38: Childlike Faith (Mt 19:13-26)

Sometimes I wish I could go back and be a child again.

The older I get, the more complicated life seems to become - juggling schedules, raising children, growing a marriage, dealing with finances, investing in people, fulfilling work responsibilities, dealing with critics, and standing strong while being bombarded by our sinful culture.

With all the complexity that comes w/ those issues, maybe THAT’s why it seems strange for adults to be talk about how crucial it is to develop a Childlike Faith.

But after all, it’s Jesus who had already used a child as an example when He said these powerful words back in Matthew 18.

Matthew 18:3 (NIV) And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

That sounds pretty serious, huh? Today we discover what that means and why it matters that we have CHILDLIKE FAITH.

PRAY

After Jesus addressed the issues of MARRIAGE & DIVORCE…

Matthew 19:13a (NIV) Then people brought little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray for them.

Obviously, parents saw value in bringing their children to have Jesus pray for them. This was not unusual since respected rabbis were asked to pray over children in this way.

On the evening of Yom Kippur - the Day of Atonement - a tradition had developed parents would bring their children to the elders or scribes for a prayer of blessing. [1]

These parents expected the touch & prayer of Jesus to impact their little lives.

But as parents brought their children to Jesus they faced a roadblock.

Matthew 19:13b (NIV) But the disciples rebuked them.

The disciples of Jesus scolded parents for bringing children to Jesus? How dare they cut into his busy schedule. Children shouldn’t cut into the time Jesus has for ‘real ministry’!

Did you know that some churches treat children like that? Isn’t that sad?

Question: Are children less valuable because of their age or abilities? Certainly not. Kids make us laugh, cry, & even drive us crazy with their energy, questions, need for attention, but they are PRECIOUS!…Created in the image of God! And rather than stiff-arm children, we should respond like Jesus did.

Jesus rebuked the rebukers and then shared his heart for children by saying…

Matthew 19:14 (NIV) Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”

The disciples should have known better. They’ve already heard Jesus talk about the value of children. The kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these. What’s Jesus mean by that?

Throughout the ministry of Jesus He is pointing to the value of people who aren’t considered valuable: tax collectors, the sick, people with sinful pasts….and children. None of these come into the Kingdom because they are INNOCENT.

Anyone who has a 3 or 4 yr. old pucker their face and say ‘NO!’ understands that children sin! So Jesus is NOT saying we must be innocent to enter the kingdom…if so…we’re ALL IN TROUBLE!

Luke’s gospel gives us additional insight into what Jesus said directly after this statement. This helps us better understand how “heaven belongs to such as these”.

Luke 18:17 (NIV)

Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”

No one enters the kingdom because they’re holy, but because they’re humble…because they have CHILDLIKE FAITH. We will define Childlike faith as …

BIG TRUTH: Childlike Faith = Trusting Jesus instead of Yourself

Children DEPEND on their parents & TRUST what Mom and Dad say is TRUE. This is what Jesus is referring to. It’s NOT a child’s INNOCENCE that we are to model, but a child’s DEPENDENCE & TRUST. And without that Childlike Faith…we will never enter…the kingdom of God.

Referring to children, Eduard Schweizer, Professor of New Testament at the University of Zurich, wrote: "They have nothing to show for themselves. They cannot count on any achievements of their own—their hands are empty like those of a beggar.”

Kent Hughes adds, "A little child is free from the pride of knowledge. He has no learning, no degrees to pile up before the cross."

Martin Luther, the Catholic priest who was persecuted for calling the church to come back to Scripture, once heard his four-year-old daughter, talking about Jesus, angels, and heaven. Luther said, “My dear child, if only one could hold fast [hold on] to this faith.” Quickly she replied, “Why, Papa, don’t you believe it?” Luther was awed by her childlike faith and later wrote, “Christ has made the children our teachers.”

You see, ChildLIKE faith is NOT a ChildISH Faith.

