Old Testament Reading: Exodus 22:1–15

“If a man steals an ox or a sheep, and kills it or sells it, he shall repay five oxen for an ox, and four sheep for a sheep. If a thief is found breaking in and is struck so that he dies, there shall be no bloodguilt for him, but if the sun has risen on him, there shall be bloodguilt for him. He shall surely pay. If he has nothing, then he shall be sold for his theft. If the stolen beast is found alive in his possession, whether it is an ox or a donkey or a sheep, he shall pay double. If a man causes a field or vineyard to be grazed over, or lets his beast loose and it feeds in another man’s field, he shall make restitution from the best in his own field and in his own vineyard. If fire breaks out and catches in thorns so that the stacked grain or the standing grain or the field is consumed, he who started the fire shall make full restitution. If a man gives to his neighbor money or goods to keep safe, and it is stolen from the man’s house, then, if the thief is found, he shall pay double. If the thief is not found, the owner of the house shall come near to God to show whether or not he has put his hand to his neighbor’s property. For every breach of trust, whether it is for an ox, for a donkey, for a sheep, for a cloak, or for any kind of lost thing, of which one says, ‘This is it,’ the case of both parties shall come before God. The one whom God condemns shall pay double to his neighbor. If a man gives to his neighbor a donkey or an ox or a sheep or any beast to keep safe, and it dies or is injured or is driven away, without anyone seeing it, an oath by the LORD shall be between them both to see whether or not he has put his hand to his neighbor’s property. The owner shall accept the oath, and he shall not make restitution. But if it is stolen from him, he shall make restitution to its owner. If it is torn by beasts, let him bring it as evidence. He shall not make restitution for what has been torn. If a man borrows anything of his neighbor, and it is injured or dies, the owner not being with it, he shall make full restitution. If the owner was with it, he shall not make restitution; if it was hired, it came for its hiring fee.” (Exodus 22:1–15, ESV)

New Testament Reading: Luke 19:1-10

“He entered Jericho and was passing through. And behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus. He was a chief tax collector and was rich. And he was seeking to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was small in stature. So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him, for he was about to pass that way. And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, ‘Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today.’ So he hurried and came down and received him joyfully. And when they saw it, they all grumbled, ‘He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner.’ And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, ‘Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold.’ And Jesus said to him, ‘Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.’” (Luke 19:1–10, ESV)

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Please excuse any typos and misspellings within this manuscript. It has been published online for the benefit of the saints of Emmaus Reformed Baptist Church but without the benefit of proofreading.

Introduction

It was back in Luke 18:18-23 that we encountered the sad story of the rich young ruler who, after asking Jesus the question, what must I do to inherit eternal life (Luke 18:18), and after receiving Jesus’ reply (Luke 18:20-22), walked away very sad because he was extremely rich (Luke 18:23). Since then we have encountered two very happy stories involving the conversion and salvation of two individuals. In Luke 18:35-43, we are told that Christ healed a blind beggar. Luke reports that the man cried out to Jesus for mercy, that Christ spoke to him, saying, “‘Recover your sight; your faith has made you well.’ And immediately he recovered his sight and followed him, glorifying God. And all the people, when they saw it, gave praise to God” (Luke 18:42–43, ESV). Here in Luke 19:1-10, we hear of the conversion and salvation of another man—a wealthy tax collector named Zacchaeus. 

Please imagine these three men—the rich young ruler, the blind beggar, and the tax collector—standing side by side. Now I ask you, which of these three would the Jews of Jesus’ day have expected to have the favor of God on them and life eternal? No doubt, it would be the rich young ruler.  This man was wealthy, powerful, and religiously devout (at least in an external way). Many in Jesus’ day would have considered the poor blind man to be cursed of God. Most Jews would have dispised the tax collector. Tax collectors were viewed by the Jews as traitors, given their willingness to work for the Roman Government. Many tax collectors were extortioners—they would take even more than what Rome demanded in order to enrich themselves—and so they were greatly despised by the people.

Luke set the stories of the rich young ruler, the blind beggar, and Zacchaeus the tax collector side by side in his Gospel to teach us a lesson. As we consider these stories we learn what is required to enter the kingdom of Christ and obtain eternal life. As we consider these stories we see that it is not the self-righteous or those who possess earthy power and wealth who will enter Christ’s kingdom and have life eternal, but the humble, lowly, repentant, and faithful ones. He we learn that to obtain life eternal one must see their need for Christ, cry out to him for mercy, turn from their sins, and follow after him, trusting him for the forgiveness of their sins, and in so doing, receiving the gift of life everlasting. 

You are probably accustomed to hearing the good news that salvation comes to those who turn from their sins to trust in Jesus, but to many of the Jews of Jesus’ day, and to many who do not believe in Christ today, this teaching sounds radical. The prevailing notion is that it is those who are good and righteous in themselves who will enter into life eternal. These stories prove that idea wrong. The truth is, it is only those who are humble and contrite, who see their need for a savior and recognize that Jesus is the Savior, who turn from their sins to trust in him, who will inherit life everlasting in the blessed presence of God. 

The Story Of Zacchaeus The Chief Tax Collector

The story of Zacchaeus is very instructive. 

 What do we know about this man, Zacchaeus?

In verses 1 and 2 of our text, we learn that he lived in or near the town of Jericho. This town was on the road leading up to Jerusalem. It was very wealthy a and pleasant place to live. We are also told that Zacchaeus was a chief tax collector. At this time in history, the land of Israel, and the Jews who lived there, were under Roman occupation. As it is in every nation, the Romans required those who lived in their domain to pay taxes. These taxes would be collected by men appointed as tax collectors. The Jews despised Jewish tax collectors because they worked for the enemy. They were regarded as traitors. Zacchaeus was a chief tax collector. This means he was a high-ranking tax collector who had been placed in charge of other tax collectors. For this, he must have been doubly despised. Furthermore, Luke tells us that Zacchaeus was rich. Judging by what is said in the remainder of this passage, I think it is safe to assume that he gained at least some of his wealth dishonestly and by taking advantage of others. 

What did Zacchaeus do in this story?

In verse 3 we read, “And he was seeking to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was small in stature” (Luke 19:3, ESV). I can relate to Zacchaeus on this level—he was a short man. He wanted to see who Jesus was, but he could not. The crowds were too large and he could not see over them to get a glimpse of Jesus. In verse 4 we read, “So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see [Jesus], for he was about to pass that way” (Luke 19:4, ESV). 

One question we should ask is, what was the condition of Zacchaeus’ heart or soul as he went to these great lengths to catch a glimpse of Jesus? I do believe that at this point, Zacchaeus was merely curious about Jesus. As you probably know, many of those in the crowd who followed Jesus at this point in his ministry would fall away from him when he went to the cross. Clearly, many in the crowds were only curious about him. Some hoped that he would do great things, but their hopes were worldly. They had no place in their minds and hearts for a Savior who would suffer and call his followers to do the same, and so they fell away when he went to the cross. These did not possess true, lasting, and saving faith. Into which category should we place Zacchaeus? I do believe that at this moment in time—the moment in time wherein Zacchaeus ran ahead of the crowd and climbed up into a sycamore tree—he was driven, not by true faith, but by curiosity.  

What did Zacchaeus do? Being driven by curiosity, he ran ahead of the crowd and climbed up in a sycamore tree, for the Lord he wanted to see. 

The real question is not, what did  Zacchaeus do to catch a glimpse of Jesus, but what did the Lord do for Zacchaeus to enable him truly to see?

In verse 5 we read, “And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, ‘Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today’” (Luke 19:5, ESV). These are precious words. Notice a few things about them: 

One, the thing that makes all the difference in this story is not that Zacchaeus saw Jesus, but that Jesus saw Zacchaeus. Of all the people surrounding him, Jesus fixed his eyes on Zacchaeus. Had this not happened, Zacchaeus would have remained just one person in a large crowd who had the privilege of seeing Jesus Christ with his natural eyes. If on that day, Zacchaeus was blessed to fix his eyes on Jesus, but Jesus did not fix his eyes on him, this story would have never been told and we would not know this man’s name! The important thing is not that Zacchaeus saw Jesus, but that Jesus fixed his eyes on him.

Two, Jesus did not merely see Zacchaeus, he called him by name. Zacchaeus did not know Jesus. Luke made this clear in verse 3 when he said that Zacchaeus “was seeking to see who Jesus was…” (Luke 19:3, ESV). Zacchaeus did not know Jesus, but Jesus knew him and called him by name. 

Three, Jesus did not only call out to Zacchaeus by name, he called him to himself. “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today.” 

