40-61 The Cost of Discipleship

Matthew 8:18-22

I remember when I was in youth group we used to play a game (don’t know that it had a name). The room was divided in half and maybe we’d start with boys on 1 side and girls on the other (9-10th grade, 11-12 grade) and our youth leader would shout out 2 things that we’d have to make a choice between and go to that side of the room. So he’d say something like “Coke or Pepsi” and then we’d have to go to the side we prefer. Then he shout McDonalds or Burger King—and we’d hurry to that side. And we would give each other high fives b/c we our side was so much better than the other side. Then he call out country music or rock-n-roll. Some people tried to stay in the middle of the room b/c they didn’t have a strong preference but they had to make a choice. It was all 1 big social experiment and had really no other purpose than to make us spend some energy before we got to the lesson—but it was fun.

You know, life is all 1 big competition and things haven’t changed all that much.

Today:

Apple vs. Android

Playstation vs. Xbox

Ford vs Chevy (sorry Dodge guys)

Marvel vs DC

Or there’s lifestyle preferences:

Rural vs Urban

Vegan vs Omnivores

Crossfit vs Trad weightraining

But then there’s things that have much more bearing on life and issues that really matter. Things that your worldview has so informed you about that it goes right the root of who you are:

Democrat or Republican…

And even in terms of faith and beliefs—there are sides to choose:

Baptist or independent; Calvinist or Arminian; Rapture…pre, mid or post; Premillennial, post, a-mill;

Now, when people choose the side you’re on (whatever the issue may be)—you’re welcoming, giving each other high-5s…but those on the other side—well, there all just wrong. We’re pretty adept at judging one another in light of the sides we pick but while some of these things are important, none of them has eternal consequences. Bear that in mind…of all the things I’ve mentioned, in and of themselves, you’re not going to find the path to heaven, the way to having your sins forgiven and being reconciled with your Creator. But there are many who are on the wrong side of the most important thing.

Jesus openly invites every person to Himself:

Matthew 11:28–30 LSB

28 “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. 29 “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 “For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

He also says:

Matthew 12:30 LSB

30 “He who is not with Me is against Me; and he who does not gather with Me scatters.

There’s a definitive line in the sand (if you will) that is drawn by the Savior—2 choices (and only 2) to be with Christ or against Christ. You can’t go thru life straddling the line with 1 foot on His side and the other foot on the other side. Jesus demands full allegiance and our passage reveals today is that there are many who find it very difficult to render that full devotion to the Savior for various reasons. Part of the problem is the failure to count the cost of what discipleship to Jesus amounts to. And maybe we can help clarify what it means to become a Christian.

Barclay

The Gospel of Matthew, Volume 1 The Summons to Count the Cost (Matthew 8:18–22)

We do Jesus a grave disservice if ever we lead people to believe that the Christian way is an easy way. There is no thrill like the way of Christ, and there is no glory like the end of that way; but Jesus never said it was an easy way. The way to glory always involved a cross.

Today I would like to show you 2 examples of those who had difficulty with the demands of discipleship…2 would-be disciples who were reminded of the exacting price that following Jesus requires…And maybe in these you can find some encouragement in your own walk as each of us are called to full-commitment to LJC.

Before we see the 1st example…look at setting:

vs 18… Crowds were usually found gathered around Jesus—especially during the earlier months of His ministry. Much of his ministry took place in the city of Capernaum on the N shore of the Sea of Galilee but this city was not the only place where Jesus ministered.

Mark 1:35–38 LSB

35 And in the early morning, while it was still dark, Jesus rose up, went out of the house, and went away to a desolate place, and was praying there. 36 And Simon and his companions searched for Him; 37 and they found Him, and said to Him, “Everyone is looking for You.” 38 And He said to them, “Let us go elsewhere, to the towns nearby, so that I may preach there also; for that is what I came out for.”

Luke 4:42–43 LSB

42 When day came, Jesus left and went to a secluded place; and the crowds were eagerly seeking for Him, and came to Him and tried to keep Him from going away from them. 43 But He said to them, “I must proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God to the other cities also, for I was sent for this purpose.”

