The Book of Matthew

Idols of the Soul (and Other Lessons from Jesus)

Lesson #9 for May 28, 2016

Scriptures: [Ecclesiastes 9:10; Matthew 18:1-4,21-35; 19:16-30; Galatians 3:21-22].[i]

1.    Read Matthew 18:1-4ii. In this lesson we will discover some surprising lessons that Jesus sought to teach His disciples. We have already discussed how difficult it is to unlearn lessons that one has grown up with and which have become a part of one’s thinking or paradigm. The disciples, like most of the other Jews, were certain that Jesus as the Messiah had come to be king of the Jews; and they could not understand why, seemingly, He was not moving toward that goal.

2.    Every one of us is born naturally selfish. As infants, all we can think about is our own personal needs. That is normal for a small baby. But, at what point are we supposed to grow out of that selfishness and gradually learn more of the values, morals, and standards of God’s kingdom?

3.    To most of us, this is a puzzling illustration. What does it really mean to become like a little child?

It was not enough for the disciples of Jesus to be instructed as to the nature of His kingdom. What they needed was a change of heart that would bring them into harmony with its principles. Calling a little child to Him, Jesus set him in the midst of them; then tenderly folding the little one in His arms He said, “Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.” The simplicity, the self-forgetfulness, and the confiding love of a little child are the attributes that Heaven values. These are the characteristics of real greatness.

Again Jesus explained to the disciples that His kingdom is not characterized by earthly dignity and display. At the feet of Jesus all these distinctions are forgotten. The rich and the poor, the learned and the ignorant, meet together, with no thought of caste or worldly preeminence. All meet as blood-bought souls, alike dependent upon One who has redeemed them to God.—Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages 437.1-2. [Bold type is added.]

4.    God is trying to prepare people to be citizens of His kingdom. There will be no place for selfishness there. Are we ready to recognize that? Greatness in the sight of God will be found in those who adopt Christ’s plan for their lives and become truly loving. If we grow to be more like Jesus, it will be a natural consequence; it will show itself in our behavior.

5.    How many of us would think of using a small child as an example of greatness? Think about the time when you were in perhaps the seventh or eight grade. If someone had come to your class and asked the class members to describe what great thing they wanted to do or become in their lives, would any of them have said they wanted to be like a little child? Very unlikely.

6.    God is apparently looking for humility. When we are humble, it is easier to serve others. Think of the example of Moses. Read Numbers 12:1-3iii. No one wanted to be humble in Moses’s day.

7.    Think of some times in the Bible in which a little humility would have made a huge difference. Would it have made a difference to Adam and Eve? Does humility automatically lead to obedience? We all know very well that not every small child is humble and obedient; but, some are.

8.    Do we naturally possess attributes, characteristics, attitudes, or ideas that are contrary to the kingdom of God and could not be accepted into the heavenly kingdom?

9.    The very essence of Satan’s kingdom is a desire to have one’s own way, that is, to be selfish. God’s kingdom is based on love and the desire to do others good. How many of our actions and thoughts every day are motivated by selfishness? How many are motivated by love?

10.    Read Genesis 3iv again. What was one of the early results of that first human sinful experience? It was a breakdown in interpersonal relationships. Everyone wanted to blame someone else, even to blame God! That is what leads to all kinds of conflicts.

11.    Read Matthew 18:15-35[v]. Have you ever tried to do that in real time? Why is this pattern so incredibly difficult for most people? Is it because we are afraid that people will not like us? There are some people in the world who love to point out the sins of others; but, seldom do they do it in a loving and private way to the individual they are criticizing. It is so much easier to criticize or complain to others behind that person’s back. How do you suppose this would work in God’s kingdom in the future? How would things be different even in the Adventist Church if every person who had a complaint about another member would go to that person directly and try to work it out. In Matthew 18:20vi, God promised: “For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.” (NKJV) Notice that these words were spoken in the context of potential discipline then restoration of another person. Do we really believe that the Holy Spirit would help us if we approached the person whom we feel has wronged us or perhaps has wronged others and tried to work it out?

