Has perfection been achieved?
作者: Pastor Sun | 11月 6th, 2024
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經文
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Matthew 19:16-30 NIV
The Rich and the Kingdom of God
16 Just then a man came up to Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?”
17 “Why do you ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, keep the commandments.”
18 “Which ones?” he inquired.
Jesus replied, “‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, 19 honor your father and mother,’ and ‘love your neighbor as yourself.’”
20 “All these I have kept,” the young man said. “What do I still lack?”
21 Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
22 When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth.
23 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly I tell you, it is hard for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24 Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”
25 When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, “Who then can be saved?”
26 Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
27 Peter answered him, “We have left everything to follow you! What then will there be for us?”
28 Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life. 30 But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first.
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讀經領受
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Being able to be self-sufficient is the goal of people in the world. Raising children to be independent, not relying on others, is the goal of parenting. Parents often train their children to be confident. It brings parents joy to see their children grow from being completely dependent on them into independent adults. However, during this process, it is easy for people to become self-satisfied and proud. As a result, people tend to rely entirely on their own abilities. The one true God has always aimed to correct this mindset in His people. The entire history of Israel shows that God wants His people to rely completely on Him. This also serves to make everyone understand that salvation comes solely from God's grace, not from any human deeds.
But how do people know they have received this grace to believe in God? It is reflected in whether a person exhibits values different from the world’s, because of faith. The Lord Jesus emphasized that only those with a childlike mindset can enter the kingdom of heaven, for children recognize their inadequacies and helplessness. Today's two dialogues further emphasize human inadequacy and the tendency toward self-satisfaction. The rich young ruler did not come to Jesus with a sincere question. Rather, he came expecting praise, being very pleased with his own actions. Jesus' answer was meant to awaken him to examine his proud heart and recognize the grave error of thinking he deserved salvation. Jesus wanted him to understand that he was still far, far away from what was required. Eventually, the rich young ruler revealed his true self. He loved what he possessed far more than he loved God. The law had become a tool for him to elevate himself, so he chose the world and lost eternal life.
Those who are successful and wealthy easily rely on themselves. But Jesus said, 'My chosen ones will not be lost; I can accomplish what humans cannot' (verses 25-26). God can turn a heart of stone into a heart of flesh; He can create something out of nothing and raise the dead to life. Then the apostles, in their self-satisfaction, asked, 'We have left everything to follow You. What then will there be for us?' Jesus redirected their focus to the future rather than any worldly positions (verse 28). The rewards of the kingdom of heaven surpass everything in this world, and He urged them to continually humble themselves (verse 29). He also reminded them to be satisfied with the eternal life they had already received (verse 30).
The apostle Paul said, 'For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast' (Ephesians 2:8-9). This was the core of Jesus' message to the rich young ruler. Paul also said, 'Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus' (Philippians 3:12-14). Faith is a long line, not just a single point of salvation. Paul said, 'For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: The righteous will live by faith' (Romans 1:17). This is a faith that must continue without ceasing.
Are we satisfied with our own spiritual condition? Do we continually rely on the salvation we have already received and strive forward? (2 Peter 1:3-11). How do we encourage one another?
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