Luke 8:1 LSB

1 And it happened that soon afterward He was going around from one city and village to another, preaching and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The twelve were with Him,

It was on one of those occasions when Jesus “gave orders” to depart for the other side of the sea. Matthew doesn’t explain why Jesus intends to leave but we can tell from the next passage where Jesus calms the storm that He is with the narrower group of disciples to show them the demands of commited discipleship in laying aside the creaturely comforts they had come to expect while separating from those who were less commited to following Jesus. So they are preparing to cross the sea (often times they walked but not unusual to see them getting into a boat) and before they could leave, they are approached by 2 would-be disciples (who wanted to continue following Jesus but hadn’t considered what that would cost them personally).

The placement of these 2 would-be disciples is a bit curious. It comes in the middle of a section detailing the authority of Jesus over sickness and we might ask why Matthew includes it here especially b/c Mark leaves these conversations out entirely and Luke, although he includes similar material, inserts it at a much later point in Christ’s ministry, about six months before the crucifixion (Luke 9:57–62). I believe Matthew wants to show us that the same Jesus, who has authority over sickness, nature, and demons, also has authority over the lives of His disciples. Jesus determines what following Him will involve, not us. Therefore, if you are going to follow Jesus, it must be on his terms rather than your own.

1. The Cost of Personal Convenience

19-20

The first man to come to Jesus is a scribe. That in an of itself is highly unusual b/c Matthew portrays scribes mostly in a negative light. Scribes were a group of men who were considered to be experts in the Law (Torah). The term describing them means to write/record and would sometimes refer to official in a city (clerk/secretary). Scribes date to the OT (Ezra was a scribe). They had many responsibilities: copying mss, teaching and interpreting the torah, working in the temple, political advisors, worked with ancient sciences, functioned as wise sages, elders, judges, and members of Sanhedrin Council. Josephus adds that scribes were very diligent in copying the Scriptures.

They were teachers with religious authority:

Matthew 17:10 LSB

10 And His disciples asked Him, saying, “Why then do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?”

Matthew’s Gospel offers the most detailed critique of scribes. While presented as accurate expositors of the law, their hypocrisy is noted in their teaching, imposing burdens on common people, lacking compassion, and seeking praise. Their righteousness involves intense loyalty to Torah minutiae yet relates only to external matters, involving gross inconsistency—Matthew describes them as “outwardly righteous.”

But Matthew says this scribe seeks out Jesus and he’s enthusiastic, earnest, respectful. The scribe calls Jesus “teacher.” But its more than just courtesy…there is in this title a recognition of Jesus as the supreme teacher. The scribe sees Jesus as One who has a great authority about Him. He believed what Jesus said was true…even the greatest teacher he had ever heard. And with an earnest and enthusiastic prompting he says “I will follow you wherever you go.”

There’s a great deal of hubris in this man. This man’s arrogance is not unlike Peter who thought he also had the internal gumption:

Luke 22:31–34 LSB

31 “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded to sift all of you like wheat. 32 “But I have prayed earnestly for you, that your faith may not fail; and you, once you have returned, strengthen your brothers.” 33 But he said to Him, “Lord, with You I am ready to go both to prison and to death!” 34 And He said, “I say to you, Peter, the rooster will not crow today until you have denied three times that you know Me.”

In Jn Peter says “I will lay down my life for you.” There’s something very prideful about presuming you have the fortitude to live for Jesus…this scribe thinks he has it…but without skipping a beat, Jesus responds: vs 20

For every other creature, there is a home, there is a place where they are made to be comfortable. There’s the conveniences of having a home to go to. “But”, Jesus says, the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head. He has been rejected in virtually every area where He has travelled—Rejected in Judea (Jn 5:18); Cast out of Galilee; Gadara begged Him to leave (Mt 8:34); Samaria will refuse to give Him lodging (Lk 9:53); even the earth will not have Him (Mt 27:23)—finally at the cross (for a moment, heaven forsakes Him—Mt 27:46). Jesus never owned a home…of course He had friends who hosted Him (Mary, Martha & Lazarus) and provided Him with meals…but no place to call home. No place where the conveniences of home will allow you to take a break from the rigors of ministry, service, and activity.