Make sure you catch what I’m about to say. I’m not saying, ‘Follow Jesus cause I said so or because the Bible says so.’

I WANT you examine the evidence to determine if the story of Jesus is worthy of your life, just like the people of the 1st century were doing.

Jesus didn’t ask people to believe without weighing the evidence. Instead, He invited them to consider His teaching and examine His miracles. Jesus wasn’t calling people to a childISH faith - a willful ignorance of the facts.

Instead, Jesus called them…and calls US…to a childLIKE faith…

BIG TRUTH: Childlike Faith = Trusting Jesus instead of Yourself

And as we are about to see, some of the most childISH decisions were made by those who refused to live with ChildLIKE Faith.

Matthew 19:15 (NIV) When he had placed his hands on them, he went on from there.

Matthew 19:16–17a (NIV) Just then a man came up to Jesus [Mk 10:17 man fell on his knees in front of Jesus] and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?” “Why do you ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good.

This is an interesting question and response.

Although Jesus had just taught that people only enter the kingdom like a child - simple trust - unearned & undeserved, this man wanted to know what he must DO - the boxes he needed to check - to gain eternal life.

What was he missing? We’ll get to that in a moment, but first let’s deal with what the man called Jesus - something that is implied but not specified in Matthew’s account. In asking Jesus what good thing he must do, it is implied that Jesus is good and can correctly answer the question.

Both Mark & Luke, referring to this same conversation, say the man said something further…

Mark 10:17–18 (NIV)

As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. “Good teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone.

Luke 18:18–19 (NIV)

A certain ruler asked him, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone.

Interestingly, Jesus challenges the ruler with a question: ”Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone." The man is forced to pause and consider what Jesus has just said.

I have had Jehovah’s Witnesses point to this to demonstrate that Jesus never claimed to be God. I countered with this: “Was Jesus GOOD?”

Of COURSE HE was! The Scripture clearly states He had NO SIN! (you can’t get better than that!) [John 8:46; 2 Cor. 5:21; Heb. 4:15; 1Peter 1:18-19; 1 John 3:5]

I think Jesus wants this rich ruler to consider this logic: ‘If only God is good, and Jesus is good, then Jesus is God.”

But this man doesn’t understand all that yet, so Jesus walks down the dead end road the man has traveled down.

Matthew 19:17b–18a (NIV) If you want to enter life, keep the commandments.” “Which ones?” he inquired.

Jesus has now set this man up. He’s about to run right into the DEAD END sign when he gets to the end of the trail.

Matthew 19:18b–20 (NIV) Jesus replied, “ ‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, honor your father and mother,’ and ‘love your neighbor as yourself.’” “All these I have kept,” the young man said. “What do I still lack?”

It is strange that Jesus answers this man by mentioning some of the 10 commandments. Hadn't Jesus just made it clear that people don't enter the kingdom because of their innocence but because of their dependence - their childlike trust in Jesus?

Further, remember that no one is good except God alone…but this man thinks he’s pretty good! Maybe this guy hadn’t heard Jesus’ teaching from the Sermon on the Mount.

He NEVER got angry at a friend - what Jesus calls murder of the heart? (Mt 5:21-22)

He NEVER got lusted and committed adultery of the heart? (Mt 5:27-28)

He NEVER stole anything?

He NEVER lied by giving a false testimony?

He always honored his parents?

DOUBT IT! Yet this man claims he has completely obeyed the five commands Jesus mentioned.

Of the 10 commandments from Ex. 20, the first 4 deal with how one loves God

while the next 6 are focused on how one loves your neighbor as yourself (Lev 19:18). .

Of interest, Jesus mentions 5 of the 6 related to loving people, but leaves 1 out: 'Do not covet your neighbors house, wife, servants, animals, or [stuff]’. (Ex. 20:17)

Maybe Jesus didn’t mention coveting other people’s stuff because this is what had driven this man to his wealth, cheating his neighbors, exploiting poor people, or refusing to generous to those in need - a 1st century SCROOGE.