12.    Read again Matthew 18:21-35vii. What was Jesus trying to tell us? When Jesus said we are supposed to forgive seventy times seven times, does that mean that we do not have to forgive the 491st time? Or, was Jesus saying that forgiveness is in the very nature of God, and we really need to learn how to do it if we want to be a part of His kingdom? More than that, think how much we have been forgiven! How could we possibly refuse to forgive those who have wronged us over some relatively minor matter? Consider the following verses about forgiveness: [Exodus 32:32; Acts 5:31; Colossians 1:14]viii.

13.    How should we feel when we consider the cross which followed that incredible life that Jesus lived on this earth and that very unfair trial and we realize that all of that was done for our benefit as well as that of the onlooking universe and then we remember that the onlooking universe is watching us to learn something about God? (Ephesians 3:8-10)ix

14.    Read Matthew 19:16-30[x]. The rich young ruler thought that he had done nearly everything possible to earn his place in heaven. He could not have imagined that Jesus would tell him to sell all that he had-which in the eyes of the Jewish people was proof that he was a good man-and give it all to the poor. To the Jew, if one was a good person, God would bless her/him and s/he would be rich; if one was a bad person, God would curse her/him and s/he would be poor. So, in their eyes, it was easy to tell who the good people were!

15.    We do not know very much about that young man. Clearly, he still felt some inner need that had not been met. As he watched the mothers bringing their children to Jesus and watched Jesus bless those children, perhaps he thought that he could be blessed in the same way and that it would meet his inner need.

This ruler had a high estimate of his own righteousness. He did not really suppose that he was defective in anything, yet he was not altogether satisfied. He felt the want of something that he did not possess. Could not Jesus bless him as He blessed the little children, and satisfy his soul want?

In reply to this question Jesus told him that obedience to the commandments of God was necessary if he would obtain eternal life; and He quoted several of the commandments which show man’s duty to his [519] fellow men. The ruler’s answer was positive: “All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?”

Christ looked into the face of the young man, as if reading his life and searching his character. He loved him, and He hungered to give him that peace and grace and joy which would materially change his character. “One thing thou lackest,” He said; “go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow Me.

Christ was drawn to this young man. He knew him to be sincere in his assertion, “All these things have I kept from my youth.” The Redeemer longed to create in him that discernment which would enable him to see the necessity of heart devotion and Christian goodness. He longed to see in him a humble and contrite heart, conscious of the supreme love to be given to God, and hiding its lack in the perfection of Christ.

Jesus saw in this ruler just the help He needed if the young man would become a colaborer with Him in the work of salvation. If he would place himself under Christ’s guidance, he would be a power for good. In a marked degree the ruler could have represented Christ; for he possessed qualifications, which, if he were united with the Saviour, would enable him to become a divine force among men. Christ, seeing into his character, loved him. Love for Christ was awakening in the ruler’s heart; for love begets love. Jesus longed to see him a co-worker with Him.

He longed to make him like Himself, a mirror in which the likeness of God would be reflected. He longed to develop the excellence of his character, and sanctify it to the Master’s use. If the ruler had then given himself to Christ, he would have grown in the atmosphere of His presence. If he had made this choice, how different would have been his future!

“One thing thou lackest,” Jesus said. “If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow Me.” Christ read the ruler’s heart. Only one thing he lacked, but that was a vital principle. He needed the love of God in the soul. This lack, unless supplied, would prove fatal to him; his whole nature would become corrupted. By indulgence, selfishness would strengthen. That he might receive the love of God, his supreme love of self must be surrendered.—Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages 518.4-519.4. [Bold type is added.]

16.    How do you understand the words of Jesus in this story? Was He really trying to suggest that if we keep the commandments, we could be saved? If that were the only criteria, this young rich ruler might have been ready for the kingdom! But, especially in Paul’s writings, we see that keeping the law does not bring us salvation; rather, it points to our need of salvation. (See Romans 3:28; Galatians 3:21-22; Romans 7:7.)xi

17.    For the gospel to be effective, the love of God and an understanding of His kingdom must so penetrate our lives and our thinking that nothing else will stand in the way of our serving Him. How do we get to that position?

