FORSAKING ALL FOR HIMS - Scripture: Matthew 19:1-30
O - Observations:
Commentator Matthew Henry makes note as the chapter opens and Jesus is seen leaving Galilee that this is a very remarkable transition in the account of Jesus' ministry as he would not return to Galilee until after the resurrection. NOTE (Emphasis my own): "Christ did not take his leave of Galilee till he had done his work there, and then he departed thence. Note, As Christ's faithful ministers are not taken out of the world, so they are not removed from any place, till they have finished their testimony in that place, Rev. 11:7 ... And who would desire to continue any where longer than he has work to do for God there?"
Scripture then comments as he left that great multitudes followed him. "The redeemed of the Lord are such as follow the Lamb whithersoever he goes, Rev. 14:4. When Christ departs, it is best for us to follow him ... for so it follows, he healed them there ..."
Now being challenged by the Pharisees on the issue of divorce Matthew Henry writes this: "Note, It will be of great use to us often to think of our creation, how and by whom, what and for what, we were created. He made them male and female, one female for one male; so that Adam could not divorce his wife, and take another, for there was no other to take. It likewise intimated an inseparable union between them; Eve was a rib out of Adam's side, so that he could not put her away, but he must put away a piece of himself, and contradict the manifest indications of her creation. A man's children are pieces of himself, but his wife is himself. As this is a reason why husbands should love their wives, so it is a reason why they should not put away their wives, for no man ever yet hated his own flesh, or cut it off, but nourishes and cherishes it, and does all he can to preserve it. Husband and wife are of God's joining together; synezeuxen-he hath yoked them together, so the word is, and it is very significant. God himself instituted the relation between husband and wife in the state of innocence. Marriage and the Sabbath are the most ancient of divine ordinances. Let not man put them asunder; not the husband himself, nor any one for him ..."
In the union of marriage children are brought forth, and in this Scripture you have little children being brought to the Master, Jesus, Yeshua, in faith seeking his blessing on their little lives. NOTE: "Those who glorify Christ by coming to him themselves, should further glorify him by bringing all they have, or have influence upon, to him likewise. They did a kindness to their children, not doubting but they would fare the better, in this world and the other, for the blessing and prayers of the Lord Jesus, whom they looked upon at least as an extraordinary person, as a prophet, if not as a priest and king; and the blessings of such were valued and desired. Others brought their children to Christ, to be healed when they were sick; but these children were under no present malady, only they desired a blessing for them. Therefore they should be brought to him. We cannot do better for our children than to commit them to the Lord Jesus ... Those that seek unto Christ, must not think it strange if they meet with opposition and rebuke, even from good men, who think they know the mind of Christ better than they do. The promise is to you, and to your children. I will be a God to thee and thy seed. The strongest believer lives not so much by apprehending Christ as by being apprehended of him (Phil. 3:12), not so much by knowing God as by being known of him (Gal. 4:9) ... when he had done this, he departed thence, v. 15. As if he reckoned he had done enough there, when he had thus asserted the rights of the lambs of his flock, and made this provision [blessing] for a succession of subjects in his kingdom."
After that Jesus meets a rich man and asks him to sell all he has for the Kingdom. The man came to Jesus submitting to Him as Master and giving Him respect and coming with sincerity. He was no Sadducee for he believed in eternal life. He was young and rich and desirous of eternal life. "The rich are apt to think it below them to make such an enquiry as this; and young people think it time enough yet; but here was a young man, and a rich man, solicitous about his soul and eternity." First "Christ would lead him to own and honour him as a good God; for there is none good but one, that is God. Christ will have this young man either know him to be God, or not call him good; to teach us to transfer to God all the praise that is at any time given to us. Do any call us good? Let us tell them all goodness is from God, and therefore not to us, but to him give glory. All crowns must lie before his throne."
What was Christ's answer to salvation? "The way prescribed is, keeping the commandments. Note, Keeping the commandments of God, according as they are revealed and made known to us, is the only way to life and salvation ... Through Christ we are delivered from the condemning power of the law ... we still are under the law to Christ (1 Co. 9:21), under it as a rule ... Keeping the commandments includes faith in Jesus Christ, for that is the great commandment (1 Jn. 3:23), and it was one of the laws of Moses, that, when the great Prophet should be raised up, they should hear him. Observe, In order to our happiness here and for ever, it is not enough for us to know the commandments of God, but we must keep them, keep in them as our way, keep to them as our rule, keep them as our treasure, and with care, as the apple of our eye."
The young man saith unto him, Which ones are necessary for salvation? In answer to this, Christ specifies several from the Tablets of the 10 Commandments ... especially those that deal with relational issues and loving one another because those were the things that the Pharisees were teaching less of ... sure they taught on the tithe and the strict adherance to the Law, but love was being left out. That which bore testimony the most of who we are in Christ, namely love, was being put aside for stricter adherance to laws and traditions. "Our light burns in love to God, but it shines in love to our neighbour."
Now the young man had kept all these things from his youth. "Note, A man may be free from gross sin, and yet come short of grace and glory." The man persisted, "What lack I yet?" Perhaps he valued himself too much? What was Christ's answer? "We must practically prefer the heavenly treasures before all the wealth and riches in this world ... [showing] compassion of the poor and afflicted ones ... and compassion to our brethren ... when we embrace Christ, we must let go the world ... Christ knew that covetousness was the sin that did most easily beset this young man ..." It wasn't enough for the young, rich man to sell it all ... he had to do one more important thing, "Come, and follow me [Jesus]." NOTE: "To sell all, and give to the poor, will not serve, unless we come, and follow Christ. If I give all my goods to feed the poor, and have not love, it profits me nothing."
"Note, It should be a satisfaction to them who are in a low condition, that they are not exposed to the temptations of a high and prosperous condition ..."
Some of us are like the scene in the Fiddler on the Roof:
Perchik: Money is the world's curse.
Tevye: May the Lord smite me with it! And may I never recover!
But here, Christ said this to his disciples, who were poor, and had but little in the world, to reconcile them to their condition with this, that the less they had of worldly wealth, the less hindrance they had in the way to heaven.
Now they followed Christ with constant fatigue, when few did; and therefore on them he will put particular marks of honour.
"The heavenly inheritance is not given as earthly inheritances commonly are, by seniority of age, and priority of birth, but according to God's pleasure. This is the text of another sermon, which we shall meet with in the next chapter."
A - Application for me today:
To follow Christ even at the opposition of others. To commit my marriage and children to the LORD and to let go of the sin that so easily besets me in order to obtain eternal life. Turning away from sin and turning to and following Christ and all He has to offer.
P - Prayer in response:
As I daily seek to know you more, help me to forsake anything that keeps me from knowing you more. I bring to you my marriage and children and ask for a blessing from you on them. May we learn to give up ourself for others and forsake selfishness for love. You promise that if we seek you, you will be found and if we seek first your kingdom that you will add all these other things to us and that when we draw near to you that you draw near to us. I come to you on these promises drawing near to you as best as I know how. Complete in me the work you have started.
Verse for today:
Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset [us], and let us run with patience the race that is set before us ... Hebrews 12:1
Forsake all and love Him with all we are!
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