A Tale of Two Rich Men

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Transcript

Introduction

Opening Story/Illustration: I really enjoy a good movie every once in a while, it’s one of my favorite hobbies. One of my favorite move genres would have to be a good suspense thriller. One of those movies with a fantastic plot twist that you don’t see coming. You spend the whole movie thinking that one guy is bad guy or that one thing is happening, only to get to the climatic moment of the movie and discover that something else is going on.

Transition to Scripture: In the Gospel of Luke, Chapter 18, Jesus tells this story or Parable. This story has a plot line that is unexpected. What Jesus’ listeners would have thought should be happening is very different from what actually happens happens. The Story is about two men. One of them is a Pharisee or a Church leader and the other is a Tax Collector or a sinner. The two men come to the synagogue or the Church to pray. The Pharisee stands in his pride and arrogantly thanks God that he isn’t like the “sinners.” But the tax collector or sinner stands to the side and beats his chest and humbly begs for God to have mercy on him. Jesus says that the tax collector or sinner in His story walks away justified before God. This is an interesting story by Jesus because this was the opposite of the way society viewed it. The good man, the Pharisee, the man who had kept all the rules, he’s the man who was supposed to be God’s favorite. But Jesus turns this idea on it’s head and points out that there was something keeping this Pharisee from receiving God’s grace.

Scripture: Let’s read this story.

Luke 18:9–14 ESV

9 He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: 10 “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ 13 But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ 14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Luke 18:9–14 ESV

As we continue to Read in the book of Luke, I love what Luke does in the next few stories - it’s almost as if Jesus uses this illustration of this Pharisee and this tax collector and then Luke groups a few real-life stories together to show us how this plays out in real life. This morning I want to take a look at these stories and i want to talk about what I’m calling, “A Tale of two rich men.”

Luke 18:18–30 ESV

18 And a ruler asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 19 And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. 20 You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery, Do not murder, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother.’ ” 21 And he said, “All these I have kept from my youth.” 22 When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “One thing you still lack. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” 23 But when he heard these things, he became very sad, for he was extremely rich. 24 Jesus, seeing that he had become sad, said, “How difficult it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God! 25 For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” 26 Those who heard it said, “Then who can be saved?” 27 But he said, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.” 28 And Peter said, “See, we have left our homes and followed you.” 29 And he said to them, “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, 30 who will not receive many times more in this time, and in the age to come eternal life.”

Bridge: Let’s talk for just a few minutes about this man often called the rich young Ruler

Points

This Man was Rich

This particular Story is also included in Mathew and Mark.

All three accounts, Matthew, Mark, and Luke, Call this man rich.

When we combine the stories in Mathew, Mark, and Luke, We can come to the conclusion that this man was young, was rich, and was a ruler.

He was probably a Religious leader or ruler of a synagogue.

We don’t know how rich he was, but to be young and be the ruler of a synagogue, was probably a very ambitious and very sharp young man.

This Man was Good

He was a good man who had done some good things

He had kept all the of the commandments.

He had honored his momma and Daddy

He hadn’t stolen or cheated anyone

He was a good guy.

He was a Good man, but he was still missing something!

If he wasn’t missing something, why was he here asking Jesus about how to get eternal life?

He had been as good as he could possibly be - but it obviously wasn’t enough

This Man Rejects Jesus

He couldn’t say yes to Jesus

Something was holding Him back

He had lots of money

Jesus asks him to get rid of all his stuff and give to the poor

Jesus’ issue wasn’t the guys money - Jesus didn’t need his money.

Jesus’ issue was the guys heart - The man trusted more in his money than he did in Jesus.

Money had become his God.

He gets really sad and has to tell Jesus “no”

Despite the fact hat he is empty and obviously missing something - he can’t seem to let go of his stuff.

Jesus’ reaction towards this man was compassion and love - but the man rejects Jesus. In fact, in Mark’s account of this story, it tells us that Jesus looks at this man and loved him.

In fact, in Mark’s account of this story, it tells us that Jesus looks at this man and loved him.

Before he asks him to give up everything and follow Him - He looks at him with compassion and love.

But this man trusted in his own goodness and his wealth and prosperity too much - and he walks away from Jesus sad because he just can’t bring himself to a place of commitment.

So here we have a picture of our Pharisee in the beggining of ’m good. I’ll make it through on my own. I’ll trust in my own goodness and riches.

But what about our second man? What about the tax collector - the Sinner?

Flip over to and let’s begin reading his story.

Luke 19:1–9 ESV

1 He entered Jericho and was passing through. 2 And behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus. He was a chief tax collector and was rich. 3 And he was seeking to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was small in stature. 4 So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him, for he was about to pass that way. 5 And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today.” 6 So he hurried and came down and received him joyfully. 7 And when they saw it, they all grumbled, “He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner.” 8 And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold.” 9 And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham.