18.    Many people down through the generations have thought that this story had to be wrong.

But, it is interesting to notice that as recorded in Luke 19:1-10xii-shortly after the telling of this story-another rich man did get the point and joined the kingdom of God. Are we more like the rich young ruler? Or, more like Zacchaeus? If we were given permission to ask Jesus directly the question that the rich young ruler asked, how do you think Jesus would respond to us?

19.    Read Matthew 19:27xiii. Does this question bother you? Was Peter asking a very selfish question? Or, did he simply want to know what is going to happen to those who follow Jesus? Do you suppose that the experience with the rich young ruler triggered Peter’s question? The disciples had committed themselves to following Jesus even at considerable cost. We do not have any idea how the disciples’ wives and families were supported as those men followed Him. Did God somehow take care of those families? We do not know how many of them were married. We know for sure that Peter was. Were things turning out somewhat unexpectedly?

20.    Does this question from Peter suggest that he was still hardhearted and spiritually dense?

21.    The spiritual life or the Christian is not easy. But, God has promised us great rewards in the future, even eternal life!

22.    Read Matthew 19:28-20:16xiv. How did Jesus respond to Peter’s question? This parable seems to us to be incredibly unfair. To say that God will give each person what he deserves seems fair enough; but, it is followed by the parable of the workers in the vineyard. Was Jesus intentionally trying to stir up resentment against His cause? If the master of the vineyard intended to pay all the workers the same, why didn’t he at least pay the workers who started work early in the morning first so they would be gone by the time he paid those who came last and were given an equal amount. Was the vineyard owner trying to start a fight? Or, as Morris Venden suggested, was the privilege of working with a master who was so kind the “reward” for those who worked all day with him. Salvation is available to everyone: The Jews who believed that they had been following God for a long time and the Gentile converts who had just come.

23.    Have you ever asked-at least in your own private thoughts-the question, “What will I get by serving Jesus?” How would you answer that question? If we were to think about Paul’s experience, we might read 2 Timothy 3:12xv (GNB): “Everybody who wants to live a godly life in union with Christ Jesus will be persecuted.” Are we being persecuted? Is that because we are not living godly lives? Or, is it just not time yet? It is true that if we do live godly lives and follow the example of Jesus, we will inherit eternal life some day.

24.    Read [Matthew 20:20-27 after reading Luke 9:51-56]xvi. On His final journey to Jerusalem, Jesus followed a circuitous route which took Him through a portion of Samaria. Jesus was seeking to get as much attention as possible focused on the upcoming events in Jerusalem. When the Samaritans in one village discovered that He was on His way to Jerusalem, they refused to accept Him in their village. James and John, the “sons of thunder,” were ready to call fire down on them! It is interesting to note that if one recognizes the location where this happened, it was very near the place where, in fact, shortly before his translation to heaven, Elijah had called fire down from heaven and consumed more than 100 men sent by the king to capture him! (See 2 Kings 1:9-16.)xvii

25.    Not too long after that occurred, James and John brought their mother and approached Jesus to ask if they could be given privileged spots next to Jesus in the kingdom. How do you think Jesus felt when they asked that question? He must have been bitterly disappointed. And how did the other disciples respond? They were very upset.

26.    Why do you suppose it is that in preparing us to live in a future perfect kingdom where everyone is loving, we have to pass through a time of trial which in some cases may be even leading to martyrdom?

27.    Are you prepared to pay whatever it costs to follow Jesus? As we know, down through the centuries many Christians have paid with their lives. Our lives, in most cases, are very comfortable in 2016. But, it will not always be so.

28.    What is regarded as greatness and what is considered to be normal human behavior or natural law is not a part of God’s kingdom. We must learn how to rise above it, to practice love to the point even of forgiving and loving our enemies. Those are the kind of people that you would want to live next door to forever. Are you prepared to be that kind of person?

