I sold all my property & possessions and now I'm paying 3 times the price in rent as I did for a mortgage. Acts 2 totally backfired on me.
But seriously, here's my comment on these two passages. The Acts passage is wonderful and while most people would view it as a hippie movement, I think it's truly beautiful & countercultural. It wasn't without it's problems (greed, class systems, etc.) but with the church governing it, they seemed to work it out so everyone got fair shares. The Luke 18 one can't just be taken out of context. It's a beautiful way for a man who had done all requirements to find a way to give in excess. However, if we take it out of context and read it by itself, you're not giving to give, you're giving to receive. Your motive comes into question then. That darn troublesome "treasure in heaven" phrase!
Perhaps Jesus was pointing out to the rich young ruler that he had NOT done all the requirements? Perhaps he was breaking quite a few of the Ten Words?
Money was his god, so he was worshiping a golden idol, lying about the fact and therefore taking God's name in vain. Perhaps his sorrowful exit was because he was coveting more (All this and heaven too, "for he had great possessions")?....
Interestingly enough, I just realized that I had confused the Luke 18 account with the Matthew 19 account of this story. I had never noticed the big difference between the two before.
Luke 18 shows a man looking to justify himself and Jesus issuing an extremely difficult challenge, making the man sad.
Matthew 19 shows a man who desires to please God in every area of his life, even asking Jesus to search him for a better way to serve God (remind anyone else of David in Psalm 139:23-24?). When Jesus tells him how to improve, he's overwhelmed by the daunting task and saddened.
I think I've always remembered the Matthew 19 version. I've taken away that we should seek to honor God in the difficult tasks with the same eagerness that we seek to honor him in the easier tasks. Tonight is the first time I've realized the completely different telling of this tale.
I think the Luke 18 cocky guy's tale is interesting. Jesus doesn't mention idols in his list, and then hits the nerve when the man makes the arrogant assertion that he's got it together. This story is a warning against arrogance.
But what an encouragement to know that Jesus gives both the eager and the arrogant the chance to follow him.
I've actually thought a lot about the acts 2 passage recently. I've been wondering how or what that would look like at this point in history. Because it definately points to a distinct group "all those who believed", were sharing what they have in common, but then it says they began selling their property and possessions and sharing them with all. So I guess what that's saying to me is that if we (those that believe) were to share everything in common, would we get to a point where we didn't need all this other stuff that we are accumulating and could we then start to sell it off, and pass that off to anyone that has need. So where does that leave us now?
I don't think that the Rich Young Ruler is a lesson that points directly to the heart of the majority of American Christians today. We tend to say that we have kept all the commands but when we are asked to give up that one last idol, our stuff, we kind of turn away sadly and find a better church that tells us how to feel good about ourselves.
So does anyone think that modern Christians are supposed to, you know, actually do this?
I think that's what I was trying to say.
Interesting Asher that you find such a difference in these accounts. They seem to be all but identical word for word to me.
LUKE 18:18 And a ruler asked him, "Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?"
MATTHEW 19:16 And behold, a man came up to him, saying, "Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?"
LUKE 18:19 And Jesus said to him, "Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone.
LUKE 18:20 You know the commandments: 'Do not commit adultery, Do not murder, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother.'"
MATTHEW 19:17 And he said to him, "Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. If you would enter life, keep the commandments."
Mat 19:18 He said to him, "Which ones?" And Jesus said, "You shall not murder, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness,
MATTHEW 19:19 Honor your father and mother, and, You shall love your neighbor as yourself."
LUKE 18:21 And he said, "All these I have kept from my youth."
MATTHEW 19:20 The young man said to him, "All these I have kept. What do I still lack?"
LUKE 18:22 When Jesus heard this, he said to him, "One thing you still lack. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me."
MATTHEW 19:21 Jesus said to him, "If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me."
LUKE 18:23 But when he heard these things, he became very sad, for he was extremely rich.
MATTHEW 19:22 When the young man heard this he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.
Interesting, reading them side by side like that. They do look almost identical that way. Point taken. I think the entire tone of each one is different when you read it on its own though.
Matthew
Man asks Jesus how to get eternal life. Jesus answers him. He has met Jesus's criteria for eternal life. But he goes on to ask the most extraordinary question in the story, "What do I still lack?" (v. 20). This is a man who desires to do more than the bare minimum. As a person of presigious position in the community, he can still humbly acknowledge his imperfection. So Jesus responds by telling him how to be perfect.