This is the call that every true disciple of Jesus has received. What matters first and foremost, is not that we see Jesus, but that Jesus sees us. In eternity, he fixed his eyes on those given to him by the Father. For these, Christ died. And at the appointed and acceptable time, he effectually calls these by name to himself through the preaching of the gospel and by the working of the Holy Spirit.

And what do all who are effectually called by Christ do? How do they respond? They respond in the same way that Zacchaeus responded to the call of Christ. In verse 6 we read, “So he hurried and came down and received [Jesus] joyfully” (Luke 19:6, ESV).

I appreciate the words of Matthew Poole as he reflects on this text:

“Christ’s looks are healing looks”, he says. “There went virtue along with them to convert Zaccheus, though a [tax collector], and to recover Peter, who had denied his Master; but they must be such looks as carried with them a design to do good to souls. Christ looked upon thousands to whom his looks conveyed no spiritual saving grace. He that could heal by the hem of his garment touched, could change a heart by his look. How good a thing it is to be near the place where Christ is, whatever principle brings men [there]! Provided men come not as the Pharisees used to come, to execute their malice. Zaccheus was brought to the bodily view of Christ out of mere curiosity, but being there he [received] a saving look from him. How many have had their hearts changed by gospel sermons, who never went to hear the preachers with any such desire or design! Christ’s design may be executed in the conversion of sinners, though not ours. He is found of them that seek him not, and of those that inquire not after him. Preparatory dispositions in us are not necessary to the first grace. God can at the same time prepare and change the heart. Zaccheus is the first man we read of to whose house Christ (not asked) invited himself, and in it did more for Zaccheus than he expected. Oh the freeness and riches of Divine grace… which [seeks] not a worthy object, but makes the object worthy, and therefore [loves] it. What a word was this, Come down; for to-day I must abide at thy house!” 

A little later Poole remarks, “Curiosity carried Zaccheus up, but love to Christ [brought] him down; he therefore makes haste to come down, and he [receives] Christ joyfully, glad to entertain such a guest. When Christ [comes] to any soul, he never brings any sorrow to it, nor any thing but glad tidings.”

What a wonderful scene this is! What mercy and grace displayed by Christ the King! He fixed his eyes on this rich man and called him to himself. This, dear friends, proves the point that was made back in Luke 18:24-27 which concluded the sad encounter that Jesus has with the rich young ruler. “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?’ But he said, ‘What is impossible with man is possible with God’” (Luke 18:27, ESV). Here Christ shows us what is possible with God. When Christ fixed his eyes on this rich man and called by name to himself, he did not walk away sad, but “hurried and came down and received [Jesus] joyfully” (Luke 19:6, ESV). 

How would you expect the crowds that followed Jesus to respond to this event? Would you not expect them to rejoice? In verse 7 Luke tells us that “And when [the crowds] saw it, they all grumbled, ‘He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner’” (Luke 19:7, ESV). It is true. This man was a sinner. But Christ went into his house, not to join him in his sin, but save him from his sin and to sanctify him further, for this was his mission. Those who grumbled and complained about this only showed how blind they were cornering the mission of the Messiah.

When Christ called Zacchaeus to come down out of the tree, we are told that he “hurried and came down and received [Jesus] joyfully” into his home. This was a very good start. But Zacchaeus demonstrated that his faith in Christ was true when he added repentance to this warm and joyous reception of Jesus. In verse 8, we read, “And Zacchaeus stood ”as if about to make a confession or vow, “and said to the Lord, ‘Behold, Lord, half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold.’” (Luke 19:8, ESV)

Notice three things about the confession Zaccaeous made: 

One, he called Jesus “Lord”. Those who wish to have Jesus as Savior must have him as Lord. As the Apostle Paul says, “if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9, ESV). To have Jesus as Savior, he must be Lord. And Lords are to be obeyed. 

Two, the rich man, Zacchaeus, demonstrated that he had been freed from the sins of covetousness and greed that once consumed his heart when he showed concern for the poor. “Behold, Lord, half of my goods I give to the poor.” Nowhere do the Scriptures command that a rich man sell half his goods and distribute them to the poor. Zacchaeus made this decision of his own free. And this he was able to do because he had been regenerated and redeemed. True disciples of Jesus Christ will not live for themselves. No, they will imitate the Savior and live for the glory of God and the good of others. When Zacchaeus vowed to sell half his goods and give to the poor, he showed himself to be a true disciple of Jesus. 

Three, Zacchaeus the sinner, demonstrated true repentance when he said, “if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold.” To defraud is to steal money or possessions through deception. The tax collectors of Jesus’ day were notorious for this. Zacchaeus turned from this sin and vowed to pay restitution for his past sins in obedience to the law of Moses. Even here, Zacchaeus went above and beyond. According to Leviticus 6:5, those who stole in the way that Zacchaeus did were to restore whatever was taken along with a fifth. This would require someone who stole $100 dollars to make restitution by paying back $120. But Zacchaeus vowed to pay restitution to all he had defrauded by paying four times the amount. This is what was required of those who stole sheep in the Exodus 22 passage that was read earlier. Zacchaeus demonstrated that his faith in Christ was true by turning from his sin and resolving to sin no more in the future. More than this, he vowed to right the wrongs he had done to others in the past. True disciples of Jesus should have this same impulse. As I say this, I’m mindful of the fact that some with tender consciences will be tempted to press this principle too far by attempting to remember every sin they have ever committed against everyone so they might repent before God and man. I do not think this is possible or required of followers of Jesus. But it may be that there is some work for you to do in this regard. If you stole from others in the past and have the ability to make repayments, it would be good for you to do so. If you were cruel to others in the past and have the opportunity to repent before God and man and to ask for forgiveness, Christ would be glorified in this and I trust your soul would be blessed. If you are struggling with a tender conscience concerning past sins, it might be wise for you to speak with a pastor to receive counsel concerning whether or not it would be appropriate to seek forgiveness from others or to attempt to make restitution for past sins. 

Here is the main thing to see: Zacchaeus showed that his faith in Christ was true when he added a confession that Jesus is Lord, repentance, and obedience to his joyous reception of Jesus. Clearly, Christ considered his profession of faith to be true. In verse 9 we read, “And Jesus said to him, ‘Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham’” (Luke 19:9, ESV).

Some will attempt to interpret the words, “Today salvation has come to this house” to mean that every member of Zacchaeus’ household was saved because of his profession of faith. To take this view is to read something into the text that is not there. Furthermore, to take this view would contradict the rest of Scripture. Salvation does not come to children because their parents believe, but to all individuals who turn from their sins to trust in Jesus. Salvation came to the house of Zacchaeus because Zacchaeus turned from his sin to trust in Christ and was therefore saved. His salvation would have, no doubt, been a great blessing to each member of his household as they would witness his repentance and faith and hear him testify concerning the gospel of Jesus Christ. 

 When Christ said, “Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham”, it must mean, that Zacchaeus had proven himself to be a true son of Abraham. Zacchaeus was a Jew. He was a fleshly descendant of Abraham from birth. Given his profession, many Jews would have regarded him as a traitor to the nation—an outcast. But when Zacchaeus received Christ, confessed him as Lord, and turned from his sins, he showed himself to be a true child of Abraham because he had possessed the faith of Abraham, that is to say, faith in the Messiah who descended from him. 

There is irony here. The rich young ruler of Israel appeared to be a true child of Abraham given his external piety and unrelenting devotion to the nation of Israel, but he was not. In his self-righteous pride and greed, he walked away from Jesus dejected and very sad. But the rich man, Zacchaeus, the traitor and sinner, he was a true child of Abraham. Salvation came to his house, and not to the house of the rich young ruler. Why? Because Christ called him to himself and opened his eyes to enable him to see his sin and his need for a Savior. Zacchaeus, being driven by curiosity, wanted to catch a glimpse of this famous man named Jesus. But Jesus graciously gave him much more. He opened his spiritual eyes and enabled him to see and confess Jesus as Lord. Zacchaeus knew he was a lost sinner and rejoiced when he was found by Jesus. The rich young ruler could not see that he was a lost sinner, and neither could he see that Christ was the Savior God had provided. 

This interpretation I have provided is confirmed by the concluding words of Christ. Look at verse 10: “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost” (Luke 19:10, ESV). Who is the one who does the seeking? It is not us, but Christ! And who does he seek and save? Jesus saves lost sinners. Those who believe they are righteous in and of themselves will never see their need for Jesus. But those who, by God’s grace, can see their sin and misery will respond in repentance and faith when Christ the Savior calls them by name. Christ said something very similar in Luke 5:32: “I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance” (Luke 5:32, ESV). By this he means, there are no righteous people. Those who think they are righteous will never be saved. But those who, by God’s grace, are able to see their sin and misery, their need for a Savior, and that Christ is the Savior, these are the ones who will be saved when Christ calls them to himself by his word and Spirit. All of this is beautifully illustrated in the conversion and salvation of the wealthy tax collector, Zacchaeus. 