29.    Are you prepared to forgive those who hurt you? Even if they are the members of your own family? Do the people around you, that you work with or associate with in one way or another, have any concept of these principles of greatness that Jesus talked about? Real Christian greatness is shown by how well we do at following the example of Jesus Christ. Think about the so-called great people of this earth. How many of them do you think have the humility of Moses? Or, of Jesus? Does that kind of humility get you anywhere in our society today?

30.    It is God’s plan that we become reflectors of Jesus. How well are we doing at that challenge? Have you ever tried to go directly to someone who has hurt you to see if you can settle the matter with him/her? The lessons we could learn from the events recorded in these chapters are incredible! How well are we doing?

© 2016, Kenneth Hart, MD, MA, MPH. Permission is hereby granted for any noncommercial use of these materials. Free distribution of all or of a portion of this material such as to a Bible study class is encouraged.

i-Ecclesiastes 9:10 Work hard at whatever you do, because there will be no action, no thought, no knowledge, no wisdom in the world of the dead—and that is where you are going.

Matthew 18:1 At that time the disciples came to Jesus, asking, “Who is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven?”

2 So Jesus called a child to come and stand in front of them, 3 and said, “I assure you that unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the Kingdom of heaven. 4 The greatest in the Kingdom of heaven is the one who humbles himself and becomes like this child.

The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant

21 Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, if my brother keeps on sinning against me, how many times do I have to forgive him? Seven times?”

22 “No, not seven times,” answered Jesus, “but seventy times seven,[a] 23 because the Kingdom of heaven is like this. Once there was a king who decided to check on his servants' accounts. 24 He had just begun to do so when one of them was brought in who owed him millions of dollars. 25 The servant did not have enough to pay his debt, so the king ordered him to be sold as a slave, with his wife and his children and all that he had, in order to pay the debt. 26 The servant fell on his knees before the king. ‘Be patient with me,’ he begged, ‘and I will pay you everything!’ 27 The king felt sorry for him, so he forgave him the debt and let him go.

28 “Then the man went out and met one of his fellow servants who owed him a few dollars. He grabbed him and started choking him. ‘Pay back what you owe me!’ he said. 29 His fellow servant fell down and begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back!’ 30 But he refused; instead, he had him thrown into jail until he should pay the debt. 31 When the other servants saw what had happened, they were very upset and went to the king and told him everything. 32 So he called the servant in. ‘You worthless slave!’ he said. ‘I forgave you the whole amount you owed me, just because you asked me to. 33 You should have had mercy on your fellow servant, just as I had mercy on you.’ 34 The king was very angry, and he sent the servant to jail to be punished until he should pay back the whole amount.”

35 And Jesus concluded, “That is how my Father in heaven will treat every one of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart.”

19:The Rich Young Man

16 Once a man came to Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what good thing must I do to receive eternal life?”

17 “Why do you ask me concerning what is good?” answered Jesus. “There is only One who is good. Keep the commandments if you want to enter life.”

18 “What commandments?” he asked.

Jesus answered, “Do not commit murder; do not commit adultery; do not steal; do not accuse anyone falsely; 19 respect your father and your mother; and love your neighbor as you love yourself.”

20 “I have obeyed all these commandments,” the young man replied. “What else do I need to do?”

21 Jesus said to him, “If you want to be perfect, go and sell all you have and give the money to the poor, and you will have riches in heaven; then come and follow me.”

22 When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he was very rich.

23 Jesus then said to his disciples, “I assure you: it will be very hard for rich people to enter the Kingdom of heaven. 24 I repeat: it is much harder for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God than for a camel to go through the eye of a needle.”

25 When the disciples heard this, they were completely amazed. “Who, then, can be saved?” they asked.

26 Jesus looked straight at them and answered, “This is impossible for human beings, but for God everything is possible.”

