Matthew 19:16-20:16

Matthew 19:16-20:16 NKJV

“Now behold, one came and said to Him, ‘Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?’ So He said to him, ‘Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is GOD. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.’ He said to Him, ‘Which ones?’ Jesus said, ‘“You shall not murder,’ ‘You shall not commit adultery,’ ‘You shall not steal,’ ‘You shall not bear false witness,’ ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”’ The young man said to Him, ‘All these things I have kept from my youth. What do I still lack?’ Jesus said to him, ‘If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.’ But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.

Then Jesus said to His disciples, ‘Assuredly, I say to you that it is hard for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. And again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of GOD.’ When His disciples heard it, they were greatly astonished, saying, ‘Who then can be saved?’ But Jesus looked at them and said to them, ‘With men this is impossible, but with GOD all things are possible.’ Then Peter answered and said to Him, ‘See, we have left all and followed You. Therefore what shall we have?’ So Jesus said to them, ‘Assuredly I say to you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His Glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My Name’s sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last first.’

For the Kingdom of Heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. Now when he had agreed with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into hi vineyard. And as he went out about the third hour and saw others standing idle in the marketplace, and said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and whatever is right I will give you.’ So they went. Again he went out about the sixth and the ninth hour, and did likewise. And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing idle, and said to them, ‘Why have you been standing here idle all day?’ They said, ‘Because no one hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard and whatever is right you will receive.’ So when evening had come, the owner of the vineyard said to his steward, ‘Call the laborers and give then their wages, beginning with the last to the first.’ And when those came who were hired about the eleventh hour, they each received a denarius. But when the first came, they supposed that they would receive more; and they likewise received each a denarius. And when they had received it, they complained against the landowner, saying, ‘These last men have worked only one hour, and you made them equal to us who have borne the heat of the day.’ But he answered one of them and said, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius? Take what is yours and go your way. I wish to give to this last man the same as you. Is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with my own things? Or is your eye evil because I am good?’ So the last will be first, and the first last. For many are called, but few are chosen.”

First of all the person asking Jesus the question is asking from a religious perspective, “what good thing shall I do?” and his reply to Jesus after He tells him to keep the commandments is “Which ones?” (Really?); then after Jesus lists the 6 commandments that deal with human relationships he replies, “All these I have kept from my youth. What do I still lack?” The fact that he understood that he did not have eternal life based on his keeping of the commandments was probably because he had been listening to Jesus’ teachings; why else would he call Jesus a “Good Teacher.”? And ask such a deep question, even if it was from a religious (works) perspective. The young man left sorrowful or even despondent because if he truly wanted eternal life he would have to give up his earthly wealth to minister to the poor and needy thereby building up treasures in Heaven. (Proverbs 18:11, Matthew 6:19-21, Luke 17:5-10)

Jesus’ perspective is that as the Son of Man He is not good, He is only doing the will of His Father. This is key, that “obedience is better than sacrifice.” Jesus was only about obedience, everything that He said and everything that He did was in obedience to His Father. He spent much time in prayer and fasting so that He would hear and see and understand what the Father’s will was. When He told the man, “But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.” The word for life is the same in verse 16, 17 and 29, zoe = life, motion, activity. Jesus did not say eternal life, just life. In verse 29 when He is talking to the disciples He says eternal life. Why? Because man was created as an eternal being and after the fall from Adam’s sin our natural life was no longer eternal, the curse of disobedience (Genesis 2:17, 3:19, Romans 5:12-14); in verse 29 He is talking to the disciples about obedience (doing the works of the Kingdom). His response to the man’s question, “Which ones?” is interesting; He only mentions the 6 commandments that deal with human relationships, He did not mention the 4 commandments that deal with our relationship with GOD. Why? Because being omniscient He knew the young man’s heart and his desire to not have to make changes to his lifestyle even though he realized he was not eternally saved. His possessions had become his god rather than Jehovah and he did not want to give up his comfort to serve GOD’s Kingdom, he wanted some easy to do task that would give him eternal life.

 As in the parable of the sower some who receive the Word and believe will get caught up in the cares of the world and they will be unfruitful (Matthew 13:8 & 22). Why were the disciples astonished at the statement that it was hard for a rich man to enter the Kingdom, because they also still believed in their works to save them. Peter’s statement and question showed they were still works and rewards minded. Jesus’ answer “and inherit eternal life.” showed that while obedience has its rewards eternal life is the result of Salvation, which is a work that only Jesus could do. Salvation is the inheritance of the Children of GOD (John 1:1-5, 9-14, 29-34; 3:13-21; Hebrews 5:1-11)

“But many who are first will be last, and the last first.” This is one of Jesus’ two most often spoken statements that we ignore the other being, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.” When we read these two statements by Jesus we better pay attention to what He is talking about and what His point is because these two statements only apply to believers. To those who reject Him they will make no difference in their eternal judgment. Jesus also says several times, “For many are called, but few chosen.” This is important to us also because Jesus is saying that many will miss their call and purpose. Is this a statement about Heavenly treasures or eternal salvation? The word called is kietos = called, invited. The word chosen is eklektos = laid out, choice, chosen. So we are invited to be laid out for the purpose of the Kingdom of GOD in the earth as it is in Heaven!

The parable of the landowner and the laborers is easy to understand. The landowner is GOD, the steward is Jesus, the laborers are born again believers called to serve His will, the vineyard is the earth and the denarius is salvation. All the workers, as children are inheritors of eternal salvation no matter how long they work in the vineyard. This parable is not about rewards but about eternal salvation the inheritance of the Children of GOD. We are all called to lay down our life and take up our cross and follow Jesus! How do we follow Jesus? By serving our Father by doing the work of His Kingdom in the earth as it is in Heaven!