Application

I’ll conclude this sermon with a few suggestions for application.

Firstly, I would urge you to ask the question, am I merely curious about Jesus or am I a disciple of his? There were many curious people in the crowds that followed Jesus, but very few were true disciples—very few were saved from their sin and misery. Zacchaeus was curious before he was saved. And it may be that you are here today sitting under the ministry of the word because you are curious. I pray that Christ would call you to himself and that you would be saved.  

Secondly, I would urge you to consider that true disciples of Jesus confess him as Lord, turn from their sins, and no longer live for themselves but for the glory of God and the good of others. Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ did not live for himself but for the glory of God and the good of others, and surely his disciples will seek to imitate him. Dear brothers and sisters, you have confessed Jesus is Lord! Are you obeying him as Lord?  You claim to be a follower of his. Are you learning from him and striving to obey his teaching, in the strength God supplies? 

Thirdly, brothers and sisters, are you eager to see Christ call sinners to faith and repentance, or will you grumble and complain like those who were self-righteous in the crowd who said, “He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner” (Luke 19:7, ESV). If Jesus, “the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost” (Luke 19:10, ESV), then his followers should rejoice whenever the lost are found by him and saved.

Baptist Catechism 56 & 57

Q. 56. What is forbidden in the second commandment?

A. The second commandment forbideth the worshipping of God by images, or any other way not appointed in His Word. (Rom. 1:22,23; Deut. 4:15,16; Matt. 15:9; Col. 2:18)

Q. 57. What are the reasons annexed to the second commandment?

A. The reasons annexed to the second commandment, are, God’s sovereignty over us, His propriety in us, and the zeal He hath to His own worship. (Ps. 45:11; Ex. 34:14; 1 Cor. 10:22)

Scripture Reading: Deuteronomy 4:15–19

“Therefore watch yourselves very carefully. Since you saw no form on the day that the LORD spoke to you at Horeb out of the midst of the fire, beware lest you act corruptly by making a carved image for yourselves, in the form of any figure, the likeness of male or female, the likeness of any animal that is on the earth, the likeness of any winged bird that flies in the air, the likeness of anything that creeps on the ground, the likeness of any fish that is in the water under the earth. And beware lest you raise your eyes to heaven, and when you see the sun and the moon and the stars, all the host of heaven, you be drawn away and bow down to them and serve them, things that the LORD your God has allotted to all the peoples under the whole heaven.” (Deuteronomy 4:15–19, ESV)

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Please excuse any typos and misspellings within this manuscript. It has been published online for the benefit of the saints of Emmaus Reformed Baptist Church but without the benefit of proofreading.

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Baptist Catechism 56

Why are we forbidden from worshipping God using images? I suppose the most simple answer would be, because God said so! And that would be correct and sufficient. But I think we can say more. Why no images? Well, it is because God is a most pure spirit. He is invisible. He is infinite. There are no boundaries to God that lines on a paper or edges to a sculpture could accurately represent. An image—no matter how grand or beautiful—is incapable of communicating the truth about God, for he is boundless. Every image that man makes in an attempt to represent him is a lie, therefore.

This is what Deuteronomy 4:15-19 warns against. Hear it again.  “Therefore watch yourselves very carefully. Since you saw no form on the day that the LORD spoke to you at Horeb out of the midst of the fire, beware lest you act corruptly by making a carved image for yourselves, in the form of any figure… And beware lest you raise your eyes to heaven, and when you see the sun and the moon and the stars, all the host of heaven, you be drawn away and bow down to them and serve them, things that the LORD your God has allotted to all the peoples under the whole heaven.” (Deuteronomy 4:15–19, ESV)

You would do well to notice that all images are forbidden. The people of Israel were warned against making any carved images, “in the form of any figure, the likeness of male or female, the likeness of any animal that is on the earth”, etc. In other words, they were forbidden from attempting to make an image of God, and they were also forbidden from making images of created things to represent God.

You remember the episode of the golden calf, don’t you? The Hebrews had barely escaped the Egyptians when they, with Aaron at the lead, gathered gold and made a calf to bow down to it. I do not doubt that they wished to give worship to the God who had redeemed them. At least it seems like that was Aaron’s desire. But where did they go astray? They made an image. It is understandable, isn’t it? These people were raised in Egypt. This is how the Egyptians worshipped. And so this is how they wanted to worship. Their actions are understandable, but they were inexcusable, for God had already commanded them not to make images. It was in Exodus 20:23 that the LORD said, “You shall not make gods of silver to be with me, nor shall you make for yourselves gods of gold.” The episode involving the golden calf happened after that. 

I have already warned you in previous sermons about our propensity to worship the creation rather than the Creator. That is clearly forbidden in the first commandment. Here the warning is a bit more nuanced. Not only are we forbidden from worshipping the creation instead of the Creator, we are also forbidden from worshiping the Creator with images of created things. 

So I will return to the question of why? Why no images? Answer: because all images of God, or all images used to represent God, are a lie. They are incapable of telling us the truth about him. They portray God as physical when he is truly spiritual. They confine God to a locality when in reality he is omnipresent. Images limit the One who is infinite and beyond measure. In brief, images make God small in the hearts and minds of those who see them. They bring God down and make him into an object to be manipulated and controlled by the hands of men and formed according to their wills and imaginations. 

Some may push back saying, but the artist knows that God is not really bound by the image. And the worshipper understands that these are merely representations of the infinite one. Do they? Do they understand this? And the question is not so much what the artist understands, but what the artist communicates to others. Will future generations understand when they run to images rather than to the Word of God to understand the truth regarding who God is. 

And be sure of this, they will certainly run to the images, and not to the Word of God, for images appeal much more strongly to our fleshly desires than does God’s Word. Images appeal to the mind of man, for an image can be understood. Images appeal to the heart of man, for an image may be crafted to suit one’s desires.  And images appeal to the will of man, for an image is under our control. We are able to manipulate it, take it where we wish, and use it as we wish. But the God who has revealed himself in history and in the scriptures is beyond our comprehension. He claims Lordship over us. He demands that we conform to his will and desire what he desires, for he has made us – we have not made him. 

No images of God are to be made. And neither are we to make images of earthly things to represent God. Both approaches are incapable of telling the truth regarding God, but will always tell a lie, leading to false beliefs concerning his nature. 

So what about images of Jesus? Should we have them? This is a controversial question. It didn’t used to be amongst protestants and the Reformed. In times past most protestants stood unified against Rome and their use of images of Christ in worship. But today, few protestants even stop to ask, should we make images of Jesus?

Some say, no, never. Others say, no, certainly not for use in worship (but perhaps for other purposes). And still others say, yes, it is permitted, for nowhere do the scriptures say “thou shalt not make an image of Jesus”. Those who are of this last opinion will reason thus: since the Son of God took on flesh in the incarnation, we are therefore free to make images of him, for he is the image of the invisible God. 

But let’s think about this. I have a series of questions for you. 

One, is Jesus to be worshipped? Answer: yes, he is to be worshipped. God the Father is to be worshipped through faith in him. But Jesus is also be worshipped.

Two, do we worship Jesus Christ according to his divinity or his humanity? Answer: We worship Jesus because he is divine. In Jesus, there are two natures, the human and the divine. And it is the person of the Son, the second person of the Triune God, who is the person, or acting subject, in Christ. 

Three, do images of Jesus communicate the truth regarding the object of our worship, or do they tell a lie. Answer: they most certainly tell a lie. They do with Jesus, who was and is the Son of God incarnate, the very same thing that images of God do. They misrepresent him. They limit him. They mislead.

It is not difficult to demonstrate that images of Jesus are misleading. 

For one, no one knows what Jesus looked like. No one who saw Jesus in the flesh decided to draw pictures of him or to carve statues of him. Think about that for a moment. Why didn’t they? If it was so important for the church to have images of Jesus to remember him by, then why was this not a priority to the eyewitnesses of Jesus? They did not paint or carve, brothers and sisters. They wrote. And I cannot help but think that the second commandment had something to do with that. We don’t have any pictures of Jesus dating back to the first century, so no one knows what he looked like. This means that every picture you have ever seen of Jesus is false. Some are probably more accurate than others. It is all but certain that he did not have blond hair and blue eyes! But all are wrong. No one is correct. And yet Jesus is to be worshipped. 

