MATTHEW 19 COMING AND GOING In the journey of the Lord Jesus, He came to Judea and again the large numbers of people with problems came to Him there. It seems to me it was the same then as it is now in places where God is working. There will be those who try to sidetrack the main issues of life with controversial subjects of a minor nature. It seems like divorce and remarriage is one that was brought up in the ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ the same as it is today. There was no question regarding what He meant in relation to marriage. "Any cause" divorce was not to be done. God's intention is for a man and woman who marry, to remain married. When God joins two people, He does not intend for them to separate. Sexual immorality breaks the physical bond between one man and one woman and adulterates the seed of their union. In that case the Lord Jesus Christ allowed for the exception, and divorce was permitted, not sanctioned and not insisted on. Promiscuity was forbidden and the commitment to the institution of marriage that God had ordained was to be maintained.
There was given by the Lord an alternative to marriage. God allowed people to be celibate. God does not insist that people be married. There are those born without the need of the physical union and the companionship of marriage. Others because of an accident or some kind of incident are not able to meet the physical expectations of marriage. They too can remain in this condition without sinning. An unusual group is mentioned as an exception to God's intention of marriage. Those are people who have a higher obligation to the kingdom of heaven then they are able to give to another person. The expectations of marriage cannot be met because they have wholly committed themselves to the service of the Lord.
The great crowds came to Him in their need of healing. The Pharisees came in their jealousy trying to create a reason to condemn Him. Others brought their children. I watched the Lord in His gracious way receive the children and I could see the value He placed on every individual. The disciples had to learn how God looks on people and not look at them in the same way society does. It was of great interest to me that He did not just greet them but He put His hands on them. Human touch has a lot of meaning to children the same as it does older people. The interest we show in people needs to be consistent and genuine. A child often remembers in later life the concern of an adult that was shown to them in early life. The attitude and interest of a Sunday School teacher sticks in their mind, even if they forget the lessons that we taught. We must look on children with the same expectation we do on those who are older. The Lord made it plain to us that the kingdom of heaven belongs to them. Perhaps all of those who have died since conception and before birth may find their full growth and potential for God in the future. To many people today there are unwanted children they actually do away with before they are born. Others are abandoned because the responsibility of child-raising would interfere with the life-style the parents have chosen. The Lord Jesus unhesitatingly identified Himself with those children publicly so we can know how He looks upon them and so we will take action to include them in the work of the Gospel we are involved in.
As He was going on from there, a man came to Him with an interest in eternal life. This is the first mention of eternal life in the New Testament. The man was thinking of eternal life as righteousness granted by the works he could do. The Lord gave him the criteria for righteousness - the perfect keeping of the law. Eternal life, entering the kingdom of heaven and being saved are all used with the same meaning in Matthew, Mark and Luke. John's Gospel uses the words, "eternal life," frequently as the explanation of the gift of salvation.
It was important to the Lord that the young man understand what is good. God alone is good. All true goodness comes from Him. What people consider good is a comparison of one person's behavior with that of other people. The high standard of the law was stated by the Lord to the young man who thought the external evidence was what he needed. Keeping the commandments is an expression of faith in God, not in one's own ability to merit salvation. The goal of eternal life was hindered by this man's wealth and unwillingness to commit himself to the Lord Jesus Christ. Coveting is as much a part of the condemnation of the law as any other part of it. His sadness was an evidence of his greater love of his material possessions than for eternal life. Temporal things have a great attraction for those who do not put their faith in the Living God. It is really an impossibility for anyone who loves their possessions more than the Lord, to ever be saved from the consequences of their sin. Those who choose to follow Christ will realize in the future, more than in the present, the value of making that choice. God will honor that now and reward it in the future.
Commitments once made; some people choose to ignore. The Word of God challenges them to hear once more,
The responsibility they have to the vows they have made. They cannot walk away from them without a high price to be paid.
To look on a child now and see them as God sees, Gives an understanding of what is true worth and how God we can please. The kingdom of heaven is made up of real people like these. We need to hear from little voices, "Yes, Jesus loves me."
When people draw near with what seems an honest request, We do well to consider what is the reason and how best To respond to what seems like an earnest desire - And tell them plainly what God and His Word does require.
Some genuinely don't know because they have never heard, The Gospel explained and have never read His Word. So it is up to us who know the Lord Jesus personally, To carefully teach them the way of salvation faithfully.
The snares of this world and the deception of wealth, Turns many away from the Holy Spirit who often has dealt With them by bringing conviction of sin and their need Of the Savior of sinners whose call they have failed to heed.
In the coming and going we experience every day With people we meet as we travel this way - We will have opportunities if we choose them to tell Of how the Lord loves and called us, and He will do it for them as well.
"Father, today I again rejoice over the fact that another one we have been praying for has accepted the Lord Jesus as his Savior. The on-going Gospel activity will hopefully reach others. Please make it plain to me what Thy mind is for me this day and each day from now to the end of this series of Gospel meetings. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen."