A Place for All - Matthew 19:1 - 23:46

During those days while our church was under the leadership of two interim pastors, Brothers Swihart and Jerome, they led the church to think in a new direction and suggested that we develop a new constitution and by-laws and a mission statement that would picture where the membership would like to go; and that would help all prospects and new members to visualize us as a growing, caring church where no one is left behind. A committee was elected by the church to work with our new pastor, Dr. DeBusk to assure that the new pastor and the church were of one mind and in accord. This was not an easy task and it took many hours of prayerful study to establish the goal. It is very difficult for a Christ-centered church to explain its mission in a few words that will reveal the enormity of its task.

The moment I opened the LifeWay commentary and saw the title for our lesson for today it made me think that the author had explained our mission in four simple words—A PLACE FOR ALL. Our church is a place that includes but is not limited to a people that really care for others; we are a Christ-like church [people] that are furnishing a beautiful and comfortable place for all who will participate to learn about God and then to be able to teach others. The church has a membership of Christ-centered people who are there FOR ALL. Members are there to praise and worship God and to fellowship with each other—so that we can grow spiritually. However, a vast majority of our budget is spent in the total effort to reach others—especially the lost of our community. Every dedicated member of our church understands that we are striving to use every possible means that we have to meet the needs of the people that will enter in through our doors. Matthew tells us in the 19th chapter that Jesus insisted that his church must be a Godly caring PLACE FOR ALL PEOPLE.

Matthew tells us that the church [a place for all] must embrace at least four major teachings. A] The first fifteen verses deals with marriage and the family. B] Verses 16-28 explain the concept of eternal life. C] Jesus discuses the portrayals of authority in 20: 29 through 21: 27. D] In 21: 28 through 22: 14, He gives parables that emphasize inclusion and exclusion. E] The last part of chapter 22 deals with the answer to four major questions. We will attempt to briefly cover as many of these topics as time will permit.

Back in the 16th chapter we learned that Christ took his disciples away from the crowd and moved them into the area of many gods…Caesarea Philippi where the major emphasis of Christ’s teaching shifted from the general public and became centered on the task of preparing his disciples to take the church he will establish in just a few days and spread it into all nations. Now in the 19th chapter [and in the next two chapters] all events occur while he is on his final trip from Galilee to Jerusalem and the cross where He will die for you and me and who-so-ever will accept him as Lord.

Immediately after he left his hiding place in Caesarea Philippi and started on the last lag of his journey to the cross He left Galilee and went into the region of Judea on the other side of Jordan a multitude of people soon had gathered around him and he continued his public ministry, healing those in need. Just as had happened earlier, he encountered conflict with the religious leaders. Some of the Pharisees reminded him that Moses had ruled that a man could give his wife a certificate of divorce and send her away…and then they wanted to know if he thought it was lawful for a man to divorce his wife. This was ‘lawyer prepared question’ for the sole purpose of causing a conflict between what He was teaching and what Moses had said. Jesus assured them that The Creator made them man and woman and declared that marriage made them no longer two people—but one in marriage. Then he emphasized the truth by saying; “I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, and marries another woman commits adultery.”

To our sorrow, we are destined to live our lives during a period of history, especially in our US of A, and specifically from 1960 to the present, when the decline of the family unit has hastened toward destruction. No nation will ever be stronger than the families that make up the population. God created the concept of the family unit as the first bastion against evil and tyranny. It was supposed to be successful in this position because of the dedicated love that family members have for each other. In this study of Matthew we are looking at the second bastion against evil and that is Christ’s Church which was to be made up of people who love and care and it is to be that PLACE FOR ALL in which we find Christ, gain eternal life, and reach out to others so that they too may be saved.

The second major topic in this study today is covered, beginning with the 16th verse. Probably the hardest person on earth to be converted, saved, born again would be a rich young man that is living a clean moral life and who shares and cares for his friends and relatives. This rich young man seems to fit this picture because he told Christ that he had kept the commandments regarding his relationship with other people. If you will notice, Christ did not mention the commandment that demands that we have not other gods before Him. It is easy for us to read between the lines and see that this young man loved his family and friends and was doing a lot of good things for others—so much so that he wanted to know what good thing would earn his eternal life. Jesus did not expect this man to give all his wealth away in order to earn life. He does not expect us to give everything we own to others and die a broken hermit. Jesus knew that this man loved his money more than he loved God or man…his money was his god, so he suggested that he sell everything he owned and give it to the poor. He suggested that he give up his false-god and look to the true, one and only God. More important than anything else…he was to come and follow Jesus.

