1 00:00:02,680 --> 00:00:08,920 Speaker 1: Life Audio The Bible Study Podcast, Episode nine fifty one. Today, 2 00:00:08,960 --> 00:00:12,200 Speaker 1: The Bible Study Podcast continues the study of the Book 3 00:00:12,200 --> 00:00:23,560 Speaker 1: of Luke with more from chapter eighteen. Welcome to the 4 00:00:23,560 --> 00:00:26,800 Speaker 1: Bible Study Podcast. I'm your host, Chris Christensen. We're going 5 00:00:26,840 --> 00:00:30,080 Speaker 1: to continue on with chapter eighteen with the Rich and 6 00:00:30,120 --> 00:00:33,199 Speaker 1: the Kingdom of God. But first a word from this 7 00:00:33,440 --> 00:00:37,440 Speaker 1: sponsor The Rich and the Kingdom of God. A certain 8 00:00:37,520 --> 00:00:40,519 Speaker 1: ruler asked him, good teacher, what must I do to 9 00:00:40,640 --> 00:00:44,720 Speaker 1: inherit eternal life? Why do you call me good? Jesus answered, 10 00:00:44,760 --> 00:00:47,840 Speaker 1: no one is good except God alone. You know the commandments. 11 00:00:48,240 --> 00:00:50,680 Speaker 1: You shall not commit adultery, you shall not murder, you 12 00:00:50,720 --> 00:00:54,040 Speaker 1: shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, Honor 13 00:00:54,120 --> 00:00:56,880 Speaker 1: your father and mother. All these things I have kept 14 00:00:57,040 --> 00:01:00,360 Speaker 1: since I was a boy. He said. Then Jesus this 15 00:01:00,440 --> 00:01:03,800 Speaker 1: and said to him, you still lack one thing. Sell 16 00:01:03,840 --> 00:01:06,600 Speaker 1: everything you have and give to the poor, and you 17 00:01:06,600 --> 00:01:10,360 Speaker 1: will have treasure in heaven. Then come follow me. When 18 00:01:10,360 --> 00:01:13,440 Speaker 1: he heard this, he became very sad because he was 19 00:01:13,560 --> 00:01:17,160 Speaker 1: very wealthy. Jesus looked at him and said, how hard 20 00:01:17,360 --> 00:01:21,040 Speaker 1: it is for the rich to enter the Kingdom of God. Indeed, 21 00:01:21,120 --> 00:01:23,040 Speaker 1: it is easier for a camel to go through the 22 00:01:23,040 --> 00:01:25,560 Speaker 1: eye of a needle than for someone who is rich 23 00:01:25,640 --> 00:01:28,800 Speaker 1: to enter the Kingdom of God. Those who heard this asked, 24 00:01:28,920 --> 00:01:32,720 Speaker 1: who then can be saved. Jesus replied, what is impossible 25 00:01:32,760 --> 00:01:36,840 Speaker 1: with man is possible with God. Peter said to him, 26 00:01:36,840 --> 00:01:40,000 Speaker 1: we have left all we had to follow you. Truly, 27 00:01:40,040 --> 00:01:42,160 Speaker 1: I tell you, Jesus said to them, no one who 28 00:01:42,240 --> 00:01:45,640 Speaker 1: has left home or wife, or brothers or sisters, or 29 00:01:45,680 --> 00:01:48,040 Speaker 1: parents or children for the sake of the Kingdom of 30 00:01:48,080 --> 00:01:51,600 Speaker 1: God will fail to receive many times as much in 31 00:01:51,720 --> 00:01:56,600 Speaker 1: this age and in the age to come eternal life. 32 00:01:57,040 --> 00:02:02,400 Speaker 1: So the question here is what about rich people. Now, 33 00:02:03,520 --> 00:02:06,720 Speaker 1: this isn't going to be a shocking story for some 34 00:02:06,760 --> 00:02:08,560 Speaker 1: of you who've grown up in the church, who've heard 35 00:02:08,600 --> 00:02:11,959 Speaker 1: stories like this that are in the Bible. But at 36 00:02:12,000 --> 00:02:17,200 Speaker 1: the time, remember