REFLECTIONS ON THE READINGS FROM THE ONE YEAR BIBLE
JAN 29 2011
Exodus 8:1-9:35 ~ Matthew 19:13-30 ~ Psalm 24:1-10 ~ Proverbs 6:1-5
Matthew 19:13-30
WHAT DO YOU MEAN “OH MY GOODNESS”?
Each of the Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark and Luke) give the account of the rich young ruler who professed a desire to follow Jesus. He represents all that most people would love to be: RICH, YOUNG and one who had influence with others, a RULER.
But there was something lacking. He knew he needed eternal life. But how to obtain it?
“What good thing shall I do that I may obtain eternal life?” he asks.
Jesus answers the question with another question that will reveal the presuppositions of the questioner.
“Why are you asking Me about what is good?”
This is often the method of the Lord. He knows that we have certain presuppositions, some true and some false. It is important to have these presuppositions examined.
Someone asked Ravi Zacharias the question whether a certain sexual practice was right or wrong.
He responded, “Do you believe there is a difference?”
Here Jesus exposes the false assumption of the rich, young ruler. It is one that many hold today- that mankind is basically good and that good behavior is the result of good decisions based upon good thinking from a good heart. We are all basically good guys.
Jesus contradicts this assumption, saying, “There is only One who is good.”
Jesus attacks a basic presupposition of the Enlightenment philosophers. He also challenges the assumption that eternal life can be earned.
Instead Jesus affirms the fact that man was made in God’s image, to be a mirror of God’s nature. A mirror is not the origin of the image. It is not the source of the beauty it reflects. The quality of the mirror is quite different from the quality found in the origin of the image it reflects. The origin of the image humankind is designed to reflect is God Himself, the only One who is good. The goodness of the mirror is determined by its ability to reflect an image clearly. If a beautiful or handsome face is reflected in a mirror we don’t compliment the mirror as being beautiful or handsome. A good mirror is one that is in good condition and in a right position in relationship with the source it is to reflect. It is clean and unbroken. And if it is so, no inherent goodness will be noticed in the mirror, only the source image which it reflects. Mirrors that bring attention to themselves are those that are dirty, cracked or distorted.
Then Jesus rephrases his original question to reflect what he perceives as being the real question behind the question. Jesus says is not a matter of “obtaining life” but “entering into life”.
What does that require?
Keeping the commandments.
The rich young ruler asks, “Which ones?”
Jesus quotes a few of the commandments that the rich, young ruler would be familiar with. He carefully omits one of the ten commandments that proves that he has been and continues to be, a law breaker. For all have sinned.
The rich, young ruler’s self-justification blinds him. He sincerely sees himself as a keeper of the law.
“What am I lacking?” he asks.
His question reminds me of the self-deluded and self-absorbed prince in the film, “Enchanted” when he is asked the question, “Do you like yourself?”
“What’s not to like?” he glibly explains.
Jesus responds to the young man with a little ‘reality check’. The commandments are given to show that we are broken mirrors. Of the ten commandments, Jesus must have deliberately withheld ‘thou shall not covet’ in order to zero in on what truly gripped the ruler’s affections.
Matthew 19:21-22 (NASB) 21 Jesus said to him, "If you wish to be complete, go and sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me." 22 But when the young man heard this statement, he went away grieving; for he was one who owned much property.
Jesus clarifies in this episode that entrance “into the kingdom of heaven” or, “entering into eternal life” is impossible for those who are looking to anyone other than the One who is good for their justification.
Matthew 19:25-26 (NASB) 25 When the disciples heard this, they were very astonished and said, "Then who can be saved?" 26 And looking at them Jesus said to them, "With people this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."
With people, entrance into life is IMPOSSIBLE. Salvation is casting all hope and trust upon God. He is the source of all goodness and only through His Son’s perfect living as the “express image of God” and His atoning death on the cross, can he be both JUST and the JUSTIFIER of the ungodly.
What is impossible with men is made possible with God. The apostle Paul clarifies in his Epistle to the Romans:
Romans 3:20-26 (NASB) 20 …by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight; for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin. 21 But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, 22 even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction; 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus; 25 whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed; 26 for the demonstration, I say, of His righteousness at the present time, so that He would be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
Pastor David
So, naturally, we proclaim Christ! We warn everyone we meet, and we teach everyone we can, all that we know about him, so that, if possible, we may bring every man up to his full maturity in Christ. (Colossians 1:28, J.B. Phillips paraphrase)
New Life Community Church, Concord, MA 10742
Meeting Sundays at 10:30 AM at the Emerson Umbrella for the Arts, 40 Stow Street, Concord MA
Mailing Address: Post Office Box Five, Concord, MA 01742
Church Offices: 35 Bypass Rd. Lincoln, MA 01773 978-369-0061
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New Life Fine Arts
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