In my mind’s eye I can look back to the Jordon banks and see the expression on Peter’s face when Christ told him to leave everything and come follow him. It is the same concept. Now Peter did not have much wealth to leave behind, but he left all he had and followed Christ. True the rich man had more to give up…but it was only just all he had…like Peter. So then the difference was in his “want-to”…he wanted to live the life of the rich and famous and did not love Christ enough to make the sacrifice.

I have studied the bible teachings regarding wealth and have never found anywhere that everyone must sell all that they own and give it all to God. I think the exception here with this young rich man was to emphasize the fact that everyone must practice the minimum goal that God set for each person so the Lord’s work could progress. There is no doubt in my mind that the minimum requirement is not 100%... BUT IT IS 10% OR MORE…and it includes our time and talents as well as our money. Christ could have told these people that it is as hard for a rich man to be humble as it is for the camel to go through the eye of a needle. Herein is the problem, because the rich have no need to be humble, they do not have to depend on friends, employers, or even God. They have it made!

Peter inquired about the status of those who have left all and followed Christ. He was told that the disciples will sit on twelve thrones and act as judges over the twelve tribes of Israel. And then Jesus included you and me [all Christians] saying that when we have proven faithful we will be rewarded one hundred times more than we have given and also will inherit eternal life. This sounds like the best investment that I have ever made. More important than anything else, our stock is not listed on the Dow, and there will be no failures recorded. We are safe and secure in Jesus Christ!

One more thought on riches is that—Jesus did not say that it was impossible for a rich man to enter heaven. We should remember that Zacchaeus was one of the richest men in Jericho. Jesus called him down from the tree and went home with him and because of his receptive heart and generous attitude he and his house were saved. By-the-way, Zacchaeus only promised to give one half of his riches to the poor…he did not have to sell everything. Joseph of Armathaea was also a rich man…he claimed the body of Christ, and placed it in his new-unused tomb. Nicodemus must have been well off because the spices he furnished to anoint the body of Christ was said to have been worth a king’s ransom. Riches are not sinful but wealth causes many to sin. Man cannot have two gods—both God and money –for he will love one more than the other.

At first glance it may not seem right for the first man to work a ten hour day and receive one dollar. While the second man works five hours and receives one dollar; and the third man only works three hours and receives one dollar; and finally the fourth man works just one hour and receives one dollar. If all agreed before they worked that this was acceptable, how can the latter ones feel slighted? Some of you may not agree with me. Well let me ask you a question. Let us suppose that the farmer that hired them now becomes the Lord Jesus Christ in my parable. Look at it.
The first worker in his kingdom became a Christian at twenty years of age and worked faithfully for 60 years and died. The second one became a Christian at thirty and worked for 30 years and died. The third repented at forty and worked 20 years. The fourth was saved at fifty years of age and worked only one year and died. Will not their pay be the same? Will heaven be 60 times better for the first than for the last? Both young and old will be paid with God’s unmerited grace and I predict that all will be happy with the settlement.

Jesus predicted his coming cruel death for the third time, and must have been very disappointed when the disciples still failed to understand fully that he was correct. They still continued to argue with him and seek another solution.

In chapter 22: 15-41 Jesus answers four questions. 1. Is it right to pay taxes to the government? The answer. Whose picture is on the bill? They said Caesar, Washington, and Lincoln. Then render to Caesar and the United States what they are due but give God what is due him. 2. There were seven brothers. The oldest one married and died. Each of his six brothers married the same woman and each died. At the resurrection, whose wife will she be? None of these, because at the resurrection there will be no marriages. They will be like angels in heaven. 3. Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the law? Love the Lord your God with all your soul and with all our mind is the first—and the second is Love your neighbor as yourself. 4. Then Jesus ask—“What do you think about the Christ? Whose son is he? “The son of David.” They replied. “How is it then that David, speaking by the Spirit, calls him ‘Lord’? For he says “The Lord said to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand until I put your enemies under your feet.” “If then David calls him ‘Lord,’ how can he be his son?” Don’t miss a blessing, read all four of these chapters—AND GET IN—OR STAY IN CHRIST’S CHURCH.