81. Leaving All

[Pastor Ralph]

Please share your thoughts on one or more of the questions in this lesson. 

[hanks]

1. Why is impossible for rich people to enter the Kingdom of God? Is it really impossible? Is Jesus speaking in hyperbole in order to make a point? Why or why not? (18:24-27) 
It is impossible for a person to enter the kingdom of God as a rich person; as long as they make a god of their wealth. That is a rich person cannot, by their own efforts, enter the kingdom; this is true for both the rich and the poor alike. Jesus knows that wealth can be a great hinderance to Christian living. When referring to a camel going through the eye of a needle, Jesus was speaking in hyperbole in order to make a point. Confirming that salvation, getting into God’s Kingdom, by our own efforts, by human means is impossible, and is only possible through God. “The things impossible with men are possible with God” (18:27). We are saved by abandoning trust in our own righteousness, by turning from our sin, and trusting in Jesus as our Saviour. I like this comment by A.W. Pink: “These two are diametrically opposed, God and money. One commands you to walk by faith, the other to walk by sight; one to be humble, the other to be proud; one to set your affection on things above, the other to set them on the things that are on the earth; one to look at the things that are unseen and eternal, the other to look at the things that are seen and temporal; one to have your conversation in heaven, the other to cleave to the dust; one to be anxious for nothing, the other to be all anxiety; one to be content with such things as you have, the other enlarge your desires; one to be ready to distribute, the other to withhold; one to look at the things of others, the other to look at only one's own things; one to seek happiness in the Creator, the other to seek happiness in the creature. Is it not plain, "You can't serve two such masters." (From Pink's exposition Sermon on the Mount - Matthew 6:24). 
 

[hanks]

2. How is Peter's question in 18:28 similar to Jesus' direction in 18:22? In what sense must disciple give up everything to follow Jesus? How literally should we take this? 
Peter and the disciples had done exactly what Jesus had told the rich young ruler to do. They had left everything and followed Him; only to a lesser degree in that they owned little in comparison. Jesus is talking about everything that hinders our relationship with our Lord. Anything that has preference to Him must be given up. Jesus takes first place in everything, if not everything that hinders must be given up. In answer to Peter’s question - they will all have treasures in heaven. This is a promise for all true followers of the Lord, for all who have chosen Christ above all else, for all who have made the sacrifice “for the sake of the kingdom of God”. As loyal disciples of the Lord we are promised that we will be reimbursed many times over. 
 

[hanks]

3. Are the rewards Jesus promises in 18:29-30 literal or figurative? 
Jesus promises us, as believers, the things we have given to follow Him will be repaid in this life as well as in the next. Meaning that a life of sacrifice will be literally rewarded in this life, and will be further literally rewarded in the eternal state. As believers we even now possess “the peace of God, which transcends all understanding” (Philippians 4:7); “inexpressible and glorious joy” (1 Peter 1:8); “the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ” (2 Corinthians 4:6); and the love God has poured “into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us” (Romans 5:5). Of course, in this life there will also be persecutions as part of the present reward, for we rejoice when we are found worthy to suffer for Jesus’ sake. In “the age to come” all these blessings that constitute life everlasting will become the believers' treasure in an even much fuller sense. We can trust Jesus’ promises fully. As a result of His resurrection the confused and fearful disciples were transformed into confident, bold witnesses, willing to give their very lives for the gospel. Eternal life is a gift, so we do not earn eternal life through giving up everything, but rather we will receive our rewards in heaven. We can trust Him for all His promises are true! 
 

[hanks]

4. How do Jesus' sacrifices to follow the Father's will parallel our own sacrifices to follow Jesus? What are the points of comparison? What are the points of contrast? (18:31-34) 
In following the Father’s will, Jesus specifically mentioned some of the sacrifices He had to suffer – they would mock Him, insult Him, spit on Him, flog Him, and kill Him (18:32). We, as believers, can know for sure that if they so despised and persecuted the Lord, we can expect similar treatment (John 15:20). Jesus Himself said: “They will treat you this way because of My Name, for they do not know the One who sent Me” (John 15:21). The ungodly do not like their wickedness to be exposed, so they seek to destroy those that show them up for what they really are. In the same way by following Jesus, we could endure sacrifices of deliberate insult, humiliation and shame, degradation, being mocked, disloyalty of friends, injustice, maybe physical pain or even death. These scars are the price which every believer pays for their loyalty to Christ. Taken together, this can be a picture of great suffering, and can easily become even greater when we boldly defend the faith against every attack. However, on the third day He rose in resurrected glory! Amen. The difference is that Jesus endured all this suffering and death on our behalf, for all our sins both past, present, and future. His sacrifice was once for all, He did this out of love for each one of us (Hebrews 7:27). No High Priest is needed to offer sacrifices daily; Jesus was the perfect sacrifice as He is absolutely sinless. It is because of our Lord Jesus Christ’s sacrifice that we can have absolute peace with God, and are no longer subject to His wrath. Instead, we have been adopted into His family. What mercy, what grace! 
 