27 Then Peter spoke up. “Look,” he said, “we have left everything and followed you. What will we have?”

28 Jesus said to them, “You can be sure that when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne in the New Age, then you twelve followers of mine will also sit on thrones, to rule the twelve tribes of Israel. 29 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for my sake, will receive a hundred times more and will be given eternal life. 30 But many who now are first will be last, and many who now are last will be first.

Galatians 3:21 Does this mean that the Law is against God's promises? No, not at all! For if human beings had received a law that could bring life, then everyone could be put right with God by obeying it. 22 But the scripture says that the whole world is under the power of sin; and so the gift which is promised on the basis of faith in Jesus Christ is given to those who believe.

ii-Matthew 18:At that time the disciples came to Jesus, asking, “Who is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven?”

2 So Jesus called a child to come and stand in front of them, 3 and said, “I assure you that unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the Kingdom of heaven. 4 The greatest in the Kingdom of heaven is the one who humbles himself and becomes like this child.

iii-Numbers 12:1 Moses had married a Cushite[a] woman, and Miriam and Aaron criticized him for it. 2 They said, “Has the LORD spoken only through[b] Moses? Hasn't he also spoken through[c] us?” The LORD heard what they said. (3 Moses was a humble man, more humble than anyone else on earth.)

iv-Genesis 3:1 Now the snake was the most cunning animal that the LORD God had made. The snake asked the woman, “Did God really tell you not to eat fruit from any tree in the garden?”

2 “We may eat the fruit of any tree in the garden,” the woman answered, 3 “except the tree in the middle of it. God told us not to eat the fruit of that tree or even touch it; if we do, we will die.”

4 The snake replied, “That's not true; you will not die. 5 God said that because he knows that when you eat it, you will be like God[a] and know what is good and what is bad.”[b]

6 The woman saw how beautiful the tree was and how good its fruit would be to eat, and she thought how wonderful it would be to become wise. So she took some of the fruit and ate it. Then she gave some to her husband, and he also ate it. 7 As soon as they had eaten it, they were given understanding and realized that they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and covered themselves.

8 That evening they heard the LORD God walking in the garden, and they hid from him among the trees. 9 But the LORD God called out to the man, “Where are you?”

10 He answered, “I heard you in the garden; I was afraid and hid from you, because I was naked.”

11 “Who told you that you were naked?” God asked. “Did you eat the fruit that I told you not to eat?”

12 The man answered, “The woman you put here with me gave me the fruit, and I ate it.”

13 The LORD God asked the woman, “Why did you do this?”

She replied, “The snake tricked me into eating it.”

God Pronounces Judgment

14 Then the LORD God said to the snake, “You will be punished for this; you alone of all the animals must bear this curse: From now on you will crawl on your belly, and you will have to eat dust as long as you live. 15 I will make you and the woman hate each other; her offspring and yours will always be enemies. Her offspring will crush your head, and you will bite her offspring's[c] heel.”

16 And he said to the woman, “I will increase your trouble in pregnancy and your pain in giving birth. In spite of this, you will still have desire for your husband, yet you will be subject to him.”

17 And he said to the man, “You listened to your wife and ate the fruit which I told you not to eat. Because of what you have done, the ground will be under a curse. You will have to work hard all your life to make it produce enough food for you. 18 It will produce weeds and thorns, and you will have to eat wild plants. 19 You will have to work hard and sweat to make the soil produce anything, until you go back to the soil from which you were formed. You were made from soil, and you will become soil again.”

20 Adam[d] named his wife Eve,[e] because she was the mother of all human beings. 21 And the LORD God made clothes out of animal skins for Adam and his wife, and he clothed them.

Adam and Eve Are Sent Out of the Garden

22 Then the LORD God said, “Now these human beings have become like one of us and have knowledge of what is good and what is bad.[f] They must not be allowed to take fruit from the tree that gives life, eat it, and live forever.” 23 So the LORD God sent them out of the Garden of Eden and made them cultivate the soil from which they had been formed. 24 Then at the east side of the garden he put living creatures[g] and a flaming sword which turned in all directions. This was to keep anyone from coming near the tree that gives life.

v-Matthew 18:15 “If your brother sins against you,[a] go to him and show him his fault. But do it privately, just between yourselves. If he listens to you, you have won your brother back. 16 But if he will not listen to you, take one or two other persons with you, so that ‘every accusation may be upheld by the testimony of two or more witnesses,’ as the scripture says. 17 And if he will not listen to them, then tell the whole thing to the church. Finally, if he will not listen to the church, treat him as though he were a pagan or a tax collector.