Luke
The million-dollar question doesn't exist. Man asks Jesus about eternal life. Jesus states criteria. Man says he's done all that. No follow-up question. No desire for something greater. No humble acknowledgement that there just MIGHT be something left. Jesus still points out the man's fault, which was undoubtedly a humbling experience in front of the people. Luke makes a point of noting that the man was not just wealthy, but a ruler, a man of undoubted position. So I'm sure it was extra humiliating for a man of high standing to be called out like this. It's a lesson of greed/generosity and of pride/humility.
Maybe that one question changes the whole tone of the story for me.
So... Jesus is saying that the way to eternal life is keeping the Ten Commandments plus going the extra mile of selling all possessions and giving the $ to the poor? That those who receive eternal life are the truly humble and generous?
Okay, I've read these passages over & over. It raises new questions each time. Like what if the question starting the story wasn't about eternal life. What if he had asked "What must I do to live my life to the fullest?" or "How can I receive the gift of the best life possible?" I think Jesus would answer the same way. Length of life & fullness/quality of life could completely be interchangeable here. Either way, follow God's prescribed way of life, don't hold back, be generous, be humble, and "Follow me." He tells the man to keep the law, to one-up that by giving up what he prized most for the sake of others, and to one-up that by becoming his own disciple, learning to be just like Jesus.
Why do you think the disciples responded in this manner then?:
Luk 18:23 But when he heard these things, he became very sad, for he was extremely rich.
Luk 18:24 Jesus, looking at him with sadness, said, "How difficult it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!
Luk 18:25 For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God."
Luk 18:26 Those who heard it said, "Then who can be saved?"
Mat 19:22 When the young man heard this he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.
Mat 19:23 And Jesus said to his disciples, "Truly, I say to you, only with difficulty will a rich person enter the kingdom of heaven.
Mat 19:24 Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God."
Mat 19:25 When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished, saying, "Who then can be saved?"
I think the disciples probably responded this way because (a little speculation here) I've heard that rich people could have been viewed as 'favored by God' in Jesus's time, and poor people as 'people undeserving of God's favor.' So if God's Favored couldn't get into God's Kingdom, then "Who then can be saved?"
This whole thing is foreshadowing. Jesus is trying to get a point across that the "Kingdom of God," the place where God reigns as king, where his decrees are obeyed & people honor him would NOT have class systems. Everyone would look out for the welfare of others and there would be no rich or poor. It's foreshadowing to what Christ would accomplish on the cross. Paul says that there is no class system in Christ:
You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise (Galations 3:26-29).
What do you think? Why did they ask that question?
I think the disciples asked the question because they did get Jesus point, which I believe is that no matter how great one's resources culturally, materially or spiritually Eternal Life is beyond our grasp.
The religious people of Jesus day (and of ours as well) were looking at the scriptures as a "how to" manual instead of as a "this is Who I Am and what I have done for you" declaration.
I see Jesus making this very clear in John 5:39:
"You search the scriptures because you think to obtain by them eternal life. Now these, also, are witnesses for me;
yet you will not come to me, that you may obtain life." [ESV]
Or as the AUV-NT (Understandable Version New Testament) puts it:
"You search through the Scriptures [i.e., the Old Testament], because you think that you will [learn how to] have never ending life by [reading] them. And these Scriptures are what testify concerning me. But you do not want to come to me [i.e., to believe in me. See verse 38] so that you will have [never ending] life."
A lot of teaching today seems to me to center on a moralistic approach to living. i.e. be the best you you can be for Jesus. To me that is a set up for failure and discouragement for we can never live up to His standard. Whereas I see scripture constantly pointing to Jesus and walking in the " new and living way of the Spirit".
So that we should read the scriptures asking "What does this teach me about who Jesus is and what He has done and is doing in for and through me?", rather than asking "What does this scripture teach me that I should be doing to be/look/live like a really good Christian?". Asking the former will naturally produce a life consistent with God's good pleasure.
Eph 2:8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,
Eph 2:9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
Eph 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
Php 2:12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling,
Php 2:13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
Php 1:6 And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.
I agree. It's kind of tough for me to practice that though because of the way I'm wired. When I seek the scriptures to figure out what it tells me about who God is, and not how I should behave, I usually end up amazed with God and want to say thank you somehow so I look to scriptures to see how I can express gratitude through my life & behavior. But I think you're right. I think it's a lot simpler than we make it. God's grace is beyond our reach so the only response is just to accept it when he gives it.
Why does it matter what we do?
As God's Elect, His people, children, sheep, body, wife, royal priesthood, holy nation, prized possession, strangers and aliens in this world we were created for the purpose of showing forth His glory. It is His design for us, our destiny, what we were created for. He gains glory for Himself through us - it is not we who live, but Christ lives in us.
Eph 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
1Pe 2:9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.
Mat 5:16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
Php 2:13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
Tit 2:14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.
I always enjoy it when "Titus" is abbreviated as "Tit."
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