Two—and I think this is even more significant—every picture of Jesus is misleading because a picture can only portray his human nature, and not his divine nature, and yet we know that “two whole, perfect, and distinct natures were inseparably joined together in one person, without conversion, composition, or confusion; which person is very God and very man, yet one Christ, the only mediator between God and man” (2LBC 8.2). And I ask you, how do we know this? How do we know that in the one Christ there are two natures, human and divine? Did any of you learn that from looking at an image? Of course not. We know this to be true from the Word of God.

So you are recognizing a common theme, I hope. How can we come to know and worship God in truth? Through special revelation, and not images. And how can we come to know and worship Christ in truth? Again, through special revelation (i.e. the scriptures) and not images.

So what is my view regarding images of Christ? Certainly, they are never to be used in worship. Never should we pray to them, or to God and Christ through them. This is a clear violation of the second commandment. And concerning images of Jesus in movies, manger scenes, and children’s story Bibles — I would urge you, brothers and sisters, to think very carefully about them. My convictions have changed over the years leading me to say that I will not have them in my home. I would urge you to come to the same conclusion, but will also acknowledge that godly men and women do disagree on this application. 

So how will we teach our children and others about Jesus then if not with pictures? Brothers and sisters, we are to teach the whole truth concerning the whole Christ from the Word of God. We are to say what the scriptures say. Things like this: “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him” (Colossians 1:15–16, ESV). Imagine trying to communicate that with an image. Or better yet, imagine trying to form an image that will not distort that truth. 

And how are we to remember Christ and the work that he has accomplished for us if not with pictures? Answer: We are to remember him in the way that God has commanded, through Word and Sacrament. God has given to us baptism and the Lord’s Supper as visible signs which remind us of the work that Christ has accomplished for and done in us. And it is the Word of God that explains their meaning.   

You are probably recognizing that this comes back to the question, how is God to be worshipped? Is it the normative principle that we are to adopt — the one that says, we are free to worship as we wish provided that God’s word does not directly forbid it? Or is it the regulative principle that we are to adopt — the one that says, we are free to worship God in the way that he has commanded, not more or less? This second view is ours.  

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Baptist Catechism 57

As we begin to move now to a conclusion I would like to briefly address Baptist Catechism 57 which asks, “What are the reasons annexed [added]to the second commandment?”

The second commandment is, in brief, “You shall not make for yourself a carved image”, but in verses 5-6 of Exodus 20, and in verses 9-10 of Deuteronomy 5, we find that God states his reason for this commandment with the words, “for I the LORD your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments” (Exodus 20:5–6, ESV).

And our catechism is right to summarize the reasons for the second commandment in this way: “ The reasons annexed to the second commandment, are, God’s sovereignty over us, His propriety in us, and the zeal He hath to His own worship.” In other words, God says “for I the LORD your God am a jealous God…”, etc. because of “God’s sovereignty over us, His propriety in us, and the zeal He hath to His own worship.”

Some are disturbed by the words, “for I the LORD your God am a jealous God…” Many assume that all jealousy is sinful, and so it sounds very strange to hear God say, I “am a jealous God.” But is all jealousy sinful? No, it is not. Just as there is a difference between righteous anger and unrighteous anger, so too there is a difference between righteous jealousy and unrighteous jealousy. Jealousy is sinful when it is covetous. It is sin to be jealous of what others have wishing that it belonged to you! But it is right to be jealous for what is yours. If I say to you, I am jealous for my wifes’ faithfulness, I have not confessed sin to you, have I? Nor have I claimed that she has sinned. I have only said that she is mine, and I am hers, and I am eager to keep it that way. Now, even righteous jealousy like this can overflow its proper and reasonable bounds and become a consuming passion. But our God is not driven by passions. And neither is he jealous for things that are not rightfully his. His jealousy is not like ours tends to be, therefore. No, his jealously is perfectly right and pure.

So what is God jealous for? Answer: worship from his creatures. Just as it is right for a husband to be jealous for his wife’s faithfulness, and a wife to be jealous for her husband’s faithfulness, so too it is right for God to be jealous to have worship from his creatures. Or to put it in a more shocking way, God would sin if he was not jealous for the worship of his name. It is only right that he be worshiped, and it is a great evil when he is not, for he is our God, and we are his creatures. And this is especially true of those whom he has redeemed. We owe him worship, brothers and sisters. We owe him worship that is true, for he is our Creator and Redeemer. He is sovereign over us. He is our Lord and king. He has propriety in us, meaning, he has the right to call us to conform to his will. And he is zealous to be worshipped. And this is right. It is right for God to have as his highest aim the glory of his name, for he is God.

Old Testament Reading: Psalm 22

“TO THE CHOIRMASTER: ACCORDING TO THE DOE OF THE DAWN. A PSALM OF DAVID. My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning? O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer, and by night, but I find no rest. Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel. In you our fathers trusted; they trusted, and you delivered them. To you they cried and were rescued; in you they trusted and were not put to shame. But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by mankind and despised by the people. All who see me mock me; they make mouths at me; they wag their heads; “He trusts in the LORD; let him deliver him; let him rescue him, for he delights in him!” Yet you are he who took me from the womb; you made me trust you at my mother’s breasts. On you was I cast from my birth, and from my mother’s womb you have been my God. Be not far from me, for trouble is near, and there is none to help. Many bulls encompass me; strong bulls of Bashan surround me; they open wide their mouths at me, like a ravening and roaring lion. I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint; my heart is like wax; it is melted within my breast; my strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to my jaws; you lay me in the dust of death. For dogs encompass me; a company of evildoers encircles me; they have pierced my hands and feet— I can count all my bones— they stare and gloat over me; they divide my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots. But you, O LORD, do not be far off! O you my help, come quickly to my aid! Deliver my soul from the sword, my precious life from the power of the dog! Save me from the mouth of the lion! You have rescued me from the horns of the wild oxen! I will tell of your name to my brothers; in the midst of the congregation I will praise you: You who fear the LORD, praise him! All you offspring of Jacob, glorify him, and stand in awe of him, all you offspring of Israel! For he has not despised or abhorred the affliction of the afflicted, and he has not hidden his face from him, but has heard, when he cried to him. From you comes my praise in the great congregation; my vows I will perform before those who fear him. The afflicted shall eat and be satisfied; those who seek him shall praise the LORD! May your hearts live forever! All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the LORD, and all the families of the nations shall worship before you. For kingship belongs to the LORD, and he rules over the nations. All the prosperous of the earth eat and worship; before him shall bow all who go down to the dust, even the one who could not keep himself alive. Posterity shall serve him; it shall be told of the Lord to the coming generation; they shall come and proclaim his righteousness to a people yet unborn, that he has done it.” (Psalm 22, ESV)

New Testament Reading: Luke 18:31-34

“And taking the twelve, he said to them, ‘See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written about the Son of Man by the prophets will be accomplished. For he will be delivered over to the Gentiles and will be mocked and shamefully treated and spit upon. And after flogging him, they will kill him, and on the third day he will rise.’ But they understood none of these things. This saying was hidden from them, and they did not grasp what was said.” (Luke 18:31–34, ESV)

*****

Please excuse any typos and misspellings within this manuscript. It has been published online for the benefit of the saints of Emmaus Reformed Baptist Church but without the benefit of proofreading.

Introduction

I left some things unaddressed and underdeveloped in the sermon I delivered on the previous passage, knowing I would return to them today.  

I would like you to think again about the question the rich young ruler asked Jesus. He came to Jesus and said, Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life? (Luke 18:18). This man wanted eternal life. He believed it existed and could be obtained. And he thought Jesus, whom he regarded as a “good teacher”, would know how to obtain it.

Here are a couple of questions I left unaddressed when I preached on that passage. 

First of all, what is eternal life, biblically speaking? Three things must be said. One, it is life unending—life without the fear of death. Two, eternal life is a life of a different quality than the one we now have. This life is characterized by sin, conflict, sickness, pain, sorrow, and the fear of death. To have eternal life is to enjoy an unending life of bliss, free from these concerns and sorrows that plague us now. Three, to have eternal life is to be right with God and to live forever at peace with him in his glorious presence.

We should not be surprised that this ruler of the Jews believed that eternal life exists and thought it could be obtained. This rich young man was a ruler within Israel. He believed in the Old Testament Scriptures. And the Old Testament Scriptures do speak of the hope of eternal life. I could take you to many passages within the Old Testament to demonstrate this. Psalm 16:11 comes immediately to mind. There, the Psalmist speaks to God, saying, “You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore” (Psalm 16:11, ESV). This single verse mentions the three aspects of eternal life I mentioned a moment ago. Eternal life is life that lasts forevermore. It is a life of pleasure.  It is a life of joy in the presence of God. As I have said, we should not be surprised that this rich young ruler brought this question to Jesus. He regarded Jesus as a good teacher, that is to say, a good teacher of the Holy Scriptures, which speak of life eternal.  