Prohibiting and Permitting

18 “And so I tell all of you: what you prohibit on earth will be prohibited in heaven, and what you permit on earth will be permitted in heaven.

19 “And I tell you more: whenever two of you on earth agree about anything you pray for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three come together in my name, I am there with them.”

The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant

21 Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, if my brother keeps on sinning against me, how many times do I have to forgive him? Seven times?”

22 “No, not seven times,” answered Jesus, “but seventy times seven,[b] 23 because the Kingdom of heaven is like this. Once there was a king who decided to check on his servants' accounts. 24 He had just begun to do so when one of them was brought in who owed him millions of dollars. 25 The servant did not have enough to pay his debt, so the king ordered him to be sold as a slave, with his wife and his children and all that he had, in order to pay the debt. 26 The servant fell on his knees before the king. ‘Be patient with me,’ he begged, ‘and I will pay you everything!’ 27 The king felt sorry for him, so he forgave him the debt and let him go.

28 “Then the man went out and met one of his fellow servants who owed him a few dollars. He grabbed him and started choking him. ‘Pay back what you owe me!’ he said. 29 His fellow servant fell down and begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back!’ 30 But he refused; instead, he had him thrown into jail until he should pay the debt. 31 When the other servants saw what had happened, they were very upset and went to the king and told him everything. 32 So he called the servant in. ‘You worthless slave!’ he said. ‘I forgave you the whole amount you owed me, just because you asked me to. 33 You should have had mercy on your fellow servant, just as I had mercy on you.’ 34 The king was very angry, and he sent the servant to jail to be punished until he should pay back the whole amount.”

35 And Jesus concluded, “That is how my Father in heaven will treat every one of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart.”

vi-Matthew 18:20 For where two or three come together in my name, I am there with them.”

vii-Matthew 18:21 Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, if my brother keeps on sinning against me, how many times do I have to forgive him? Seven times?”

22 “No, not seven times,” answered Jesus, “but seventy times seven,[a] 23 because the Kingdom of heaven is like this. Once there was a king who decided to check on his servants' accounts. 24 He had just begun to do so when one of them was brought in who owed him millions of dollars. 25 The servant did not have enough to pay his debt, so the king ordered him to be sold as a slave, with his wife and his children and all that he had, in order to pay the debt. 26 The servant fell on his knees before the king. ‘Be patient with me,’ he begged, ‘and I will pay you everything!’ 27 The king felt sorry for him, so he forgave him the debt and let him go.

28 “Then the man went out and met one of his fellow servants who owed him a few dollars. He grabbed him and started choking him. ‘Pay back what you owe me!’ he said. 29 His fellow servant fell down and begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back!’ 30 But he refused; instead, he had him thrown into jail until he should pay the debt. 31 When the other servants saw what had happened, they were very upset and went to the king and told him everything. 32 So he called the servant in. ‘You worthless slave!’ he said. ‘I forgave you the whole amount you owed me, just because you asked me to. 33 You should have had mercy on your fellow servant, just as I had mercy on you.’ 34 The king was very angry, and he sent the servant to jail to be punished until he should pay back the whole amount.”

35 And Jesus concluded, “That is how my Father in heaven will treat every one of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart.”

viii-Exodus 32:32 Please forgive their sin; but if you won't, then remove my name from the book in which you have written the names of your people.”

Acts 5:31 God raised him to his right side as Leader and Savior, to give the people of Israel the opportunity to repent and have their sins forgiven.