the story of Job, right, the story 37 00:02:17,240 --> 00:02:21,080 Speaker 1: of Job, which is Job is a righteous person and 38 00:02:21,120 --> 00:02:24,200 Speaker 1: God has richly blessed him, and therefore he is rich. 39 00:02:25,360 --> 00:02:31,280 Speaker 1: And then when Job loses everything, people assume that he 40 00:02:31,360 --> 00:02:34,400 Speaker 1: has screwed up. What have you done wrong? And their 41 00:02:34,560 --> 00:02:37,760 Speaker 1: chapters and chapters in Job where his friends are trying 42 00:02:37,760 --> 00:02:40,480 Speaker 1: to convince him he must have done something wrong. That 43 00:02:40,560 --> 00:02:44,119 Speaker 1: God took away all the stuff, all the kids, all 44 00:02:44,200 --> 00:02:49,520 Speaker 1: the everything he had. That God blesses those who are 45 00:02:49,639 --> 00:02:54,080 Speaker 1: right with riches, and that God curses those who do 46 00:02:54,320 --> 00:02:58,280 Speaker 1: wrong and take stuff away. Is the understanding of the 47 00:02:58,280 --> 00:03:02,239 Speaker 1: people at the time. Put that into the context here 48 00:03:03,040 --> 00:03:06,359 Speaker 1: of Jesus saying it's hard to be rich and get 49 00:03:06,480 --> 00:03:12,639 Speaker 1: into the kingdom of God. That's counter cultural. They were 50 00:03:12,720 --> 00:03:15,120 Speaker 1: there thinking, is the opposite, that if I am rich, 51 00:03:15,560 --> 00:03:19,200 Speaker 1: it must be because I'm right with God. Okay, So 52 00:03:19,400 --> 00:03:22,960 Speaker 1: that's the context here for this whole conversation. So man 53 00:03:23,000 --> 00:03:25,080 Speaker 1: comes up, good teacher, what do I need to do 54 00:03:25,120 --> 00:03:29,600 Speaker 1: to inherit eternal life? Now there's already a Bible, or 55 00:03:29,720 --> 00:03:33,000 Speaker 1: there's already the Torah, the and there's already the Talmud, 56 00:03:33,040 --> 00:03:39,920 Speaker 1: there's already books and writings and things. And so he says, well, 57 00:03:39,960 --> 00:03:41,480 Speaker 1: first of all, why did you call me good? No 58 00:03:41,560 --> 00:03:47,400 Speaker 1: one is good except God alone. Now Jesus is God alone. 59 00:03:47,480 --> 00:03:53,960 Speaker 1: So that's an interesting little aside here. But then he says, 60 00:03:54,000 --> 00:03:57,920 Speaker 1: you know the commandments, and he names some but not all, 61 00:03:58,000 --> 00:04:01,120 Speaker 1: of the ten commandments. You shall not commit adultery, you 62 00:04:01,120 --> 00:04:03,040 Speaker 1: shall not murder, you shall not steal, you shall not 63 00:04:03,080 --> 00:04:06,600 Speaker 1: give false testimony, honor your father and your mother. But 64 00:04:06,720 --> 00:04:12,120 Speaker 1: he is skipping some of the ten commandments in his list, right, 65 00:04:12,480 --> 00:04:14,560 Speaker 1: And the person says, I've kept all these since I 66 00:04:14,640 --> 00:04:17,880 Speaker 1: was a boy. I've done all these things. What is 67 00:04:17,920 --> 00:04:23,080 Speaker 1: the ones that he skipped? He skipped I am the Lord, 68 00:04:23,080 --> 00:04:26,480 Speaker 1: your God, have no other gods before me. And he 69 00:04:26,600 --> 00:04:31,200 Speaker 1: skipped all of the ones about coveting, right, don't covet 70 00:04:31,240 --> 00:04:34,280 Speaker 1: your neighbor's house, don't cover your neighbor's wife, don't cover 71 00:04:34,440 --> 00:04:38,480 Speaker 