Following Jesus The Red Letters Gabe Orea. XICF. May 22, LXV

LUKE 18:18-30

18 And a ruler asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 19 And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. 20 You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery, Do not murder, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother.’ ” 21 And he said, “All these I have kept from my youth.” 22 When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “One thing you still lack. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” L U K E 18

23 But when he heard these things, he became very sad, for he was extremely rich. 24 Jesus, seeing that he had become sad, said, “How difficult it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God! 25 For 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.” 26 Those who heard it said, “Then who can be saved?” L U K E 18

27 But he said, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.” 28 And Peter said, “See, we have left our homes and followed you.” 29 And he said to them, “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, 30 who will not receive many times more in this time, and in the age to come eternal life.” L U K E 18

18 And a ruler asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I DO to inherit eternal life?”

19 And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone.

“Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good.” (1 Chronicles 16:34). “Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good.” (1 Chronicles 16:34).

20 You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery, Do not murder, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother.’ ” 21 And he said, “All these I have kept from my youth.”

22 When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “One thing you still lack…

… Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” 23 But when he heard these things, he became very sad, for he was extremely rich.

… Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” 23 But when he heard these things, he became very sad, for he was extremely rich. Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which is idolatry. Col. 3:5. Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which is idolatry. Col. 3:5.

24 Jesus, seeing that he had become sad, said, “How difficult it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God! 25 For 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.”

“We soon know the price of everything and the value of nothing.”

24 Jesus, seeing that he had become sad, said, “How difficult it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God! 25 For 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.” Jesus says to the Church, “You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.” (Revelation 3:17).

Spirituality Wealth

26 Those who heard it said, “Then who can be saved?” “It is not the rich man only who is under the dominion of things; they too are slaves who, having no money, are unhappy for the lack of it.” George MacDonald. “It is not the rich man only who is under the dominion of things; they too are slaves who, having no money, are unhappy for the lack of it.” George MacDonald.

27 But he said, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.”

29 “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, 30 who will not receive many times more in this time, and in the age to come eternal life.”

18 And a ruler asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 19 And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. 20 You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery, Do not murder, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother.’ ” 21 And he said, “All these I have kept from my youth.” 22 When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “One thing you still lack. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” 23 But when he heard these things, he became very sad, for he was extremely rich. 24 Jesus, seeing that he had become sad, said, “How difficult it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God! 25 For 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.” 26 Those who heard it said, “Then who can be saved?” 27 But he said, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.” 28 And Peter said, “See, we have left our homes and followed you.” 29 And he said to them, “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers2 or parents or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, 30 who will not receive many times more in this time, and in the age to come eternal life.” 1. The main theme is salvation, not deeper commitment.

William Carey, missionary to India, ca., 1800s.

2. Jesus sometimes did not speak in a literal sense, sometimes.

3. There is no actual historical correspondence.

“Within the life of Christian fellowship there are new homes, new families, new possibilities that open up for those who leave behind the old ways.” N. T. Wright. “Within the life of Christian fellowship there are new homes, new families, new possibilities that open up for those who leave behind the old ways.” N. T. Wright.

1.Is there anything about myself that I am not aware of? 2.Do I love my money more than God? Do I long for money more than I long for obedience to God? 3.Have I ever thought about myself of being an idolater? 4.Has my love for God reached a level and intensity deeper than my love for my relatives? 5.Am I experiencing the richness of living within the Christian community? How I am contributing to it? Food for thought