[Irmela]

1.  Why is it impossible for rich people to enter the Kingdom of God? Is it really impossible? Is Jesus speaking in hyperbole in order to make a point? Why or why not? (18:24-27)

On one's own steam, by one's own doing, it is impossible to enter the Kingdom of God. Rich in money or goods; rich in good deeds etc cannot earn one's way into the Kingdom of God. To get there is by grace and grace alone. It is a Gift of God. 

[Irmela]

2. How is Peter's question in 18:28 similar to Jesus' direction in 18:22? In what sense must disciple give up everything to follow Jesus? How literally should we take this?

Peter and the others had in fact done what Jesus required this young man to do. Jesus knew that his possessions were a stumbling block to him. Because of his vast riches it then seems so much but to those of us who don't have as much, to us what we have, is in fact just as much. It is also just as hard for us to give it up if it is tied to us. Giving up everything is making certain that nothing holds you or keeps you from God. Nothing controls you. That you are in fact yielding to God's control. 

[Irmela]

3. Are the rewards Jesus promises in 18:29-30 literal or figurative?

I would recon that the rewards can be literal and figurative. 

Some by giving up everything lose their earthly family at first to regain them much later but also as changed and followers of Christ. Some seem to lose all ties with their own and gain a new family supporting them and standing by them as a 'blood" family would. You gain something you would otherwise not have had. PEACE and ASSURANCE guaranteed and ETERNAL LIFE

[Irmela]

 

4. How do Jesus' sacrifices to follow the Father's will parallel our own sacrifices to follow Jesus? What are the points of comparison? What are the points of contrast? (18:31-34)

Jesus gave up all to follow the Father's will. It was His Home in glory. His being with the Father etc. It was absolutely everything. Then He lay aside ALL and became a man and lived as man and finally bore man's sins on Himself on the cross. He spellt out some of the things He would have to endure, viz., be made sport of, be jeered at, be scoffed, be insulted, be spat upon, be flogged, and finally killed. (He gave Himself as the perfect sacrifice for our sins). On the 3rd day He rose again having conquered death. 

Because of what He gave up we can have Eternal Life. 

We give up what isn't really ours in the first place (only leant to us while on earth) to gain what He has paid for for us. Everything a GIFT from Him. 

Thank You. Thank You, my God. 

[Old Jerry]

Why is impossible for rich people to enter the Kingdom of God? Is it really impossible? Is Jesus speaking in hyperbole in order to make a point? Why or why not? (18:24-27)

 

A. The reason that it is impossible for the rich to enter the Kingdom of God is because they are focused on the things of this world. No, it isn’t really impossible because with God all things are possible. Jesus was probably speaking in hyperbole in order to make a point.

 

How is Peter's question in 18:28 similar to Jesus' direction in 18:22? In what sense must disciple give up everything to follow Jesus? How literally should we take this?

 

A. Peter is saying that they have already given up everything and that is what Jesus was saying. We are to give up our own desires and follow Jesus.

 

Are the rewards Jesus promises in 18:29-30 literal or figurative?

 

A. I think that they are literal because of all the rewards I have already received here on earth.

 

How do Jesus' sacrifices to follow the Father's will parallel our own sacrifices to follow Jesus? What are the points of comparison? What are the points of contrast? (18:31-34)

 

A. I don’t think that my sacrifices even compare to Jesus’ sacrifices.

[Katy]

Q1. It is not impossible for a rich man to get into heaven, as long as he is truly sorry for his sins and believes Jesus died on the cross in his place. Jesus is speaking in hyperbole to make the point that money and wealth can be a great distraction from the things of God. Having wealth can make a man feel in control and not dependent on God. If this is the case it will be impossible to get into heaven. We must be humble and trusting in God to get into heaven. God has given us all we need to get into heaven but we must let go of earthly things to gain Heaven and God’s presence.

Q2.Peter’s question is similar to what Jesus said, because Peter and the other disciples had left all they owned and followed Jesus. The difference was that none of the disciples had a fraction of the wealth the rich man had but their way of life and their families were just as important to them as the rich man’s. Jesus expects us to clear everything out of our lives that are more important to us than He is. God must be number one in our lives, and that will mean different priorities to be changed for each one of us.