1: all the things. The coveting having to do a lot 72 00:04:38,560 --> 00:04:42,040 Speaker 1: with where your heart is relative to the stuff you 73 00:04:42,200 --> 00:04:47,599 Speaker 1: have or don't have. And obviously the first commandment love 74 00:04:47,640 --> 00:04:49,520 Speaker 1: the world your God with all your heart, your soul, 75 00:04:49,560 --> 00:04:53,479 Speaker 1: your mind, your strength. That put nothing else before God 76 00:04:55,680 --> 00:05:01,400 Speaker 1: apparently is an issue with this man that Jesus knew. 77 00:05:02,320 --> 00:05:05,920 Speaker 1: And you know, all of this is implied here by 78 00:05:05,960 --> 00:05:09,960 Speaker 1: what's going on, because Jesus says you still lack one thing. 79 00:05:10,400 --> 00:05:15,640 Speaker 1: There's only one thing that's getting in the way of 80 00:05:15,839 --> 00:05:18,159 Speaker 1: you getting into the Kingdom of God, of you having 81 00:05:18,279 --> 00:05:24,000 Speaker 1: eternal life, of you inheriting eternal life. All you have 82 00:05:26,080 --> 00:05:29,120 Speaker 1: is that one thing. Sell everything you have and give 83 00:05:29,120 --> 00:05:30,960 Speaker 1: it to the poor and come follow me. You'll have 84 00:05:30,960 --> 00:05:35,680 Speaker 1: a treasure in heaven. That's the one thing in your 85 00:05:35,760 --> 00:05:39,760 Speaker 1: life that is getting in the way is everything you 86 00:05:39,839 --> 00:05:44,240 Speaker 1: have now. Jesus does not require this of every rich 87 00:05:44,320 --> 00:05:47,680 Speaker 1: person he talks to in the New Testament. He is 88 00:05:47,720 --> 00:05:50,159 Speaker 1: being supported by some of the rich women, like Mary 89 00:05:50,200 --> 00:05:54,120 Speaker 1: of Magdala and by Joanna. You know, he ends up 90 00:05:54,120 --> 00:05:58,240 Speaker 1: in a briefly in a rich man's tomb Joseph Verimythea. 91 00:06:00,120 --> 00:06:03,839 Speaker 1: But he does with this man say this is your problem. 92 00:06:05,160 --> 00:06:08,680 Speaker 1: Your problem is you've got riches and it's in your way. 93 00:06:10,760 --> 00:06:15,560 Speaker 1: And the people respond with, oh my gosh, how is 94 00:06:15,600 --> 00:06:18,960 Speaker 1: this possible? When Jesus says it's easier for a camel 95 00:06:19,279 --> 00:06:21,039 Speaker 1: to go through the eye of a needle than for 96 00:06:21,120 --> 00:06:25,320 Speaker 1: someone rich to enter the Kingdom of God, this particular 97 00:06:25,400 --> 00:06:29,560 Speaker 1: man walks away sad because he's very wealthy. He walks 98 00:06:29,560 --> 00:06:33,000 Speaker 1: away sad because he can't do it. We would believe 99 00:06:34,120 --> 00:06:36,680 Speaker 1: it doesn't say that he does this, and the implication 100 00:06:36,960 --> 00:06:41,560 Speaker 1: is that he is sad because he can't give it up. 101 00:06:42,120 --> 00:06:47,599 Speaker 1: It is an addiction that this is more important to 102 00:06:47,680 --> 00:06:53,039 Speaker 1: him than following Jesus. And that's really the question for 103 00:06:53,160 --> 00:06:56,240 Speaker 1: us is it's not a question of how much do 104 00:06:56,320 --> 00:06:59,720 Speaker 1: you have. There's no line over which you go and 105 00:06:59,760 --> 00:07:03,080 Speaker 1: that now it's too much. That's not the problem. You 106 00:07:03,120 --> 00:07:06,760 Speaker 1: can have nothing and still have money be a problem 107 00:07:06,800 --> 00:07:11,600 Speaker 1: in your life if it's all you're searching for, right, 108 00:07:11,640 --> 00:07:14,320 Speaker 1: if it's all you pursue, and if it's the most 109 00:07:14,360 --> 00:07:17,720 Speaker 1: important thing, whether you have it or don't have it 110 00:07:17,760 --> 00:07:23,720 Speaker 1: is not the question. But a lot of people who 111 00:07:23,760 --> 00:07:27,000 Speaker 1: are rich got there because it was the most important thing. 