Sermon Tone Analysis

Find a Baby --- Tell me what is characteristic of this little one … all little ones?

Cute

Small … maybe some would say humble

Often Tired

Hungry … That is usually the case

How about messy … That Often happens

WHEN THEY get older they have a multiplicity of questions … Oh yeah

There is one thing that is AlWAYS THE CASE - They are DEPENDANT

Completely and Utterly Dependant on another for their life and well being

PIC of Babies -

People were bringing babies (word in text denotes babies - possibly newborns - Nursing children) for Jesus’ touch

Touch distinguishing mark of Jesus’ ministry - Most often in process of healing

Here was a blessing touch - He wasn't conferring grace … who wouldn't want His touch

The touch was a tangible expression of his love and concern

It was most often reserved for the lowest on the societal ladder - Lepers; Women; the Lame; Sick and the Children

This was a continual thing

Disciples … Rebuked the Parents … this isn't going to go well for them

Why the Rebuke???

Maybe he was on a tight schedule … disciples trying to manage his calendar

Also remember the rich rule was waiting (Can’t keep the man with the money waiting)

v:16 - Jesus’ point will be potent – Infants are models of how the reign of God is to be received!

Children, unlike adults, realize that they are receivers, and this is probably why Luke chose to put this story about them right after the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector.

The tax collector resembles the children in that he humbles himself, unlike the Pharisee who represents those who trusted in themselves that they are righteous (cf. )

v:17 - A Child’s faith … Receives, Trusts, There is Humility, weakness, wholehearted

DEPENDANT TRUST

To Receive the K of God = to accept God’s rule … Accept Him as King … Submit to His Rule

This can be expressed as ‘whoever doesn’t accept the kingdom of God as a child receives it’ or ‘whoever doesn’t accept the kingdom of God as though he were a child’.

It means to have a child’s kind of faith.

This refers to being receptive and trustful like little children are.

A childlike character is humility, being conscious of weakness, and having a wholehearted faith.

It refers to receiving the kingdom as readily and trustfully as a child receives a gift (Blight)

[1] Blight, R. C. (2008).

An Exegetical Summary of (2nd ed., p. 256).

Dallas, TX: SIL International.

SHIFT

Ten Commandment Slide

A Ruler Asks a Question - Heading = Rich Ruler

Here we are going to see a CONTRAST … With what it means to receive the K of God as a Child

The word Ruler = Magistrate; Leader; NLT = Religious Leader; CEV = Important man - Maybe head of local synagogue

One question - What must I do to inherit eternal life (The man knew he had a need)

· Eternal Life – At end of age He wanted assurance of being in God’s Kingdom --- His Rule

· The ruler is asking, “How can I be sure I’ll be saved in the final resurrection?”

(Bock)

v:19 --- Jesus’ response startles us …

His response tells us that the man’s motive may have been to flatter him.

Jesus is not denying his God-ness

He is deflecting the flattery and redirecting the man’s question

He is Bringing the man back to the ten commandments … particularly the FIRST ONE … - You shall have no other God’s before me.

Observation 1 - God ALONE is Good in the absolute sense of the Term

Observation 2 - If Jesus is God’s Teacher … and Is Good … Then you should observe what He says

Observation 3 - Flattering God’s Teacher does not bring commendation … Obedient response to God does! (LIKE A CHILD)

Observation 4 - Human goodness is insufficient for attaining eternal life

v:20 - Jesus begins to drill down into the core of this man’s problem

He begins to list some of the ten commandments - Particularly the ones dealing with moral righteousness

Jesus addresses commandments - 7, 6, 8, 9, and 5 (in that order)

v:21 - The ruler is saying in effect, “If this is all that is required, then I am in good shape.”

v:22 - Jesus heard this and responded:

Something is missing … Two Imperatives

Sell and Distribute - Liquidate all your assets and give it away to the poor and needy

Point here is NOT - Become a Philanthropist

First of all - Treasure in Heaven = This treasure is the fullness of blessing associated with eternal life and comes in this age and the next.

· Why such a radical command?

o Several Observations –

§ In Luke’s account the Author Leaves out command 10 – Do not Covet – Relieving Himself of all His goods showed his failure to really keep the law – and tie greed to Idolatry (Command 1)

§ The selling of his goods forced the ruler to trust God completely and humbly rely on Him … Like Zacchaseus – 19:1-10

§ God is to be trusted and to have first place ( = )

Of all the commentators who deal with the Ten Commandments - Martin Luther is one of the best:

[1] Bock, D. L. (1996).

(Vol.

2, p. 1483).

Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic.

Martin Luther on the First Commandment:

Thou shalt have [and worship] Me alone as thy God.

What is the force of this, and how is it to be understood?

What does it mean to have a god? or, what is God?

Answer: A god means that from which we are to expect all good and to which we are to take refuge in all distress, so that to have a God is nothing else than to trust and believe Him from the [whole] heart; as I have often said that the confidence and faith of the heart alone make both God and an idol.

If your faith and trust be right, then is your god also true; and, on the other hand, if your trust be false and wrong, then you have not the true God; for these two belong together faith and God.

That now, I say, upon which you set your heart and put your trust is properly your god.

Therefore it is the intent of this commandment to require true faith and trust of the heart which settles upon the only true God and clings to Him alone.

That is as much as to say: "See to it that you let Me alone be your God, and never seek another," i.e.: Whatever you lack of good things, expect it of Me, and look to Me for it, and whenever you suffer misfortune and distress, creep and cling to Me. I, yes, I, will give you enough and help you out of every need; only let not your heart cleave to or rest in any other.

This Ruler’s Trust was in His Money … his stuff … Not God … He had an Idol that gripped his heart and THAT is where he placed his Trust … His Dependance

That is seen in His Response … One commentator describes his response as tragically brief

Jesus’ response

SLIDE

Jesus uses HYPERBOLE … Comparison

Camel was largest animal in Palestine

It’s hard enough to get a piece of thread through the eye of a needle

Imagine a Camel … That’s Jesus’ point

§ The widely held belief that there was a gate in Jerusalem named “The Needle’s Eye” and that a camel could get through if it threw off its burden, got down low, and sucked in its insides is a myth.

· Image startled his listeners … Garland

SLIDE

Luke 18:

We come full circle … Is your Complete Dependant Trust in God through His Son Jesus Christ?

You See … There are no adults in the Kingdom of God … Only Children … dependant children

Conclusion

This week I was re-reading Paul Millers book “The Praying Life” … Listen to some of His gems:

The difficulty of coming just as we are is that we are messy.

The criteria for coming to Jesus is weariness.

Come overwhelmed with life.

Come with your wandering mind.