Bridge: Let’s look at a few things regarding Zachesus.

Zacheus was Rich

Zacheus was very good at His job

He was more than likely the supervising tax collector for the entire city of Jericho and had tax collectors underneath him.

He was very ambitious and sharp man.

He was short and he was curious about Jesus - so He climbs a tree so he can get a good view of Jesus.

Zacheus, like our Rich young Ruler, knew something in his life was missing - because he has a curiosity about Jesus and who he is.

Zacheus was not a Good man

He is known in the town as a Sinner

He was working the system to steal money from People and everyone knew it

He was seen as an outsider and as a traitor to his people.

The Jews disliked men like Zacheus because he worked for the Roman Government.

He was considered an outcast because he was working for the enemy and was making money off of it.

Zacheus was a Cheat, a thief, and a liar - and everyone knew it.

Zacheus embraces Jesus

Zacheus embraces Jesus Jesus throws Zacheus a curve ball - Zacheuss is just curious about Jesus, but Jesus passes by and sees him up in a tree and he calls for him to come down and tells that he is coming to his house. This is hugeComing to his house and eating with him was Jesus is showing this man Kindness and graceThis is the man everyone else rejectedThis is the man everyone else looks down upon Jesus looks at him with the same love and grace as he looked upon the Rich young ruler with. The compassion and goodness of Jesus moves Zachesus and he repents of his wrong behavior He says that he will give half-his goods to the poorIf he has cheated anyone, he will pay it back four-times. Zacheaus sees Jesus and recognizes his own emptiness and need of a savior.He realizes that all his money, wealth, and pleasure won’t bring him what he really needs.

Jesus throws Zacheus a curve ball - Zacheuss is just curious about Jesus, but Jesus passes by and sees him up in a tree and he calls for him to come down and tells that he is coming to his house.

This is huge

Coming to his house and eating with him was Jesus’ way of showing this man Kindness and grace

This is the man everyone else rejected

This is the man everyone else looks down upon

Jesus looks at him with the same love and grace as he looked upon the Rich young ruler with.

The compassion and goodness of Jesus moves Zachesus and he repents of his wrong behavior

He says that he will give half-his goods to the poor

If he has cheated anyone, he will pay it back four-times.

Zacheaus sees Jesus and recognizes his own emptiness and need of a savior.

He realizes that all his money, wealth, and pleasure won’t bring him what he really needs.

Both men had the opportunity to follow Jesus, but only one did. Why?

Something Got in the way.

Jesus Called to both men, but only one chose to follow. For our first man, his reliance on his own goodness and wealth got in the way of His eternal life.

So the question for you today is this - Which man are you?

If you find yourself in the shoes of the first man - What’s keeping you from saying yes to the call of Jesus?

You see this man missed what really mattered for what thought mattered

Think about this - Money and possessions - what happens to them after this man dies?

He’s here asking Jesus how to get eternal life - how to have life that lasts forever - and he trades life forever for money and stuff that he cannot keep after he dies.

How does this make any sense? Yet we do this everyday.

Think about what this man missed - Eternal Life in heaven

Life with Jesus - seeing the miracles, people touched by the power of God Seeing Jesus Resurrection Living a life that counted for something - at the end of the day he goes home and dies with his stuff. The end.

If he had followed Jesus - who knows what could have happened! It was an adventure waiting to happen!

What are you missing out on because you won’t say yes to Jesus?

The truth of the matter is that there are even some of us who attend Church weekly and do all the right things, but deep inside we’ve never really said “Yes” to Jesus.

When it comes to missions maybe Jesus is asking something of you that is hard. Maybe he’s calling you to go somewhere or to do something or he’s asking you to give something.

Sometimes we can hold on when Jesus is asking us to let go.

What are you holding on to? What Is Jesus asking of you and you don’t quite want to let it go?

Our speaker this morning shared several stories of people who left everything and gave their lives for missions. Notice something in this story - we do not know the name of the rich young ruler. He is, in a sense forgotten. But we do know Zacheaus’ name. The man who had great ambition and wanted to be well known is placed in a tragic story with no name and the man who willingly let go and gave it all to Jesus is remembered.

What is holding you back from doing all that Jesus wants of you?

Conclusion

So as we close today, my plea with you is that you would say “Yes” to Jesus as he calls you.

Perhaps you’re here today and you’ve never accepted Christ as your savior, you’ve never said yes to him and you want to do that this morning, I want to ask you to commit your life to him.

Or perhaps you’re here and you are a Christian, but there are areas of your life that Jesus is calling you to lay down and you’re struggling to say yes to him.