Now, this is the first time Jesus refers to Himself as “Son of Man” and it won’t be the last. 81x in the Gospels Jesus is called this and it is His favorite self-designation. There’s not really a general consensus on why Jesus called Himself the Son of Man and part of the confusion lies in the fact that a son of man is what? A man. It is used precisely in this manner in…

Psalm 8:4 LSB

4 What is man that You remember him, And the son of man that You care for him?

But Jesus did not refer to Himself as “a” son of man but “the” son of man. He is the specific Son of Man that is referred to in OT in Daniel 7.

Daniel 7:13–14 LSB

13 “I kept looking in the night visions, And behold, with the clouds of heaven One like a Son of Man was coming, And He came up to the Ancient of Days And came near before Him. 14 “And to Him was given dominion, Glory, and a kingdom, That all the peoples, nations, and men of every tongue Might serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion Which will not be taken away; And His kingdom is one Which will not be destroyed.

What Daniel saw was a heavenly being…approaching the Ancient of Days (Title for God in Daniel designating His role as divine judge (vs 22), sitting on a throne of fire (vs 9). This Son of Man was given authority, glory and sovereign power that people from every people, nation and tongue would worship Him. A dominion is given that will never end and His kingdom cannot be destroyed. Jesus takes the imagery of Daniel and applies it to Himself when He calls Himself the Son of Man. At once, He is unveiling the true purpose of His entrance into humanity…to rule over the Kingdom that will be established (though that wasn’t going to happen right away). Jesus would tell the high priest presiding over that mock-trial:

Matthew 26:64 LSB

64 Jesus said to him, “You yourself said it; nevertheless I tell you, hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven.”

This wasn’t an obvious Messianic title and it kept Him and His mission from being misunderstood yet we can glean the fullest sense in which it rightly applies to Jesus. It affirms the fullness of His deity (He is the divine, heavenly being Daniel saw—Mt 16:13-17). Jesus being God has all authority to forgive sin (Mt 9:6). It is He who would ransom His people from their sins (Mt 20:28). It is He who would die on the cross and rise the 3rd day (Mt 17:22-23; 20:18-19). And it is He who will one day return in judgment (Mt 24:27-31).

Jesus is telling this scribe that if he wishes to become a follower of Jesus (Son of Man), there must be careful thought put into what this means. While there were differing levels of commitment among the crowds following Jesus, true discipleship meant ultimately becoming like the teacher. That’s what a disciple is—a pupil, learner, adherent to the views of another—which implies the relationship/attachment to a teacher. Jesus says “if you want to follow Me, become like Me, then realize you’re going to have to forsake all the comforts and conveniences that this world has to offer.”

Today there are too many who have really never counted the cost of what it means to follow Christ. And we’ll miss the point if we’re only think about possessions and creaturely comforts. The call of Xty is self-denial…taking up one’s cross (not just bearing an inconvenience…but willingness to die for Christ). There are many who take the name of Christ without giving thought to the demands of discipleship—radical transformation that true conversion brings.

James Boice describes how Dietrich Bonhoeffer (German churchman of the Nazi era who eventually suffered martyrdom for his opposition to Hitler’s policies) speaks of that theology as “cheap grace”…

The Gospel of Matthew: The King and His Kingdom, (Matthew 1–17), Volume 1: An Expositional Commentary The First Would-Be Disciple

“Cheap grace is the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance, baptism without church discipline, communion without confession, absolution without personal confession. Cheap grace is grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without Jesus Christ living and incarnate.

The Gospel of Matthew: The King and His Kingdom, (Matthew 1–17), Volume 1: An Expositional Commentary The First Would-Be Disciple

Costly grace is the treasure hidden in the field; for the sake of it a man will gladly go and sell all that he has. It is the pearl of great price, to buy which the merchant will sell all his goods. It is the kingly rule of Christ, for whose sake a man will pluck out the eye which causes him to stumble; it is the call of Jesus Christ at which the disciple leaves his nets and follows him.… Such grace is costly because it calls us to follow, and it is grace because it calls us to follow Jesus Christ.

