Matthew 19:23-30 - What do we get? Who are you with? - A few pictures too...

 

This is a blast from the past of myself and my sister Rhoda in the kitchen of our home on 2138 N. Lehman Road.  I see the snow through the window and it was probably a Sunday morning because of our clothes.  What a wonderful childhood we had with the parents who provided a loving environment for us to grow up in.


No mule deer last week but some beautiful sunrises and sunsets I took in.  A little break and then I am out again on Wednesday for the 4th season on the hunt for some elk.  I am thankful that I can take my work up into the hills and study the Scriptures at 9000 ft. and above.  Long days and a lot of wind at times but thankful for the opportunity to do this.


This is one of my hunting spots I found with great cover and also observation in all directions.  Enough of that, what did I study and serve up this Sunday from the pulpit?

We finished up Matthew 19 this Sunday.  Onto Matthew 20 next Sunday and probably the last sermon from Matthew until the new year.  Jesus is popping some balloons about those who are entering the kingdom of heaven.  He pops the balloon that everyone is in.  He pops the balloon that the merely religious are in.  He pops the balloon that our good deeds get us in.  He pops the balloon that there are many ways in.  Now He pops the balloon that being rich gets you in.

The disciples want to know, specifically Peter, what they will get because they have done what Jesus said to the rich young ruler to do.  It sounds selfish and self serving but Jesus answers his question but probably not like Peter thought.  Peter probably thought about what he would receive now and satisfy his instant gratification but Jesus takes him and the rest of the disciples to the fulfillment of all when He would be sitting on His throne in glory and the 12 disciples would be sitting on thrones giving judgment over the 12 tribes of Israel.  Jesus refocuses Peter's sight from the now to the not yet.  

Jesus also moves his focus from himself to all the others who would leave homes and family and lands to follow Jesus.  These would receive better homes, larger families, and more beautiful lands.  The tricky words in this verse is the phrase "for My name's sake."  When this phrase is used in the Bible it is associated with standing for Jesus in the midst of suffering, adversity and persecution.  It is the "take up your cross" part of the equation of "deny yourself, take up your cross and follow Me."  The Christian receives much from his/her saved association with Jesus like forgiveness of sins to stand before a holy God and also inherited eternal life because of his/her family tie now to Jesus but he/she also shows that they are a truly follower of Christ by standing for Christ in the midst of opposition "for His name's sake."

Jesus gives a great lead in to chapter 20 with the first/last statement.  I am so looking forward to preaching this parable next Sunday.  It is a Matthew only passage.  I leans toward another acting out of what Jesus is describing so I hope to have some fun with it and hopefully make it more memorable.  Jesus loves popping balloons that His disciples and society has been holding onto.

Adam



A simple man serving a great God and the local pastor of Stillwater Community Chapel (stillwater-chapel.org). We are in our 39th year of full time ministry. God directed us to this local body of believers on the Western Range of the Rockies to grow with them in mission and mindedness of Christ.

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