The second question I left undressed in the previous sermon is about Jesus’s response to the rich young ruler. After speaking to the man about the law, he said, “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” (Luke 18:22, ESV).

I will not repeat everything I said in the previous sermon about this exchange that Jesus had with the rich young ruler. For our purposes today, I wish to draw your attention to the fact that Jesus Christ claims to have the ability to give eternal life to all who turn from their sin, forsake the world, and follow after him. When you think of it, this truly is an astonishing claim. Most of you and I are accustomed to this idea that Jesus Christ is able to give eternal life to all who turn from their sins to follow after him.  But to those unfamiliar with this idea—to those unaquainted with the teaching of Holy Scripture on this subject—the claim sounds shocking. Here is the question that must be answered: Why does this man, Jesus of Nazareth, have the power to give eternal life to those who follow him? 

The ability to obtain eternal life has been the pursuit of mankind ever since death entered the world through Adam’s sin. Those who built the tower of Babel were pursuing this—they wanted to make a name for themselves and to reach heaven. This has been the goal of every false religion. Each one, in its way, seeks to obtain some form of eternal life. Even some who claim to be non-religious and atheistic will chase after eternal life in their own way. Today, transhumanists are trying to obtain immortality through the merging of human beings with technology.  According to the Scriptures, all of these efforts will fail. It is Jesus Christ alone who has the power to give eternal life to those who are united to him by faith, who forsake the world and follow after him.  This is what Jesus claimed when he spoke to his disciples, saying, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6, ESV). And this is what he taught when he responded to the question of the rich young ruler, what must I do to inherit eternal life, with the words, come follow me.  Again, the question that must be asked is, why? Why does this man, Jesus of Nazareth, have the power to give eternal life to those who follow him?  

I believe the passage that is open before us today answers this question. 

Jesus Predicted His Death A Third Time

Here in Luke 18:31-34, Christ predicts his death for the third time. 

It was in Luke 9:22 that Christ predicted his death for the first time. He spoke to his disciples, “saying, ‘The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.’” It’s interesting, at this time he also delivered a call to the multitudes very similar to the call he delivered to the rich young ruler—“If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it” (Luke 9:22–24, ESV). Christ called both the rich young ruler and the multitudes to deny themselves and follow after him. 

It was in Luke 9:44 that Christ predicted his death for the second time. He spoke again to his disciples, saying, “‘Let these words sink into your ears: The Son of Man is about to be delivered into the hands of men.’ But they did not understand this saying, and it was concealed from them, so that they might not perceive it. And they were afraid to ask him about this saying” (Luke 9:44–45, ESV).

Here in Luke 18:31-33, we are told that Jesus was very specific about what would soon happen to him. “And taking the twelve, he said to them, ‘See [this is a command, by the way], we are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written about the Son of Man by the prophets will be accomplished. For he will be delivered over to the Gentiles and will be mocked and shamefully treated and spit upon. And after flogging him, they will kill him, and on the third day he will rise.’ But they understood none of these things. This saying was hidden from them, and they did not grasp what was said” (Luke 18:31–34, ESV).

These three predictions that Jesus made concerning the suffering and death he would endure in Jerusalem are important for several reasons. They reveal that Jesus knew he would suffer and die, and yet he went to Jerusalem anyway. He went to Jerusalem to be killed, for this was his mission—the purpose for which he came. We must know, therefore, that when he was shamefully treated and crucified, his plans were not thwarted but fulfilled! His life was not taken from him. He laid it down freely. Christ said this dirrcetly as recorded in John 10:18:  “No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father” (John 10:18, ESV).

Jesus Predicted That He Would Pass Through Death Into Life Eternal

But here is the truth that I wish to draw your attention to this morning. Jesus did not only predict he would die in Jerusalem; he also predicted he would rise from the dead there. Hear his words again: “We are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written about the Son of Man by the prophets will be accomplished. For he will be delivered over to the Gentiles and will be mocked and shamefully treated and spit upon. And after flogging him, they will kill him, and on the third day he will rise.’”

It should be clear to all that it’s one thing to predict your death; it’s another thing altogether to predict your resurrection. Men die all the time. Death is as common to man as birth. And if the circumstances were just right, it would not be impossible for a man to predict his death. If a man is hated by a group of people who have a history of killing those they hate, it would not be hard for the one who is hated to anticipate that he would be shamefully treated and killed after walking into their base of operations. Granted, Jesus was very specific about how he would be treated and how he would be killed. The thing I am now drawing your attention to is that Jesus did not only predict his death; he also predicted his resurrection from the dead on the third day. 

Jesus Predicted That He Would Die And Rise In Fulfilment Of What Is Written In The Prophets

Furthermore, Christ taught that his sufferings, death, and resurrection on the third day would be in fulfillment of what is written about him in the prophets. 

Isn’t this marvelous to consider? It was not only that Jesus foretold his death and resurrection a short time before these things occurred, but that the Spirit of Christ predicted the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories hundreds of years beforehand through the mouth of the holy prophets.   

Peter speaks of this fact in his first letter. In chapter one verse ten, we read, “Concerning this salvation [that is to say, the salvation secured by Christ], the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully, inquiring what person or time the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories” (1 Peter 1:10–11, ESV). So then, the same Spirit—the Holy Spirit— who enabled the Son of Man, Jesus Christ, to predict his death and resurrection, had also moved the prophets of Old to prophesy concerning these things long before the Christ was born. This is a major theme in Luke’s writings. In Luke 24:26, we hear Jesus say, “‘Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?’ And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.” (Luke 24:26–27, ESV). In Acts 3:18, the Apostle Peter preaches the Gospel to the Jews, saying, “But what God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ would suffer, he thus fulfilled. Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus, whom heaven must receive until the time for restoring all the things about which God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets long ago.” (Acts 3:18–21, ESV)

The prophets of old predicted that the Christ (the Son of Man) would be handed over to the Gentiles to be killed. See Psalm 2:1-3: “Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD and against his Anointed, saying, ‘Let us burst their bonds apart and cast away their cords from us” (Psalm 2:1–3, ESV). See also Psalm 22:16. There we hear the Spirit of Christ say, “For dogs encompass me; a company of evildoers encircles me; they have pierced my hands and feet—” (Psalm 22:16, ESV)

The prophets of old predicted that the Christ would be mocked and shamefully treated. See Psalm 22:6-8. There, the Spirit of Christ says, “But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by mankind and despised by the people. All who see me mock me; they make mouths at me; they wag their heads; ‘He trusts in the LORD; let him deliver him; let him rescue him, for he delights in him!’” (Psalm 22:6–8, ESV).

The prophets of old predicted that the Christ would be spit upon and flogged. See Isaiah 50:6-7. There, the Spirit of Christ says, “I gave my back to those who strike, and my cheeks to those who pull out the beard; I hid not my face from disgrace and spitting. But the Lord GOD helps me; therefore I have not been disgraced; therefore I have set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be put to shame” (Isaiah 50:6–7, ESV).

The prophets of old predicted that the Christ would be killed. See Isaiah 53:7-9: “He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth. By oppression and judgment he was taken away; and as for his generation, who considered that he was cut off out of the land of the living, stricken for the transgression of my people? And they made his grave with the wicked and with a rich man in his death, although he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth” (Isaiah 53:7–9, ESV).

Finally, the prophets of old predicted that the Christ would rise on the third day. Isaiah 53 goes on to say in verse 10, “Yet it was the will of the LORD to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the LORD shall prosper in his hand” (Isaiah 53:10, ESV). In Psalm 16:10, the Spirit of Christ says, “For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption” (Psalm 16:10, ESV). The Spirit of Christ anticipated the third day resurrection through the prophet Hosah, saying, “Come, let us return to the LORD; for he has torn us, that he may heal us; he has struck us down, and he will bind us up. After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will raise us up, that we may live before him.” (Hosea 6:1–2, ESV). The story of the prophet Jonah’s deliverance from the abyss in the third day also anticipates the third day resurrection of the Christ from Sheol and from the grave.   

Dear friends, Jesus did not only predict his death; he also predicted his resurrection from the dead on the third day. He taught that all of this would happen to fulfill what the prophets of old had spoken.

 This Passage Is An Answer To The Question, Why Does Jesus Have The Power To Give Eternal Life To Those Who Follow Him?

