Camels & Needles - Eagle Christian Churcheaglechristianchurch.com/sermon_files/2018-03-04/sermon.pdf · 2018. 3. 4. · “Camels & Needles” Luke 18:15-17 Now they were bringing

Camels & Needles

Luke 18:15-30

“Camels & Needles”

Context• “When the Son of Man comes, will he find

faith on earth?” (Luke 18:8, ESV)

• “For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” (Luke 18:14, ESV)

Story One

The Little Children


Luke 18:15-17“Now they were bringing even infants to him that he might touch them. And when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them. But Jesus called them to him, saying, ‘Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.’” (ESV)


Misconception #1• It is used by some as a proof-text for the

doctrine of infant baptism.• “Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God

as a little child, he shall in not enter therein.”(18:17, KJV)


Misconception #2• That Christians must emulate various

assumed characteristics of children.• Trustfulness, transparency, hopefulness,

willingness to believe, naivety, obedience, etc.


Misconception #2• That Christians must emulate various

characteristics of children.• Trustfulness, transparency, hopefulness,

willingness to believe, naivety, obedience, etc.

•Other traits:• Disobedient, demanding, short-tempered,

stubborn, thankless, selfish, etc.


Here is what we know …• The Disciples had been arguing over their own

importance (Lk 9:46).

• The Pharisees had a lofty view of themselves (Lk 18:9ff).

•Most recently, the Disciples were acting like kingdom bouncers and bodyguards (Lk 18:15).

• The Disciples viewed themselves as important while the children were seen as unimportant.


Matthew & Mark’s Accounts“But many who are first will be last, and the last first.” (Mt 19:30; Mk 10:31, ESV)


Luke’s Account“For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” (Lk 18:14, ESV)

Story Two

The Rich Young Ruler


Luke 18:18-22“And a ruler asked him, ‘Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?’ And Jesus said to him, ‘Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery, Do not murder, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother.’ And he said, ‘All these I have kept from my youth.’ When Jesus heard this, he said to him, ‘One thing you still lack. Sell all that you have …’”


Luke 18:22-26“‘and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.’ But when he heard these things, he became very sad, for he was extremely rich. Jesus, seeing that he had become sad, said, ‘How difficult it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God! 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.’ Those who heard it said, ‘Then who can be saved?’ …”


Luke 18:27-30“But he said, ‘What is impossible with man is possible with God.’ And Peter said, ‘See, we have left our homes and followed you.’ And he said to them, ‘Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, who will not receive many times more in this time, and in the age to come eternal life.’” (ESV)


Elements from each account• Each Gospel calls him wealthy (Mt 19:22; Mk

19:22; Lk 18:23).

•Matthew refers to him as “young” (Mt 19:20)

•Mark tells us that Jesus “loved him” (Mk 10:21)

• Luke calls him a “ruler” (Lk 18:18)


The Question“Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” (18:18, ESV)


Jesus’ Response“Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone.” (18:19, ESV)


Misconception #1• Liberal commentators and Atheists seize on

Jesus’ reply and suggest that Jesus denies any claim to deity.• Their argument goes like this: • Jesus is saying, “Don’t call me good, I am

not good. Only God is good, and I am not God.”


Luke 18:22“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.” (ESV)


Misconception #2•A Christian must sell everything he has and

take a vow of poverty to follow Jesus.


Luke 18:24-25“How difficult it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God. 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.”

(ESV)


Misconception #3•Many try to soften Jesus’ words by

explaining away the metaphor of a “camel” and “the eye of the needle.”


Two words for “needle”•Matthew & Mark use “rhaphis” which is the

common word for needle.

•Dr. Luke uses the word “belonē” which is much more precise and refers to the much smaller surgical needle.


Warning•Be suspicious of so-called scholars who try to

explain away the radical demands of Jesus.


Mark Twain• “It ain’t those parts of the Bible that I can’t

understand that bother me, it’s the parts that I do understand.”


Luke 18:26“Then who can be saved?” (ESV)


Luke 18:27“What is impossible with man is possible with God.”


Application• Jesus is calling us to radical discipleship.

• Instead of allowing our “positions” (power, prestige, wealth, etc.) to define us, Jesus is wanting to define us.

•Rather than having an attitude of “bigness,” Jesus is calling us to an attitude of “littleness.”


Luke 18:29-30“Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, who will not receive many times more in this time, and in the age to come eternal life.” (ESV)

Camels & Needles

Rather than an attitude of bigness, Jesus wants us to

have an attitude of littleness.

Documents

Camels & Needles - Eagle Christian Churcheaglechristianchurch.com/sermon_files/2018-03-04/sermon.pdf · 2018. 3. 4. · “Camels & Needles” Luke 18:15-17 Now they were bringing