But why hadn’t Jesus mentioned the 4 commands related to loving God? I think Jesus leaves that out simply because that is the answer to the question, “What do I still lack?”.

The 1st command is…

Exodus 20:2–3 (LSB)

“I am Yahweh your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. “You shall have no other gods before Me.

Jesus takes ‘Mr. Perfect’ to the fork in the road to demonstrate THIS IS exactly what he is missing. He is not giving YAWHEH - the One True God - 1st place in his life, but has allowed other ‘gods’ to have 1st place. Jesus brings him to the place where he has to make a choice - a choice to put Yahweh 1st & love his neighbor at the same time.

And…

Matthew 19:21 (LSB)

Jesus said to him, “If you wish to be complete [vs lack in Mt 19:20], go and sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”

Now Jesus shares what will make this man complete (a better translation than “perfect” - used by NIV) - this will fill in the gap of what he still lacks in verse 20 (Mt 19:20).

Jesus commands this man to remove what has taken 1st place in his life - wealth and follow Him.

This would be a living example of the man selling all that he has to buy the field because of the treasure hidden in that field - eternal life (Mt 13:44)!

The command to sell all we have and give to the poor is not a command that Jesus gives every believer. If it is, then we’ve all got some HUGE garage sales to set up this week!

But Jesus DOES call every one of us to remove ANYTHING or ANYONE that has first place in our lives - wealth, fame, comfort, self, & sins - and follow Him.

This is…

Childlike Faith = Trusting Jesus instead of Yourself

Think about the implications of this. Had this man done what Jesus said, maybe we would know his name as one of the 1st century followers of Jesus.

But, sadly…

Matthew 19:22 (NIV) When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth.

Douglas O’Donnell writes, “The arrow of Christ’s command struck the young man’s Achilles’ heel.”[2]

So, rather than preaching to him about his covetousness & idolatry, Jesus asked him to do something that a covetous person would never do. ‘Give it away and follow me.’

But he couldn’t because…He didn’t own stuff….stuff owned him - it WAS his god!

And so, the same man who had just bowed before Jesus wanting to know how he could have eternal life, got up and went away sad from the only One that could give him eternal life.

God in skin had just offered this man a place among his disciples. He was torn, but he declined…Can you see the grimace on his face? Can you hear his thoughts, “Jesus, anything BUT THAT!”

WHY did he decline that invitation? Because he had great wealth - he had allowed another god to sit on the throne of his heart. His wealth had become a WEIGHT, an obstacle - an IDOL. He didn't love God with his whole heart and he wouldn't sell out to Jesus because he already sold out to something else.

Who/What occupies the throne of YOUR heart? It might be something sinful like sexual impurity, pride OR it might be a good thing that has now become a GOD-thing - like…your family, your hobby, your money, or your job.

Is there something in your soul that is still lacking the completeness of KNOWING you are forgiven, free, and a child of the King? Is there something else or someone else that occupies the throne of your heart?

If so, THAT is what Jesus would command you to remove from first place and follow Him!

And if so, you might counter and say - it’s just so such easier to SAY than to DO! I’ve tried before and I can’t do it! This feeling is nothing new.

Matthew 19:23–24 (NIV) Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly I tell you, it is hard for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”

Wealth is a slippery slope that leads many to find security and purpose in money instead of our Maker. Wealth becomes our GOAL instead of our TOOL. Jesus dots the exclamation point with this illustration about a camel (the largest animal in Israel) and the eye of a needle.

I have long heard and read about a small opening in Jerusalem’s wall known as ‘the eye of the needle,’ which a camel could not get through except to crawl on its knees - but after much study I have found NO EVIDENCE for this.

Instead, the context of the next phrase helps us see that a rich man entering the kingdom was not just difficult, but impossible - unless God was at work.