Colossians 1:14 by whom we are set free, that is, our sins are forgiven.

ix-Ephesians 3:8 I am less than the least of all God's people; yet God gave me this privilege of taking to the Gentiles the Good News about the infinite riches of Christ, 9 and of making all people see how God's secret plan is to be put into effect. God, who is the Creator of all things, kept his secret hidden through all the past ages, 10 in order that at the present time, by means of the church, the angelic rulers and powers in the heavenly world might learn of his wisdom in all its different forms.

x-Matthew 19:16 Once a man came to Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what good thing must I do to receive eternal life?”

17 “Why do you ask me concerning what is good?” answered Jesus. “There is only One who is good. Keep the commandments if you want to enter life.”

18 “What commandments?” he asked.

Jesus answered, “Do not commit murder; do not commit adultery; do not steal; do not accuse anyone falsely; 19 respect your father and your mother; and love your neighbor as you love yourself.”

20 “I have obeyed all these commandments,” the young man replied. “What else do I need to do?”

21 Jesus said to him, “If you want to be perfect, go and sell all you have and give the money to the poor, and you will have riches in heaven; then come and follow me.”

22 When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he was very rich.

23 Jesus then said to his disciples, “I assure you: it will be very hard for rich people to enter the Kingdom of heaven. 24 I repeat: it is much harder for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God than for a camel to go through the eye of a needle.”

25 When the disciples heard this, they were completely amazed. “Who, then, can be saved?” they asked.

26 Jesus looked straight at them and answered, “This is impossible for human beings, but for God everything is possible.”

27 Then Peter spoke up. “Look,” he said, “we have left everything and followed you. What will we have?”

28 Jesus said to them, “You can be sure that when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne in the New Age, then you twelve followers of mine will also sit on thrones, to rule the twelve tribes of Israel. 29 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for my sake, will receive a hundred times more and will be given eternal life. 30 But many who now are first will be last, and many who now are last will be first.

xi-Romans 3:28 For we conclude that a person is put right with God only through faith, and not by doing what the Law commands.

Galatians 3:21 Does this mean that the Law is against God's promises? No, not at all! For if human beings had received a law that could bring life, then everyone could be put right with God by obeying it. 22 But the scripture says that the whole world is under the power of sin; and so the gift which is promised on the basis of faith in Jesus Christ is given to those who believe.

Romans 7:7 Shall we say, then, that the Law itself is sinful? Of course not! But it was the Law that made me know what sin is. If the Law had not said, “Do not desire what belongs to someone else,” I would not have known such a desire.

xii-Luke 19:1 Jesus went on into Jericho and was passing through. 2 There was a chief tax collector there named Zacchaeus, who was rich. 3 He was trying to see who Jesus was, but he was a little man and could not see Jesus because of the crowd. 4 So he ran ahead of the crowd and climbed a sycamore tree to see Jesus, who was going to pass that way. 5 When Jesus came to that place, he looked up and said to Zacchaeus, “Hurry down, Zacchaeus, because I must stay in your house today.”

6 Zacchaeus hurried down and welcomed him with great joy. 7 All the people who saw it started grumbling, “This man has gone as a guest to the home of a sinner!”

8 Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Listen, sir! I will give half my belongings to the poor, and if I have cheated anyone, I will pay back four times as much.”

9 Jesus said to him, “Salvation has come to this house today, for this man, also, is a descendant of Abraham. 10 The Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

xiii-Matthew 19:27 Then Peter spoke up. “Look,” he said, “we have left everything and followed you. What will we have?”

xiv-Matthew 19:28 Jesus said to them, “You can be sure that when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne in the New Age, then you twelve followers of mine will also sit on thrones, to rule the twelve tribes of Israel. 29 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for my sake, will receive a hundred times more and will be given eternal life. 30 But many who now are first will be last, and many who now are last will be first.