This passage that is open before us today (Luke 18:31-34) is a marvelous passage. In a way, it stands alone. In it, Jesus predicts his sufferings and death for the third time in Luke’s Gospel. More than this, he predicts that he will rise on the third day in fulfilment of prophesies previously made.  All of this is wonderful. But I do believe this passage is to be interpreted in connection with the previous one.  Jesus had just answered the rich young ruler’s question, what must I do to inherit eternal life, by saying, in essence, turn from your sins, forsake the world, and follow after me! This passage that we are considering today answers the question, why does Jesus have the power to give eternal life to those who follow him?

The answer to this question becomes exceedingly clear when we compare Jesus Christ with the rich young ruler of the previous passage.  

This rich young ruler was indeed a ruler within Israel, but Jesus was and is the ruler, the King, the Anointed one, that God had long ago promised to send. Jesus is the ruler prophesied in Micah 5:2: “But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days” (Micah 5:2, ESV). Jesus is the ruler of Israel, the son of David promised from long ago, whose kingdom will have no end (see 2 Samuel 7).

The rich young ruler was concerned about the same thing Jesus was concerned about. What must I do to inherit eternal life, was the question he asked. And this is the very thing that Jesus was concerned with—the obtainment of eternal life for himself and all who were given to him by the Father in eternity. He says so in John 10:10: “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly” (John 10:10, ESV).

Jesus told the rich young ruler to obtain eternal life by keeping the commandments of God. This fact has confused some. Why would Jesus tell the rich young ruler to obtain eternal life through the keeping of God’s law, given that it is impossible for sinful men to do so, as Paul teh Apostle repeatsedly says in Galatians 2:16, “…by works of the law no one will be justified.” (Galatians 2:16, ESV). The answer is twofold. One, Christ pointed the rich young ruler to the law so that he might see his sin and his need for a Redeemer. Two, to show that he himself—the rich young ruler of Israel who came down from above—would inherit eternal life by keeping all of the commandments of God perfectly and perpetually. When Christ responded to the question of the rich young ruler with the question, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone” (Luke 18:19, ESV), it was to awaken him to the fact that no man is good, except one, Christ the Lord, for he God with us. And it is because he is good that he is able to inherit eternal life through the perfect keeping of God’s holy law. 

When the rich young ruler showed how blind he was to his sin by saying, “All these [commandments] I have kept from my youth,” (Luke 18:21, ESV), Jesus honed in on the fact that the man loved his money and possessions—he was filled with covetousness and greed. “When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “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” (Luke 18:22, ESV). Luke tells us that this rich young ruler of Israel “became very sad” when he heard these things “for he was extremely rich” (Luke 18:23, ESV). This, dear friends, must be contrasted with the attitude of Christ, the Ruler of Israel that God has appointed and anointed to be our Savior and King. 

When Christ, the Son of God incarnate, was told (if I may speak in this way) by the Father in eternity that to inherit eternal life, he must sell all his possessions and distribute the poor, he did not become sad. To the contrary, he willingly submitted himself to the Father’s will for him as it pertains to the accomplishment of our Redemption. As Paul says, “though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross” (Philippians 2:6–8, ESV). In another place, the Apostle says, “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich” (2 Corinthians 8:9, ESV).

I think you can see what I am doing here. I am asking you to go back to the story of the rich young ruler and to change the characters. Instead of the rich young ruler coming to Jesus to ask, What must I do to inherit eternal life, picture Jesus (God’s chosen and anointed Ruler of Israel) standing before God the Father asking the same question and receiving the same answers. Father, what must I do to inherit eternal life for myself and for all these you have given to me? What is the answer? Become incarnate. Keep all of the commandments. Sell all of your possessions and give to the poor. 

This was the mission of God’s anointed King. He was to earn eternal life through human obedience, suffering, and sacrificial death. The rich young ruler was sad and unwilling to walk this path. But Jesus Christ was happy to do it. It was for the “joy that was set before him [that he] endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:2, ESV). 

After the rich young ruler of Israel departed, and after Peter drew attention the sacrifices he and the other disciples of Jesus had made to follow after him, Christ reassured his disciples that “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” (Luke 18:29–30, ESV). This is true of every disciple of Jesus only because it is true of Jesus first. 

Brothers and sisters, need I remind you that we believe 

“…in one Lord Jesus Christ,

      the only Son of God,

      begotten from the Father before all ages,

           God from God,

           Light from Light,

           true God from true God,

      begotten, not made;

      of the same essence as the Father.

      Through him all things were made.

      For us and for our salvation

           he came down from heaven;

           he became incarnate by the Holy Spirit and the virgin Mary,

           and was made human.

           He was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate;

           he suffered and was buried.

           The third day he rose again, according to the Scriptures.

           He ascended to heaven

           and is seated at the right hand of the Father.

           He will come again with glory

           to judge the living and the dead.

           His kingdom will never end.” (The Nicene Creed)

The point is this: The path that Christ commanded the rich young ruler to walk was the very path that Christ, the true Ruler and King of Israel, walked to inherit eternal life.  The Son of God became incarnate to keep the commandments of God so that he would be righteous and have a righteousness of his own to give. Though he was very rich, he sold all his possessions (metaphorically speaking) so that he might distribute his goods to the poor. And what did Christ give up, ultimately? His very life. He laid it down as a sacrifice for many (see Mark 14:24).

It was after the rich young ruler walked away sad and unwilling to obey Christ’s command, that Christ pulled his disciples to the side, saying, “See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written about the Son of Man by the prophets will be accomplished. For he will be delivered over to the Gentiles and will be mocked and shamefully treated and spit upon. And after flogging him, they will kill him, and on the third day he will rise” (Luke 18:31–33, ESV).

Conclusion

So the question is, why does Christ have the ability to give eternal life to those who turn from their sins, forsake the world, and follow after him?

When all is considered, there are three things to say.

Firstly, Christ inherited eternal life for himself and all given to him by the Father in eternity, through his active obedience. He kept the commandments of God perfectly and perpetually. This means he was righteous. Is it possible to obtain eternal life through the keeping of God’s commandments? Not for you or for me, for we are sinners! We violate God’s law in thought, word, and deed. But there is one exception. The man Jesus Christ inherited eternal life by obeying the commandments of God. 

Secondly, Christ inherited eternal life for himself and all given to him by the Father in eternity, through his passive obedience. He submitted himself to the will of the Father for him. Though he was rich, he became poor. He submitted himself to suffering in the who of his life. He endured temptations, sickness, sorrow, and distress. He was despised, rejected, mistreated, and abused by men. Supremely, he suffered on the cross. There, he experienced the trial of death. This he did for us and for our salvation in obedience to the Father’s will for him as expressed in eternity in what theologians call the covenant of redemption.   

Thirdly, Christ inherited eternal life for himself and all given to him by the Father in eternity by rising from the dead on the third day. He was able to rise because of his active and passive obedience. But when he rose, he won the victory over sin, Satan, and death and secured the right to set captives free from Sheol, or Hades, and to lead them into heaven and into life eternal. 

How do we know that Christ does in fact have the power to give eternal life to all who follow him? He rose from the dead and has entered into glory, that is to say, life eternal. At the beginning of the book of Revelation, we are told that when the Apostle John saw a vision of the risen and ascended Christ, he “fell at his feet as though dead. But [Christ] laid his right hand on [him], saying, ‘Fear not, I am the first and the last, and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades’” (Revelation 1:17–18, ESV). “I have the keys of Death and Hades”, Christ said. He has the power to unlock the door of death and the door of Hades to set captives free. He proved that he has these keys when he died and rose again on the third day. 

Dear friends, do you wish to have life eternal— a life that is unending and perfectly blessed in the presence of our glorious God? You must turn from your sins, forsake the world, and follow Jesus to have it, for he is “the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through [him]” (John 14:6, ESV).

Baptist Catechism 52 & 53

Q. 52. What is forbidden in the first commandment?

A. The first commandment forbideth the denying, or not worshipping and glorifying the true God, as God and our God; and the giving that worship and glory to any other, which is due unto Him alone. (Joshua 24:27; Rom. 1:20,21; Ps. 14:1; Rom. 1:25)

Q. 53. What are we especially taught by these words, “before me,” in the first commandment?

A. These words, “before me”, in the first commandment, teach us, that God, who seeth all things, taketh notice of, and is much displeased with the sin of having any other god. (Deut.30:17,18; Ps. 44:20,21; Ps. 90:8)

Scripture Reading: Romans 1:18-25

“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things. Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.” (Romans 1:18–25, ESV)

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Please excuse any typos and misspellings within this manuscript. It has been published online for the benefit of the saints of Emmaus Reformed Baptist Church but without the benefit of proofreading.

Introduction

We have already learned what the first commandment is: “Thou shalt have no other gods before me.”  And we have learned what the first commandment requires. It requires us “to know and acknowledge God to be the only true God, and our God; and to worship and glorify Him accordingly.” Now we ask, what does it forbid? Our, catechism identifies three things:

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Baptist Catechism 52 Explained

One, the first commandment forbids us from denying God. To deny or to refuse to acknowledge him as God is a very great sin. 