2. The Cost of Personal Relationships

vv 21-22

On the surface this seems rather harsh and insensitive for the Lord to say that. Jesus was not keeping the man from making arrangements for or to attend his father’s funeral. In Israel, Jewish law required the dead to be buried on the same day of death. If this man’s father had died that day, he wouldn’t have even been around Jesus. In fact, the burial of a father was especially important to do so, you were exempt from several important religious duties: the saying of the daily prayers, the study of the law, the temple service, the observance of circumcision, the killing of the Passover sacrifice, and the reading of the Megilla (Ber. 3:1; Meg. 3b).

What actually seems to be going on is that his father was still alive and he was referring to his responsibilities as a dutiful son to look after, care for his father in the his remaining years until his death. Once that happens, this would-be disciple would then begin to follow. Spurgeon noted that if the 1st man was too fast in willingness to follow, this man was too slow.

Jesus’ response to allow the dead to bury the dead should be seen in a spiritual context. Let those who are spiritually dead attend to the world’s obligations. Discipleship not only meant willingness to abandon personal convenience but also willingness to sacrifice personal relationships. Later Jesus will say:

Matthew 10:34–39 LSB

34 “Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35 “For I came to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; 36 and a man’s enemies will be the members of his household. 37 “He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. 38 “And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. 39 “He who has found his life will lose it, and he who has lost his life for My sake will find it.

So what do we do with this? There are 4 truths that I’d challenge you to consider as we close (Boice offers these):

1) The Radical Demands of Christ’s Kingdom

The term radical today implies violence but that’s not what Christ’s kingdom is about. Radical comes from Latin radix—root. It referred to those whose opinions went to the very roots of their lives and realized in their commitments. That’s what Jesus would have you consider. What is your commitment to Christ’s kingdom? You can’t straddle the fence having one foot in the world and one foot in the kingdom of the Lord. That’s unacceptable. He demands full devotion.

2) The Unique Authority of Jesus

As the Son of Man, Jesus is the God-Man. He is truly God and truly man and as such, all authority belongs to Him. There’s this weird idea that is floating around christendom that says “you can have Jesus as Savior without having Him as Lord.” I don’t know how one could even begin to imagine how that would work. There is 1 LJC. to believe in a Savior that is not the Lord—well that is not the true Christ. If Jesus has all authority, then He is Lord and His lordship demands even more from His followers…surrendering our personal comforts, conveniences, relationships…even possessions if that’s what He asks for.

3) The Priorities of True Discipleship

It is true that Jesus may not ask us to give up our families or possessions or comforts or relationships but they must ve given over to Him, for Him to do as He pleases with us. That means having your priorities straight. GE Ladd writes:

The Gospel of Matthew: The King and His Kingdom, (Matthew 1–17), Volume 1: An Expositional Commentary The Second Would-Be Disciple

The most radical form of … renunciation includes a man’s very life; unless he hates his own life he cannot be a disciple (

4) The Dangers of the Fallen World

There is so much about this world, the things of this world that are attractive to our flesh. It’s bad enough that the normal and proper love that you should have for family, parents, spouses, children—could come into conflict with discipleship but how much more so the things of a world that opposes God in every way?

JC Ryle comments:

The Gospel of Matthew: The King and His Kingdom, (Matthew 1–17), Volume 1: An Expositional Commentary The Second Would-Be Disciple

It is not open sin, or open unbelief, which robs Christ of his professing servants, so much as the love of the world, the fear of the world, the cares of the world, the business of the world, the money of the world, the pleasures of the world, and the desire to keep in touch with the world. This is the great rock on which thousands of young people are continually making shipwreck. They do not object to any article of the Christian faith. They do not deliberately choose evil and openly rebel against God. They hope somehow to get to heaven at last, and they think it proper to have some religion. But they cannot give up their idol: they must have the world. And so after running well and bidding fair for heaven while boys and girls, they turn aside when they become men and women and go down the broad way which leads to destruction. They begin with Abraham and Moses and end with Demas and Lot’s wife.

How can you avoid this…first by counting the cost of the commitment to follow Jesus. And having done that…follow as a fully devoted disciple…commited to conforming to Him in every area of life. What does Paul say in Philippians 2:9–11 “9 Therefore, God also highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

The Son of Man Daniel saw will receive the worship of all creation and all will bow because of His lordship. Don’t let the radical demands keep you from following Him…choose today the side of Jesus and get on with living for Him.