The Workers in the Vineyard

20 “The Kingdom of heaven is like this. Once there was a man who went out early in the morning to hire some men to work in his vineyard. 2 He agreed to pay them the regular wage, a silver coin a day, and sent them to work in his vineyard. 3 He went out again to the marketplace at nine o'clock and saw some men standing there doing nothing, 4 so he told them, ‘You also go and work in the vineyard, and I will pay you a fair wage.’ 5 So they went. Then at twelve o'clock and again at three o'clock he did the same thing. 6 It was nearly five o'clock when he went to the marketplace and saw some other men still standing there. ‘Why are you wasting the whole day here doing nothing?’ he asked them. 7 ‘No one hired us,’ they answered. ‘Well, then, you go and work in the vineyard,’ he told them.

8 “When evening came, the owner told his foreman, ‘Call the workers and pay them their wages, starting with those who were hired last and ending with those who were hired first.’ 9 The men who had begun to work at five o'clock were paid a silver coin each. 10 So when the men who were the first to be hired came to be paid, they thought they would get more; but they too were given a silver coin each. 11 They took their money and started grumbling against the employer. 12 ‘These men who were hired last worked only one hour,’ they said, ‘while we put up with a whole day's work in the hot sun—yet you paid them the same as you paid us!’ 13 ‘Listen, friend,’ the owner answered one of them, ‘I have not cheated you. After all, you agreed to do a day's work for one silver coin. 14 Now take your pay and go home. I want to give this man who was hired last as much as I gave you. 15 Don't I have the right to do as I wish with my own money? Or are you jealous because I am generous?’”

16 And Jesus concluded, “So those who are last will be first, and those who are first will be last.”

xv-2 Timothy 3:12 Everyone who wants to live a godly life in union with Christ Jesus will be persecuted;

xvi-Matthew 20:20 Then the wife of Zebedee came to Jesus with her two sons, bowed before him, and asked him for a favor.

21 “What do you want?” Jesus asked her.

She answered, “Promise me that these two sons of mine will sit at your right and your left when you are King.”

22 “You don't know what you are asking for,” Jesus answered the sons. “Can you drink the cup of suffering that I am about to drink?”

“We can,” they answered.

23 “You will indeed drink from my cup,” Jesus told them, “but I do not have the right to choose who will sit at my right and my left. These places belong to those for whom my Father has prepared them.”

24 When the other ten disciples heard about this, they became angry with the two brothers. 25 So Jesus called them all together and said, “You know that the rulers of the heathen have power over them, and the leaders have complete authority. 26 This, however, is not the way it shall be among you. If one of you wants to be great, you must be the servant of the rest; 27 and if one of you wants to be first, you must be the slave of the others—

Luke 9:51 As the time drew near when Jesus would be taken up to heaven, he made up his mind and set out on his way to Jerusalem. 52 He sent messengers ahead of him, who went into a village in Samaria to get everything ready for him. 53 But the people there would not receive him, because it was clear that he was on his way to Jerusalem. 54 When the disciples James and John saw this, they said, “Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them?”[a]

55 Jesus turned and rebuked them.[b] 56 Then Jesus and his disciples went on to another village.

xvii-2 Kings 1:9 Then he sent an officer with fifty men to get Elijah. The officer found him sitting on a hill and said to him, “Man of God, the king orders you to come down.”

10 “If I am a man of God,” Elijah answered, “may fire come down from heaven and kill you and your men!” At once fire came down and killed the officer and his men.

11 The king sent another officer with fifty men, who went up[a] and said to Elijah, “Man of God, the king orders you to come down at once!”

12 “If I am a man of God,” Elijah answered, “may fire come down from heaven and kill you and your men!” At once the fire of God came down and killed the officer and his men.

13 Once more the king sent an officer with fifty men. He went up the hill, fell on his knees in front of Elijah, and pleaded, “Man of God, be merciful to me and my men. Spare our lives! 14 The two other officers and their men were killed by fire from heaven; but please be merciful to me!”

15 The angel of the LORD said to Elijah, “Go down with him, and don't be afraid.” So Elijah went with the officer to the king 16 and said to him, “This is what the LORD says: ‘Because you sent messengers to consult Baalzebub, the god of Ekron—as if there were no god in Israel to consult—you will not get well; you will die!’”

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