Matthew 19:20-21.Working

Matthew 19:20-21.Working

19:20 “All these I have kept,” (According the Pharisees standards, not God’s standards-(New) the young man said. (By saying “I’ve kept these from my youth up”.-[K.J.V.] There’s not much of a gap there. If your already young and you say I’ve kept these since I was a youth. You just haven’t lived long enough to break them. Give it some time, you will eventually.-(New)) “What do I still lack?” 21 Jesus answered, (Jesus loved him-(Mark 10:21). Goes to show how Jesus doesn’t shame us or disown us in the places we fall short. That even when religious and legalistic Jesus still loves us. Even in poor theology, perception, and doctrine Jesus still loves us. Others suggests Jesus loved him for obeying the commandments of God since his youth.-(New)  If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, (take up the cross-K.J.V.-Not found in the most authentic and Greek manuscripts.) follow me.”(For Complete  Expository Notes see Book)

Extended Sermon Notes

“Warns how we often try to persuade ourselves and Christ that we have done everything possible and good in order to appease our conscience.” ⇒ As a result it’s not bringing us closer to God, but only dragging us farther away from Him. We often have an inaccurate and false assessment of our own standing with God. The problem is we go with what we feel and what we’re comfortable with in our minds, our convictions, our beliefs, our own observations, and what is right to us. Instead of going to the Lord and His Word and seeing what He thinks. There’s nothing worse than being convinced something to be true, when in fact the exact opposite is true. I can’t image anything more Earth-shaking, heart-rattling than realizing you believed something for so long, only to find out that it was completely false. (cf. Rev. 3:14-18)

“Warns how a work based religion will always be lacking because you’ll never know if you’ve ever done enough.” ⇒ In fact trying to win the favor with God through good works will eat you alive, because you’ll always wonder whether or not it’s been enough. If you believe being good and religious is the key. How good is good enough? Or how religious is religious enough? And what kind of confidence would you have in that system if you believed that ? What kind of confidence would you have in making it to heaven based on your goodness. Do you think God grades on the curve. That God is going to judge and evaluate you relative to how good you’ve been compared to others.

“Displays how you can have it all; money, wealth, religion, power, fame, etc. yet still have an empty void in your life.” ⇒ You can have the wealth, you can have the respect, you can have the status, you can have the popularity, you can be in the prime of your life, you can have so much promise ahead of you and still feel incomplete, as though something is missing. Not only that, but you can also have religion, Christian devotion, church attendance, law keeping, and yet still feel as if something is wrong. That deep down inside, something isn’t right. The actor Jim Carrey once said quote; “I think everybody should get rich and famous and do everything they ever dreamed of so they can see it’s not the answer”. That’s why only Christ can fill that gap and emptiness in your heart. Without Jesus, you’ll always be wandering, you’ll always be searching, never quite finding the peace and fulfillment that your soul longs for. This restlessness is a sign—a divine hint that points us toward the need for something greater than ourselves and that is Jesus Christ.

“Teaches how Jesus confronts us directly, giving us the hard truth and tough words even if it hurts.”⇒ Be careful of what you pray and ask Jesus to make clear to you because the hammer is about to fall and it’s going to hurt. Jesus doesn’t hold any punches. Jesus is straightforward and unrelenting in His approach. Jesus confronts with the truth and hard facts, because the truth sets us free, no matter how much it hurts in the moment, or how uncomfortable it may be at this point of our lives. Because by doing so, Jesus helps us confront our inner struggles and shortcomings. Jesus’ words are not always easy to hear, but necessary. Aren’t you thankful that Jesus loves us enough to tell us the hard truth.

“Teaches it’s not about adding or making room in your life for Jesus, but demolishing and letting Him take over.”⇒ When Jesus calls us to follow Him, He doesn’t merely ask for a small segment of our lives, a corner of our hearts, or a portion of our time. His call is radical and all-encompassing. It demands a complete transformation of our lives, a total reorientation of our priorities, and a heartfelt surrender of our will. It’s not about adding Jesus to our already crowded lives as if He were another item on our to-do list. Nor is it about making room for Him amidst our existing commitments. Rather, it’s about demolishing the old self and allowing Christ to take over entirely. This is a process of tearing down the walls we’ve built around our hearts, the idols we’ve exalted above Him, and the barriers that prevent us from fully embracing His love and grace.

“Even today, are there any sinful habits, status, relationships, self-fulfillment, etc. you need to let go of that’s coming between you and God or taking the place of God” ⇒  In order to answer this you need to be honest with yourself. Is there anything your taking security in.

Additional Notes & Applications

Teaches how the Lord often tests us to see if we will surrender anything He asks of us. If you can’t surrender everything Jesus asks of you then He’s not Lord. And if He’s not Lord, He4’s not your Savior.

Teaches how there’s no cookie-cutter approach to evangelism, each person is going to be different. Each individual’s journey to faith is unique. Jesus, in His infinite wisdom, addresses our personal struggles, fears, and desires in a way that speaks directly to our hearts. This personalized approach underscores the importance of understanding and empathizing with others, rather than imposing a one-size-fits-all method.

Teaches even as good as some people are in doing everything right. We must never lower the bar of the Gospel or the standards of Christianity just because they seem like an ideal candidate. It is not our role to soften or dilute the truth in an attempt to make Christianity more appealing or accessible. The standards set by Jesus for this man are absolute and non-negotiable, and it is through these standards that we can truly experience the transformative power of God’s grace. Lowering the bar not only misrepresents the Gospel, but also deprives individuals of the full depth and richness of a genuine relationship with Christ.

Teaches how following is Jesus is not only exclusive, following Jesus is costly. It demands everything.

Teaches how our relationship with God is both horizontal and vertical. The man had the horizontal part down when it came to His neighbors and treating people right, but not the vertical part when it came to his relationship[p with God.

What Jesus is asking for was specific to this man’s possessions and what he needed to address. Where as it’s going to look different for each of us.  I can’t answer what that barrier is between you and God. You must search your own heart and confess it openly to God. Over the years for me personally, I have had several high places in my life that I had to tear down…these high places have varied and were not always inherently bad, but I made these things bad because they occupied too much love in my heart… too much thought in my mind…and took too much time. They were an idol because it showed that I was devoted more to these things than to God. And that’s what an idol is…it’s the “Thing” you give greater devotion or worship to over God. So, what is it for you? Maybe your here today and your walk is good with the Lord. If so, praise God. But, maybe you have an idol in your life that needs addressing? Maybe for you its Family? Career, Sports? Leisure? Maybe it’s Video games? Money? Pleasure? Food? Some secret sin? that’s coming between you and God?     

Notice how Jesus didn’t lower the bar, or alter the message. He did the most loving thing you can do with somebody who’s in darkness, by giving them the truth in love.  The most unloving thing you can do is dilute the message out of the fear of offending.