Matthew 91
(Chapter 19)
You can’t see the forest for the trees!
Matthew 19:23–30 (NLT)
23Then Jesus said to his disciples, “I tell you the truth, it is very hard for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of Heaven.
24I’ll say it again—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!”
25The disciples were astounded. “Then who in the world can be saved?” they asked.
26Jesus looked at them intently and said, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But with God everything is possible.”
27Then Peter said to him, “We’ve given up everything to follow you. What will we get?”
28Jesus replied, “I assure you that when the world is made new and the Son of Man sits upon his glorious throne, you who have been my followers will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
29And everyone who has given up houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or property, for my sake, will receive a hundred times as much in return and will inherit eternal life.
30But many who are the greatest now will be least important then, and those who seem least important now will be the greatest then.
When you have it all, it’s hard to see what you need!
23Then Jesus said to his disciples, “I tell you the truth, it is very hard for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of Heaven.
24I’ll say it again—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!”
· There are 11,132 people in Haysville (2019 Census)
· It has 20, that’s right 20 churches’
· Of every type, size, and denomination
· And only approximately 1781 of the population are attending church (16%)
· Why is that??
· I think it’s because we are an overly blessed nation
o Our living standards are high
o Our quality of life is high
o Our expectations are high
o And we are spoiled
· When you have much in the world, there is a lot to get in the way of heaven
o Things get in the way
o Choices get in the way
o Life gets in the way
o And the more you have, the less you need Jesus
· We are the camel!
o We are big
o And lazy
o And carry a large amount of stuff around with us
o And that stuff adds extra burdens on us
· And If heaven is the eye of the needle
o It’s a small target
o It’s hard to hit
o And many will give up
o And that camel will never fit through it without trimming way down
So, we all have some work to do
· I know by American standards we are not rich
· But by the world's standards, we are
· And we are going to have to work hard to put our faith first, Jesus first in our lives
· We are going to have to be disciplined in making our relationship with Jesus a priority
Who can live up to those standards??
25The disciples were astounded. “Then who in the world can be saved?” they asked.
26Jesus looked at them intently and said, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But with God everything is possible.”
· Who can be saved?
o As bad as the human race is, it surprising that anyone gets the opportunity to be saved
o To be adopted into the family of Christ
o As depraved and evil we are
o But God is so good He made a way for us
· Therefore, we all need Jesus!
o There is not enough money
o There is not enough stuff
o There is no one holy enough
o There is no one righteous enough
o Not one person!
o The only possible way for us to be adopted into God's family is Jesus
· And your money and your stuff are only getting in the way!
o And we must realize that so we can combat it
The 12, the ragtag, outcast, disciples of Jesus
27Then Peter said to him, “We’ve given up everything to follow you. What will we get?”
28Jesus replied, “I assure you that when the world is made new and the Son of Man sits upon his glorious throne, you who have been my followers will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
· They gave up everything
o Their Jobs
o Their families
o Their friends
And ultimately, they gave up their lives for Jesus
· Andrew: by crucifixion
· Bartholomew (Nathaniel): skinned alive and crucified, head downward
· James (brother of John): Beheaded or stabbed with a sword by Herod
· James the Lesser: Martyred in his early 90's by being thrown from a pinnacle of the Temple at Jerusalem, then stoned and head bashed in with a club.
· John (The Beloved): Natural Death The only apostle who did not meet a martyr's death.
· Judas Iscariot: Suicide / hanged himself
· Matthew (Levi): Martyred about 60 AD by being staked and speared to the ground.
· Simon Peter (The Rock /Petra): crucifixion at Rome by Nero. Crucified around 68 AD up-side-down at his request because he did not consider himself worthy to be crucified like Jesus.
· Philip: Said to have been tortured, impaled by iron hooks in his ankles and hung upside down to die.
· Simon [The Canaanite]: crucifixion in Britain in 74AD and then sawn in half.
· Thomas [Didymus]: thrust through by spear in India
· Mark (John Mark): Martyred - dragged to death.
· Luke: The Physician. Was hanged on an olive tree,
· Matthias [Disciple who filled the place of Judas Acts 1:20-26 ]: Was stoned and beheaded at Jerusalem. · Apostle Paul (Saul): Wrote half of the New Testament was beheaded by Emperor Nero in Rome.
· James (The half-brother of Jesus): Thrown some 100 feet off a wall - done to him after he repeatedly
We all have to sacrifice something
29And everyone who has given up houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or property, for my sake, will receive a hundred times as much in return and will inherit eternal life.
This should hold some truths for us all
· We will all sacrifice in this life
o We will all suffer in this life
o That truly following Jesus is work
o It takes commitment
o The road is narrow to Jesus
· And the rewards will outweigh the suffering!!
o That when we take our last breath on this earth
o All the work, all the sacrifice will be worth it!
What we have today will get in the way of tomorrow
30But many who are the greatest now will be least important then, and those who seem least important now will be the greatest then.
· We have to keep our eye on the prize
· We have to know the road is long and treacherous
· But the rewards are worth it
· AND JESUS IS THE ONLY WAY
o It’s not about stuff
o It’s not about wealth
· It's all about him!
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