Matthew Chapter 19
The Pharisees questioned Jesus, not because they sought truth, but because they tried to get him to contradict the law of Moses. They wanted ammunition to use against him. Their questions were designed to trap the Lord Jesus. The Lord Jesus condescended to answer their questions and in the process taught us a great deal about God's original plan for marriage.
The Lord Jesus returned to Genesis to answer questions from the Pharisees. They asked him about divorce, but he taught them God's plan for marriage. He used the example of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden as the ideal marriage which God planned. The Lord made them male and female and those two became one flesh. This is the plan of God for marriage. Anything else is against God and is against nature as God intended. The further away from this people get the more they invite God's wrath and judgment upon themselves.
Once again the Lord Jesus showed he was concerned about children despite the impatience of his disciples. The Lord Jesus blessed the children. This is an example churches follow with the pastor blessing newborn babies in dedication ceremonies.
The account of the rich man and the Lord Jesus was also told in Mark and Luke. Since this was related in three of the four gospels I count it important in understanding who God is. This shows us how the Lord Jesus responded to people who came to him for eternal life and how to truly become a follower of Jesus Christ.
The underlying root problem of the rich man was his money. He obeyed the 10 commandments which deal with the relationship with our fellow man but his problem was money. Money was his idol and his god. This man trusted in his wealth and his money more than he did God.
Money is not every man's problem but it was this man's problem. Some problems a man may have could be drug addiction, or alcohol, or various lusts. This man's specific problem was money. This is a common problem as the Lord Jesus pointed out how difficult it was for people with a lot of money to enter the kingdom of heaven.
The problem with money is the effect on a man. A man who goes through the process of obtaining it in the world system is conformed to idolatry. The love of the money is the root but the problems it produces are pride, covetousness, and idolatry. In order to amass wealth in the world system it is inevitable a man will leave broken lives in his wake. Paul said this problem drowns men in temptation.
I think it is ironic that American Christians desire to acquire as much money as they can. Where can you find Christians who are willing to give up everything in order to follow Jesus?
It may seem impossible that anyone would give up everything they have to follow Jesus but with God all things are possible.
The Lord Jesus promised his disciples that every man who gave up everything to follow him would be rewarded. There is primarily a spiritual reason to give up everything to follow Jesus: eternal life, which is more important than anything a man can obtain in this life.
The Lord Jesus said if we seek first God's kingdom and his righteousness these other material, physical needs are met as a matter of course. We need to keep our focus on following the Lord Jesus and not turn aside to materialism. The enemy is very subtle. He can cause us to covet the stupidest things in order to get us turned aside from following Jesus with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength.
Here is an interesting promise the Lord Jesus gave the twelve apostles who left everything to follow him. Matthew 19:28, "And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel." This has not yet happened, even now. I think we would know if this had taken place by now. There is still yet a time in the future when there will be twelve tribes in the nation of Israel and each tribe has an apostle sitting on a throne over each tribe.
This is interesting because it reveals God still yet has plans for the nation of Israel. There is an intermingling of the church and Israel but the nation of Israel is still very distinct and separate from the church.
God is three in one so also the people of God are three in one. The people of God are Israel, Church, and the Kingdom. There are three seasons or periods of time on the earth. The first is Israel, the second is the Church, and the third one is the Kingdom. This is seen by three items within the ark of the covenant: the law, the rod that budded, and the pot of manna. These three are one. (Hebrews 9:4)
The twelve thrones for the twelve apostles. That is quite a thought and I think a nice correction for those who think the church replaced Israel. True Christians today have the same faith Abraham had. There is always one true spiritual people of God whose faith rests upon the promise of God which is the Lord Jesus. He is the Seed! He is the Promise. Those whose faith rests upon Jesus Christ alone are the true people of God no matter what season of time they lived in.
Speaking of God's future plan: do people stop and realize that the New Jerusalem coming down from heaven in the book of Revelation has the names of the twelve tribes of Israel upon it?
Revelation 21:12, "And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel:"
Does this indicate God has future plans for Israel? I think it does. The church did not replace Israel. We are all one and are those who have the faith of Abraham. In each one of God's three days the outward shell of God's people looks different (Israel, Church, and the Kingdom) but underneath we are the same and are united by faith in the Lord Jesus.