Q3.I am not sure but I do know that we will be rewarded by God for everything we have denied ourselves in order to be faithful to Him. To have the promise of spending eternity in His presence, what more could be ask for?

Q4.I think Jesus gave up far more than we will ever have to give up. I think the very fact of Jesus leaving the splendours of Heaven and coming into this sinful world must have been so difficult for Him. Yet we never really think of it. Because we are sinful we cannot begin to fathom how awful that must have been , living among sinners , He who had no sin. Being absent from the side of His Father must have been so painful for Him, we can identify with that to a certain extent but I don’t think we can fully understand. To live your life knowing you were here to suffer and die for humanity must have been so difficult. We don’t have anything to compare to that. In some parts of the world Christians are suffering because they love Jesus and this is as Jesus said it would be. These Christian would more fully understand what it is like to give up everything for Jesus. We in the Western world are so far very protected from persecution of any consequence, other than being mocked or scoffed at by those around us who don’t want to hear about Jesus.

[haar]

1.    Why is impossible for rich people to enter the Kingdom of God? Is it really impossible? Is Jesus speaking in hyperbole in order to make a point? Why or why not? (18:24-27)

It is impossible for the rich to enter the Kingdom of God because the rich are not ready to give up everything to follow Jesus.   

2.    How is Peter's question in 18:28 similar to Jesus' direction in 18:22? In what sense must disciple give up everything to follow Jesus? How literally should we take this?

Peter’s question in Luke 18:28 is similar to Jesus directive in Luke 18:22 because both are talking about leaving everything to follow Jesus. We should take this as literal as we can by not allowing our possession to possess us in a way that we will miss eternal life.

3.    Are the rewards Jesus promises in 18:29-30 literal or figurative?

I believe they are literal.

4.    How do Jesus' sacrifices to follow the Father's will parallel our own sacrifices to follow Jesus? What are the points of comparison? What are the points of contrast? (18:31-34)

Jesus left everything in heaven in obedience to his father’s will and we will do well to leave everything to follow the will of the Lord Jesus Christ.

[kreilly]

Why is impossible for rich people to enter the Kingdom of God? Is it really impossible? Is Jesus speaking in hyperbole in order to make a point? Why or why not? (18:24-27)

It is impossible for rich people to enter the Kingdom of God, as well as poor people or anybody else.  It is only made possible by God through Jesus' death on the cross and placing one's faith in Him.  

How is Peter's question in 18:28 similar to Jesus' direction in 18:22? In what sense must disciple give up everything to follow Jesus? How literally should we take this?

Jesus repeatedly teaches on this topic, so it appears we should take it pretty seriously.  It also mirrors the first four of the ten commandments.  We can't love anything more than we love God, otherwise, we become idolaters.  We should pray and strive to root out anything in our heart that competes with or pulls us away from our love for God.  

Are the rewards Jesus promises in 18:29-30 literal or figurative?

I think they are literal.  They are eternal salvation and the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control.  Some worldly people might view these as figurative as they are desiring more earthly blessings.  

How do Jesus' sacrifices to follow the Father's will parallel our own sacrifices to follow Jesus? What are the points of comparison? What are the points of contrast? (18:31-34)

Irmela and Katy gave great answers to this question. 

[George L]

1. Why is impossible for rich people to enter the Kingdom of God? Their value system is worldly. Is it really impossible? Until ones value system is in the blood shed for them they remain dead in the spirit. Is Jesus speaking in hyperbole in order to make a point? Making a point. Why or why not? (18:24-27) Because our focus must become what Christ paid with his life for. The harvest of lost souls. There is no other priority. Each must take their proper place in that work.
2. How is Peter's question in 18:28 similar to Jesus' direction in 18:22? He was asking of what to compare. In what sense must disciple give up everything to follow Jesus? Everything which is blocking your path into your calling needs removed.  How literally should we take this? Very, realizing that each of us is different and what is blocking our advancement into God’s purpose is different.
3. Are the rewards Jesus promises in 18:29-30 literal or figurative? Once the spiritual relm becomes important to one, spiritual blessings are far more valuable than worldly trophies. Acts 4:31 applies.
4. How do Jesus' sacrifices to follow the Father's will parallel our own sacrifices to follow Jesus. The Lord assumed the required role.  What are the points of comparison? Ones life including power, position, expectations. What are the points of contrast? What have you given up that the Lord asked if you would take the next step. Position, trophies, so far for me. (18:31-34)