you know what, men and women are always looking for what to do…what we ought to do is look at what He has done…

Matthew Chapter 19 Verse 17

• Notice that Jesus does not say that He is not good? But rather He asks this man, “Why do YOU call Me good?” What Jesus is doing is placing the same decision before him that He does to everyone. “Either I am God…or I am no good…”
• And Jesus says to him…you need a savior…keep the commandments…which no one can do…

Matthew Chapter 19 Verses 18 – 20

• Jesus presents the earthly commandments…the commands that pertain or are relevant to mans relationship with man…religion really...and the man says, “Yes, I’ve kept all of that since I was a kid.” Jesus looks at him. In the Greek the word is “intensely stares” at him, and I love what Mark throws in, “He loved him…,” And Jesus’ response…, “Time to return to being a kid…”

• Since he had been child, left childhood, he now had wealth, riches, money, power, respect, position...and yet it wasn’t enough. He knew something was missing. “What do I still lack,” is not a question of a desire to get more but rather a heart cry of something is not right. I lack…the word in the Greek implies that he feels late to something…tardy…left behind…that he is in want…

• And the compassion of God is aroused…as Jesus hears his cry and loves him right where he’s at…why? Because he has been deceived. He has gotten all this world has to offer and although the promise of the flesh is satisfying life…this world, this flesh, just simply delivers more want…if you look hard enough, that fact is obvious. The nature of the flesh is that it cannot be satisfied…that’s whay it’s the flesh

• Kurt Cobain, Robin Williams, Junior Seau, Ernest Hemingway…you may not have known this but Marlon Brando’s daughter hanged herself, Marie Osmond’s son jumped to his own death from an 8^th floor apartment building, Paul Newman’s son killed himself, the Vanderbilt’s oldest son Carter killed himself, Willie Nelson’s son Billy hanged himself, Burt Bacharach’s daughter took her own life…what did they all have in common? Everything this world has to offer…And yet they remain in hysteria…that is the Greek word here for “lack.” (Psychological stress that makes its way out…)

• There was a man named Jonathan Wraith who was incredibly wealthy at the age of 35 by virtue of selling his family business which was worth $46M…all accounts of him is that he was happy and very well balanced however in 2009 he picked up his shotgun and ended his own life leaving zero clues as to why and no suicide note…
• Isaiah 55:2 says, “Why do you work so hard for what is not bread, and spend your wages for what does not satisfy?” This man has everything we work so hard for…stretch for, sacrifice fellowship, sacrifice callings for (forsake for)….he has it, and he lacks…we ought to learn this lesson before it’s too late for us individually…

Matthew Chapter 19 Verses 21 – 22

• (What does he lack? He’s not with Jesus! SO. VERY. SIMPLE.) But see this, Jesus met him right where he was at…He wasn’t trying to condemn him…or take away his toys…Jesus was trying to take away his chains! Set him free and this man was so far gone…so far into religion and self righteousness that Jesus called for a total reset…”Make Me the center of your life…in the place of your lust for money…”

• This word “perfect” means “complete.” The man wanted to know what he lacked…and I love this…Jesus showed him what was holding him back…back from what? From following Jesus…the Way to be complete…(gear illustration). You see this sorrow was probably the same sorrow that he felt every time he turned his head, his eyes away from a child in need…It’s amazing, the things of this world that think we will lack without, cause us to lack in the first place…

Matthew Chapter 19 Verses 23 – 24

• A camel can go through the eye of a needle…in small enough pieces…We must become little, be converted…Ant Man style!

Matthew Chapter 19 Verse 25

• TOTALLY right question! This is the first time His disciples ever echo’d this concept of being “saved” back to Him…

Matthew Chapter 19 Verse 26

• I thought it was all about selling all you have and giving to the poor? No! That was just for that man…see that?! Jesus is making it clear here…keep the Law…impossible…or put your trust in God….possible…It’s that simple. Man hasn’t the strength. But God does! This word impossible is used 10 times in the scripture…and speaks of the law…yet this word possible is used 35 times in the Bible which speaks of God’s power and grace and perfection (7*5, 3&5).

Matthew Chapter 19 Verses 27 – 30

• This is cool…this “renewal” speaks of Revelation Chapter 4…the 12 thrones being half of the 24 mentioned there…

• Think of this word “left” as “forsaken.” And notice among the things Jesus lists are “houses/lands” which speaks of riches…exactly what had this ruler chained…lost to hysteria, lost to lack…you see, forsaken isn’t always a bad thing…Love your wife and serve your family for the sake of the Lord. Work hard and refuse laziness and dishonesty for the sake of the Lord. You see, you put the Lord first and by default, everything else is forsaken but in a way such that “lack” is removed…