The First Will be Last

Intro

Talk about being a kid and running to be first in line, or taking the biggest piece of dessert… “the first will be last and the last will be first.”

Now I quote this to my kids!

What was the situation when we see Jesus teach these words?

Let’s find out!

Pray and call up Andreas to read passage below

Story #1

Have someone read Matthew 19:16-22.

The First Will Be Last

Read Matthew 19:23-30.

Jesus uses this interaction to teach that it is difficult for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven

Uses the exagerration of a camel going through the eye of a needle!

This was a counter-cultural teaching; an “upside-down” statement

Why were the disciples astonished (v. 25)? Because conventional religious teaching said that wealth was a sign of God’s blessing

Therefore, it should be EASIER for the rich to be saved; not difficult

Not so much different than some teachings in the church today...

Talk about tuning into Springs and hearing this taught backwards

But not impossible!

Re-read Matthew 19:26.

Perhaps one of the most misquoted Scriptures; the context is that God is powerful enough to save rich people!

What makes us first threatens to make us last

Cf. James 5:1-5.

Guess what, church? We are all rich

*Raise your hand if your a college student or newly married* = your poor

Living a life of luxury and self-indulgence can keep us from the priorities of the kingdom of God

Worse yet, these things can make us the least in the kingdom of God

Why money again? Because Jesus talks about it a lot, and it is often the area of life that proves our priorities

But this isn’t just about money; it is about anything else that we pursue in this life at the expense of the next

Jesus lists giving up homes, family, property and investments (not an exhaustive list)

Social status; career; vehicle; influence, etc.

When we cling to these things that make us “first,” they threaten to make us “last” in the kingdom of God

Therefore, hold these things with an open hand

Jesus is NOT condemning riches; He is warning about clinging to riches

Share about going tubing with Emery and clinging to the tube for dear life

Show picture

Great idea for tubing; terrible idea for living the Christian life (open up your hand)

When we cling to what makes us first, we lose out on some of what God wants to be for us

In the lens of wealth:

Some love to earn (I can provide; I can acheive)

God wants to be your provider

Some love to spend (I want nice things)

God wants to be the giver of good gifts in your life

Some love to save (I want to be secure)

God wants to be your security and provide your peace

We see a very different encounter with Jesus in Luke 19:

*Paraphrase the story; end by reading Luke 19:8-10.

What did Jesus say to Zacchaeus over dinner? I bet it was something verrrry similar to the rich young man

But the response was completely different

One held on to his wealth, status (first) and it kept him from the kingdom

The other had an open hand; gave it up for Jesus and entered the kingdom

There is a reward for giving up everything to follow Jesus

Re-read Matthew 19:29.

This is what Zaccheaus found, and what the rich young man lost out on

As was the case with our “treasure” sermon, it is not so much about giving everything up, but gaining so much more in return

According to Jesus, we will receive a hundredfold and inherit eternal life!

Now THAT is a reward; it is something worth living for

But before we get to “reward” focused...

Peter asks an interesting question in v. 27: “See, we have left everything and followed you. What then will we have?”

Jesus affirms their reward and their commitment, but he also answers the question with a firm reminder in a parable:

Story #2

Have someone read Matthew 20:1-16.

The Last Will Be First

Notice how the saying is reversed in this parable?

Rich young man = object lesson on the first being last

Parable of the workers and wages = object lesson on the last being first

In the parable, the master chooses to give everyone a full days wage

Those that worked the full day, those that worked 2/3 of a day, half a day, or only 1 hour

That isn’t fair!

Of course it isn’t; the kingdom of God is not about fairness; instead...

God can choose to be “upside-down” in His generosity

It is not about fairness, but about grace and generosity

First, none of us get what we deserve!

Sin demands distance from God; He brings us close in Jesus

We are all, every last one of us, sinners saved by grace

Spiritually speaking, we are ALL last

Secondly, God can be generous in any way He chooses

The essential point of the parable is that God[‘s] … generosity transcends human ideas of fairness. No-one receives less than they deserve, but some receive far more (R. T. France)

In asking his question, Peter was still angling for “just” rewards the idea of fairness

A large part of the response of Jesus is to remind Him that reward seeking still shows the heart of being “first”

The generosity of God is bigger and better than what is fair

The kingdom is made for those who feel spritually “last”

Gone should be any notion that we can establish prestige in the kingdom of heaven

Rich young man discovered he couldn’t do it with wealth and success

Peter was taught he couldn’t do it with following Jesus better than others

The last will be first; there is no room for spiritual pride

So as the lost come to faith in Jesus, the response of those who have been “working in the field” for years should be joy, not jealousy

If you are here this morning feeling ashamed, lost and broken… this is good news!

The kingdom of God is for you! Jesus has chosen to be generous to you!

Today is the perfect time to confess, repent, and follow Jesus

Pray