Matthew 19:25–26 (NIV) When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, “Who then can be saved?” Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

Traditional Judaism saw wealth and social position as evidence of God’s blessing (e.g. Abraham, Solomon), so it was inconceivable that wealth was a BARRIER to the kingdom.

If the rich God has blessed can’t be saved - they reason - then how can the normal people be saved? No one in their own effort, can be saved. It’s impossible for people to be made right with God on their own. But with God all things are possible. And soon the first followers of Jesus will see the price that will be paid to save all kinds of people - the rich, the poor, and everyone in between.

But they continue to learn the lesson that we must learn and apply to our lives - that we must have CHILDLIKE FAITH - and…

Childlike Faith = Trusting Jesus instead of Yourself

Have you trusted Jesus like that….or is there SOMETHING or SOMEONE that is keeping you from following Him?

Are you TRUSTING Jesus instead of YOURSELF?

Have you turned from your sins and turned to follow Him?

Is there anything in your life that Jesus to tell you to remove from your life

Listen to this quote from Kent Hughes about Billy Graham:

”If Billy Graham enters the kingdom, it will not be because he has personally preached to more people than any man in history. It will not be because he has remained impeccable in his finances when so many have failed. It will not be because he has been a faithful husband. It will not be because, despite his fame, he has remained a humble, self-effacing, kind man. When Billy Graham enters the kingdom, it will be because he came to Christ as a helpless child. It will be because of God’s undeserved kindness toward Billy’s helplessness.”[3]

This is Childlike Faith = Trusting Jesus instead of Yourself

Showing a New Friend He’s NOT Good Enough

I just talked with a new friend of mine about this. I asked what would happen to him if he died at 11:59pm tonight. He said he would go to heaven, because he’s a good man. I then attempted to show him what Jesus was showing this rich man. That he’s not as good as he thinks, since only God is good.

We talked about lying, theft, & adultery - GUILTY. He saw that he wasn’t good enough, but that he needed CHILDLIKE FAITH - to Trust Jesus instead of trusting himself.

I pray that YOU understand the same thing. And, if you’re already a follower of Jesus, that we help our friends and family - who think they’re good enough - to see they must have a CHILDLIKE FAITH - trusting Jesus instead of themselves.

Need to Talk? Staff, Deacons/wives

PRAY

Lord’s Supper - Next Sunday 10:30am

__________

Donald A. Hagner, Matthew 14–28, vol. 33B, Word Biblical Commentary (Dallas: Word, Incorporated, 1995), 553.

Douglas Sean O’Donnell, Matthew: All Authority in Heaven and on Earth, ed. R. Kent Hughes, Preaching the Word (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2013), 549.

Kent Hughes, Luke: That You May Know the Truth, Preaching the Word (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 1998), 200.

Discussion Questions

What’s the difference between Child-like faith and Child-ish faith? How might an 80 year old who has been a follower of Jesus for 40 years still live out a Child-like faith?

Read Matthew 18:3, 19:13-14, & Luke 18:17 & John 20:30-31. As should be obvious, Child-like Faith is NOT a blind-faith, but a step of trust based on evidence. Share one of the convincing reasons you choose to trust Jesus with a Child-like Faith.

Read Luke 18:19-20. How might you be prepared for someone who uses this passage to show that Jesus was NOT God? Read John 8:46; 2 Cor. 5:21, Heb. 4:15, 1Peter 1:18-19, 1 John 3:5 and answer this: “Was Jesus GOOD?”

Read Matthew 19:21-24. Why is it difficult for wealthy people to follow Jesus? (Remember that some of God’s most faithful servants were wealthy.) What’s the difference between how Abraham & this rich young ruler used their riches?

What might Jesus ask YOU to give away, turn from, or remove from the throne of your heart? In other words - BE HONEST - what competes for 1st place in your life?

What challenged or encouraged you most from today’s teaching & what does God want YOU to do with what we studied today?

Share prayer needs and pray for one another.