The scriptures teach us that the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom. Proverbs 9:10 says, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight” (Proverbs 9:10, ESV). Wisdom is the art of living life well. To live well, we must live according to the truth. And here is the most important truth of all: God is. If we wish to be wise and to live according to the truth, we must start with the fear of the LORD. This means that we must acknowledge the LORD to be the one true God and to honor him as such. 

Two, the first commandment forbids us from failing to worship and glorify God, as God and our God. 

I’m afraid that some assume they are keeping the first commandment, which is, “you shall have no other gods before me”, so long as they do not actively bow to another god besides the LORD. Do you see what I am saying? They assume that as long as they keep themselves from bowing down to another God, then they are guiltless as it pertains to the first commandment. But no, the first commandment does not only forbid us from worshipping other so-called gods, it also forbids us from failing to worship and glorify the one true God as God. When God says, “you shall have no other God before me”, he must also mean, you shall have me as your God. So then, we sin against him when we fail to acknowledge him, worship him, and glorify him as he has prescribed in his word. 

Thirdly, our catechism rightly teaches that the first commandment forbids us from “giving that worship and glory to any other, which is due unto [God] alone.”

Brothers and sisters, please consider how prone we are to do this very thing. It is very, very easy for us to love the things of this world in a way that only God should be loved, to labor for the things of this world and not for God, and to trust in the things of this world instead of God. Think of how prone we are to give the “worship and glory… which is due to God alone” to created things rather than the Creator of all things seen and unseen.  

We should remember that this is the human tendency described in the Romans 1 passage that was read earlier. Though God has revealed himself generally to all men, so that all know him (in this general sense – he exists, is powerful, and worthy of worship), men in their sins do “not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts [are] darkened.” They live in sin. “Claiming to be wise, they became fools, [exchanging] the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things…” And here is their fundamental error: they have “exchanged the truth about God for a lie and [worship] and [serve] the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.”

Friends, if you have faith in Christ, you have been washed by his blood, you have been renewed by his Spirit, you have been reconciled to the Father by his finished work, and you have been freed from this bondage to sin. But I think you would agree that we do still struggle with this propensity. Because of the corruptions that remain in us, the temptation that comes from the world around us, and from the Evil One himself, we are still prone to “[worship] and [serve] the creature rather than the Creator…”

Christians stumble when they love their children, their spouses, or their comfort supremely with the kind of love that should be reserved for God alone. Christians stumble when they make money, possessions, a career, and good health their ultimate hope. Christians stumble when they place trust, not in God supremely, but in government, in family, in investments, and in their plans for the future. 

As I set these examples of misplaced faith, hope, and love before you, I hope that you can see how easy it is for us to go astray and to begin “giving that worship and glory which is due unto [God] alone” to other people and things.     

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Baptist Catechism 53 Explained

I’d like to now briefly consider Baptist Catechism 53 with you, and I think it will also allow me to make some clarifying remarks about what I have just said.  

Question 53 asks, “What are we especially taught by these words, ‘before me,’ in the first commandment?” This is a great question. The first commandment is, “you shall have no other god’s before me”, and here our catechism asks, what is meant by the words “before me”. 

The word “before” can be interpreted in two ways. First, it can mean “above” or in a “higher position or place”. If I say that Sally finished the race before Jimmy I mean that Sally finished in a higher place than Jimmy – maybe in first place! And if that were the meaning of the word “before” in the first commandment, then the first commandment would have this meaning: you shall not have any gods above me or in a higher position than me. And if this were the meaning of the word “before” then some might think it’s OK to have other gods besides the LORD, so long as they are placed under or beneath him somehow.

But the word “before” can also mean before my face, or in front of me and within my view. If you go to a restaurant and order a meal, at some point, the waiter or waitress will bring out your meal and set it before you. In this context, the word “before” does not mean above or in a higher position but in front of or within your sight and presence.    

Clearly, this second sense is the sense in which the word “before” is used in the first commandment. The Hebrew original is more clear than the English. Also, the rest of the Bible makes it quite clear that the LORD is not merely to be honored as the highest of many gods, but rather he is to be honored as the only true God, the Creator of all things seen and unseen.  Isaiah 46:9 states the matter clearly. There the LORD says, “remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me…” (Isaiah 46:9, ESV).  

Our catechism is right to answer the question, “What are we especially taught by these words, ‘before me,’ in the first commandment?” in this way: “These words, ‘before me’, in the first commandment, teach us, that God, who seeth all things, taketh notice of, and is much displeased with the sin of having any other god.” Deuteronomy 30:17-18, Psalm 44:20-21, and Psalm 90:8 are listed as proof texts, and they clarify that this is the sense of the word “before” in the first commandment. 

Now for a word of clarification. The first commandment forbids us from having any other gods except the one true God, the LORD, the maker of heaven and earth. We are to love him alone, as God.  We are to worship and serve him alone, as God. We are to trust in him alone, as God. We are to delight in him and glorify him alone, as God. 

But let me ask you this. Does the first commandment require us to love God only, to serve God only, to trust God only, and to enjoy God only? Answer: Clearly, no. We are to love one another, aren’t we? Husbands and wives are to love one another – the Scriptures are very clear about this. And the Scriptures also command us to serve one another. Are we not to trust one another? And are we not also permitted to enjoy the good things of this life – food and drink, family and friends, along with every other good thing in this world, within its proper bounds? Yes, we are. 

So how then can we love our spouse, our children, and our brothers and sisters in Christ without slipping into idolatry? The answer is twofold: One, we must love them with the right kind of love – we must love them as creatures and not as if they were the Creator. God is to be loved as God. And things of this world are to be loved in an appropriate way, as creatures. Two, when we love the created things – our spouse, children, family, friends or any other things – we must love them to the glory of God. The same can be said about service, trust, and the enjoyment of earthly things. God is to be served, trusted, and enjoyed supremely as God, and the things of this earth are to be served, trusted, and enjoyed as creatures and to the glory of God.

I say this because I want you to know that loving God and loving other people and things are not in conflict with each other. God alone must be loved, worshipped, and served, and everything else must be loved in its proper way as creatures, and gifts from God, and to the glory of God. 

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Conclusion

Q. 52. What is forbidden in the first commandment?

A. The first commandment forbideth the denying, or not worshipping and glorifying the true God, as God and our God; and the giving that worship and glory to any other, which is due unto Him alone. (Joshua 24:27; Rom. 1:20,21; Ps. 14:1; Rom. 1:25)

Q. 53. What are we especially taught by these words, “before me,” in the first commandment?

A. These words, “before me”, in the first commandment, teach us, that God, who seeth all things, taketh notice of, and is much displeased with the sin of having any other god. (Deut.30:17,18; Ps. 44:20,21; Ps. 90:8)

Old Testament Reading: Ecclesiastes 7:20

“Surely there is not a righteous man on earth who does good and never sins.” (Ecclesiastes 7:20, ESV)

New Testament Reading: Luke 18:18–30

“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 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?’ 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.’” (Luke 18:18–30)

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Please excuse any typos and misspellings within this manuscript. It has been published online for the benefit of the saints of Emmaus Reformed Baptist Church but without the benefit of proofreading.

Introduction

As we begin to consider our text for today, we would do well to remember the theme that is present in this portion of Luke’s gospel. And what is the theme? Here, we are taught by Christ what must be done to have eternal life. 

Do you remember the parable that Christ told about the Pharisee and the tax collector in Luke 18:9-14? In that story, Christ described the Pharisee as being prideful and self-righteous. He stood by himself in the temple and prayed thus: “God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector.” He boosted in his religious devotion, saying, “I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get” (Luke 18:11–12). Christ contrasted this self-rightous Pharisee with a humble and contrite tax collector who stood far off, “would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’” (Luke 18:13). Christ then explained the parable with these words: “I tell you, this man [the tax collector] went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted” (Luke 18:14). To be justified is to be cleared of transgression and made innocent before God. This parable was told to teach us what one must do to be right with God and have eternal life.

After this parable, we find a story about little children being brought to Jesus. His disciples hindered them at first. But Christ rebuked his disciples and said, “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” (Luke 18:16–17). To enter the kingdom of God is to have eternal life. Christ here teaches us that it is those who approach him like little children—humble, aware of their need, trustful, and dependent—who will enter God’s kingdom and have life everlasting. Stated negatively, those who approach him with self-righteous pride will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

Here in Luke 18:18-30 we find a story about a wealthy ruler who approached Jesus to ask him a question. And what was his question? It agrees with the theme! “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” (Luke 18:18). 

