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This week we are continuing our study of Chapter 18. Please read verses 18:15-22 every day this week and, if possible, use a different translation each day, asking God to open your eyes to fresh revelation from His Word.
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Luke 18:18-22 (NIV)
‘A certain ruler asked him, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No-one is good— except God alone. You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery, do not murder, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honour your father and mother.’” “All these I have kept since I was a boy,” he said. When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”’
I don’t think there’s anything worse than false praise. Have you ever had someone come up to you and tell you how wonderful you are and you know that they don’t mean it? The words they’re using are fine, but the heart and motive are definitely not ok.
I’m aware of many instances where people shake the preacher’s hand, thanking them for a wonderful sermon and then later tell their friends what they really felt! Words and actions are sometimes poles apart. That is blatant hypocrisy and should have no place in any of our lives.
I’ve also been party to a different kind of mismatch between words and motive. I have some senior managers at work who rarely talk with me. On occasion, I have been alone in a lift with them and they cannot bring themselves to even say ‘Good morning’. However, there have been times when these same managers walk to my desk and say something like “I know you’re fantastic at resolving problems”. While I can’t say that I can discern their hearts, it’s quite clear to me that they’re only saying that because there’s another sentence about to be spoken that involves me helping them in some way. They only speak to me when they need something.
In our verses today, the ruler’s opening statement of ‘Good Teacher’ have been the subject of much debate. Jesus seems to be saying that this statement is incorrect and that only God is good. Some people use this to ‘prove’ that Jesus is not God and say that Jesus Himself is saying that He’s not good and therefore not God. I think they’re missing the point here. So many times in Scripture we read the phrase ‘And Jesus knowing their thoughts…’. This verse is another such occasion where Jesus is hearing the words the man is speaking but is perceiving his motive also. Jesus knows that this man’s words are superficial. We know that God loves a humble and contrite spirit. We don’t see that from this man at all! In fact, he seems to be quite boastful and arrogant – ‘All these I have kept since I was a boy’.
I think that Jesus gave His reply in such a way because He knew that this man wasn’t genuine in his request. Perhaps he just wanted a ‘stage’ to show off his own goodness. Jesus didn’t give him the opportunity. The reality is of course that Jesus isn’t just ‘good’ and if any of us are to be saved, we have to come to recognise His ‘perfection’. The standard against which we have to compare ourselves isn’t a vague ‘goodness’, it is perfection as wonderfully demonstrated in the life of Jesus. When we come to Him, may our hearts be filled with humility and admiration. May we offer our lives as living sacrifices and follow Him with everything we have. Only then will we truly experience ‘eternal life’.
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