112 00:07:28,120 --> 00:07:31,720 Speaker 1: And most important thing is a problem with that first 113 00:07:31,720 --> 00:07:36,360 Speaker 1: commandment of nothing else is more important than God. So 114 00:07:36,400 --> 00:07:39,600 Speaker 1: the question for us is what is our attitude towards 115 00:07:39,640 --> 00:07:43,800 Speaker 1: the things that we have? First of all, are we coveting? 116 00:07:44,240 --> 00:07:46,400 Speaker 1: Are we always looking at what other people have and 117 00:07:46,480 --> 00:07:49,760 Speaker 1: comparing that I don't have enough because I don't have 118 00:07:49,840 --> 00:07:52,640 Speaker 1: what they have, whether it be their stuff, their servants, 119 00:07:52,680 --> 00:07:56,160 Speaker 1: their maid servants, their their wife, their house, their car, 120 00:07:56,320 --> 00:08:02,640 Speaker 1: whatever it is that's not good, or whether it's just 121 00:08:02,720 --> 00:08:06,320 Speaker 1: that it's more important. When you have to make those 122 00:08:06,440 --> 00:08:10,960 Speaker 1: choices between should I earn more money, or should I 123 00:08:11,000 --> 00:08:13,640 Speaker 1: spend time with people I love? Should I spend time 124 00:08:14,000 --> 00:08:16,480 Speaker 1: with God? Should I go to church? All of those 125 00:08:16,480 --> 00:08:20,320 Speaker 1: sort of decisions that you make show where our heart 126 00:08:20,760 --> 00:08:24,960 Speaker 1: is and what's the most important thing to us. And 127 00:08:25,080 --> 00:08:29,160 Speaker 1: at least with this ruler that was a problem, and 128 00:08:29,280 --> 00:08:33,040 Speaker 1: certainly with some of us that's a problem, or certainly 129 00:08:33,080 --> 00:08:38,840 Speaker 1: at some times that's a problem. Love the Lord, your God, 130 00:08:38,920 --> 00:08:41,840 Speaker 1: with your whole heart, your soul, your mind, and your strength, 131 00:08:42,360 --> 00:08:49,720 Speaker 1: and love your neighbor as yourself. And with that, we're 132 00:08:49,720 --> 00:08:52,679 Speaker 1: going to end this episode of the Bible Study Podcast. 133 00:08:53,160 --> 00:08:56,040 Speaker 1: If you have any questions, set an email to Chris 134 00:08:56,080 --> 00:08:59,320 Speaker 1: two x at gmail dot com, or better yet, leave 135 00:08:59,360 --> 00:09:02,679 Speaker 1: a comment on this episode at the Bible Study podcast 136 00:09:02,720 --> 00:09:16,559 Speaker 1: dot com. And thanks so much for listening. I want 137 00:09:16,600 --> 00:09:18,439 Speaker 1: to take just a second to thank the team at 138 00:09:18,480 --> 00:09:21,480 Speaker 1: Life Audio for their partnership with us on this podcast. 139 00:09:21,880 --> 00:09:25,000 Speaker 1: If you go to lifeaudio dot com, you'll find dozens 140 00:09:25,040 --> 00:09:28,760 Speaker 1: of other faith centered podcasts in their network. They've got 141 00:09:28,800 --> 00:09:32,600 Speaker 1: shows about prayer, Bible study, parenting, and more.