The dialogue Jesus had with this man is fascinating and very instructive. Here, Jesus proves himself to be a very skilled physician of the soul. He could immediately discern the man’s error and need. And he skillfully spoke to the man to humble him and to make him aware of his need all the while holding forth remedy, namely, repentance from sin and faith in Jesus the Messiah.

We will consider this text in five parts. First, we will consider the question of the rich man (v. 18). Secondly, we will consider Jesus’s reply (vs. 19-22). Thirdly, we will consider the response of the rich man (v. 23). Fourthly, we will consider Jesus’ commentary (v. 24-27). Fifthly and finally, we will consider the response of the disciples of Jesus and Jesus’s reply to them. 

A Question From A Rich Man

First, let us consider the question of the rich man. It is found in verse 18. There we read, “And a ruler asked him, ‘Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” (Luke 18:18). You should know that this story is also recorded in the gospels of Matthew (19:16-29) and Mark (10:17-30). This event must have deeply impacted the disciples of Christ, therefore. Matthew and Mark present the question of the man in slightly different ways. In Matthew’s account we read, “And behold, a man came up to [Jesus], saying, ‘Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?’” (Matthew 19:16). So Matthew clarifies from the start that the man thought eternal life could be obtained by doing some good deed. Mark tells us that this man “ran up and knelt before [Jesus] and asked him, ‘Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?’” (Mark 10:17). Mark’s account helps us to see that the man came to Jesus in a humble manner. He did not question Jesus to put him to the test like many of the Pharisees had done. It appears his question was sincere. 

Notice three things about Luke 18:18. 

One, this man is said to be a ruler. This means he was a ruler of the Jews—a civil magistrate. Later we are told that he was a very wealthy man (see v. 23). Matthew, in his gospel,  calls him a young man (see Matthew 19:20). So then, this man who approached Jesus was a very rich, young ruler.  

Two, notice how respectful he was toward Jesus. He approached Jesus and, kneeling before him, addressed him as “good teacher.” Clearly, this man held Jesus in very high regard. 

Three, notice how fine and weighty his question was. He did not approach Jesus to test him, to trap him, or to trouble him with trivial concerns. No, this rich young ruler asked Jesus a very fine and weighty question— “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” (Luke 18:18). Indeed, this is the question that all men and women should be concerned about, and Jesus is certainly the right man to bring this question to. 

As I have said, this event must have grabbed the attention of the disciples of Jesus, for it appears in the gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke. And it is not difficult to see why it grabbed their attention, for it was (and is) unusual to see a man like this concerned with things like this. This man was a ruler, and yet he came humbly to Jesus without pretence or pride. More than this, he was a young ruler, and yet, despite his youthfulness, he was thinking about the realities of death and the life to come. And he was a rich young ruler. Later, we will learn that he loved his possessions too much. But at least he could see, even at his relatively young age, that his wealth and possessions would not benefit him as it pertains to possessing eternal life.

As you know, this rich young ruler did not conclude his encounter with Jesus well, but he did begin well! He approached Jesus humbly and respectfully to ask him a question of great importance. This should serve as a warning to all of us. Dear friends, how you begin with Jesus does not matter as much as how you end. Yes, it is good to approach Jesus humbly, respectfully, and sincerely, but you must also be prepared to receive his word and to trust and obey whatever he commands. 

What did the rich young ruler say to Jesus when he approached? “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?’ 

Jesus’ Reply

Jesus’ reply is fascinating to consider. His words are deliberate and precise. Like an experienced surgeon, he skillfully uses his words to cut at the man’s heart and soul to remove his false assumptions and correct his false beliefs. He then applies the soothing ointment of the gospel so that the man might be healed.

“Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone.”

Notice that Jesus did not answer the man’s question right away. Instead, he asked the man a question and made a statement. The rich young ruler said, “‘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’” (Luke 18:18–19). Why did Christ respond in this way? Why did he respond to the man’s question with a question followed by a statement that, at first glance, seems to be unrelated to the man’s concern? “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone”, was Jesus’ initial reply. Why this reply? 

It should be clear to all that Christ responded in this way to confront the man’s false assumptions. And what were those false assumptions? He assumed that Jesus was a good teacher and nothing more. And he assumed that some men were good, and therefore able to merit or earn life eternal.

These false assumptions are common. Even today, many will consider Jesus to be a good teacher. And many assume that men are basically good and capable of earning life eternal for themselves. Sadly, I would not be surprised if many churchgoers carry these false assumptions in their minds and hearts. Who is Jesus? Many are willing to call him a good teacher, a moral example, and the epitome of love. But is he the eternal Son of God incarnate, the Messiah God promised from long ago, and the lamb of God who has made atonement for the sins of those who trust in him. Many will stop short of confessing this. 

When Jesus replied to the rich young ruler who said, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”, with the words, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone”, it was to challenge the false beliefs that Christ new resided in that man’s heart and mind. To the rich young ruler, Christ’s words must have felt like a punch to the face. Those words must have stuck with him and nagged at his soul. “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone.”

Two foundational truths are contained in these words.

One, Jesus Christ is not merely a good teacher; he is the eternal Son of God incarnate. The rich young ruler was certainly right to call him good—but at this point in his life, he did not yet realize just how good Jesus was. Jesus is not merely a good teacher among other good teachers. He is not merely the best of all teachers. He is good in that supreme sense. He is good just as God is good. He is holy, pure, and undefiled, for he is God with us. He is the eternal Son of God incarnate. 

Two, when Christ replied to the rich young ruler saying, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone”, he presented the foundational truth that no one, with the exception of God and Christ, is truly good, for all men are sinners in need of a Savior. 

At first glance, Jesus’s response to the man might seem completely unrelated to the question. “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” Christ replied, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone.” But upon further reflection, it becomes clear that this reply was necessary. Before the man could receive a direct answer to the question, “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” his misconceptions concerning the identity of Christ and the condition of man had to be corrected. The truth is this: except for Jesus Christ, no man is good. And Jesus Christ is good because he is God incarnate. And it is because he is God incarnate that he is able to save all who trust in him. These are the ultra-foundational truths that must be known before a person can understand why eternal life can be inherited only through faith in Christ alone and not by the works of the law.

“You know the commandments…”Keep them!

As I have said, Christ’s initial reply must have seemed jarring to the man.  Christ’s words, “No one is good except God alone”, might not seem jarring to you, for many of you are accustomed to this idea and have accepted it as true. But to a man who thinks that he is basically good and that he is capable of keeping the commandments of God to earn life eternal, this statement sounds radical. What Jesus said to the rich young ruler next was meant to open his blind eyes to the truth that no one is good except God alone.”

Look at verse 20. There, Christ speaks to the man, saying, “You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery, Do not murder, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother.” What do you notice about these commandments? They are five of the last six of the Ten Commandments. Christ does not list them in the order they are found in Exodus and Deuteronomy. I’m not sure what to make of this fact, and I’m not sure it matters. 

Two things should be noted. One, Christ does not mention the tenth of the Ten Commandments— “You shall not covet.” The significance of this will become apparent in just a moment. Two, Christ is here calling the man to go ahead and attempt to obtain eternal life through the keeping of God’s moral law.

What the rich young ruler says next reveals just how blind he was, spiritually speaking. Look at verse 21: “And he said, ‘All these I have kept from my youth.’”

The text does not reveal the details regarding Jesus’ body language or the expression on his face. I imagine raised eyebrows. Perhaps Jesus smirked a little. I think he must have paused and looked at the man with an expression of wonderment. Christ had just applied the moral law of God to this man, a law that no mere man can keep but daily breaks in thought, word, and deed. He applied the moral law to him to convict and condemn him and to show him his need for a Savior. And the man brushed it off. He deflected, saying, “All these I have kept from my youth.”

Now, to be clear, I do not think this man was lying. He probably believed he had kept God’s law from his youth. This was the way that many of the religious people in Jesus’s day thought. They would interpret God’s law very literally and in a minimalistic way. They failed to apply God’s law to the heart and to see that to truly keep it, it must be kept from a heart of love. You probably know about Christ’s teachings regarding what the law actually requires and forbids. It requires us to love God with our whole being and our neighbor as ourselves (see Matthew 22:37). It does not only forbid murder and adultery, but hatred and lust. Again, I do not think this man was lying when he said, “All these I have kept from my youth”, but he was certainly mistaken.  He was ignorant and blind concerning his sin and his need for a Savior. 

In verse 22, we read, “When Jesus heard this, he said to him…” The way that Luke words this makes me think that Christ was, humanly speaking, astonished by this man’s answer. Mark puts it this way in his gospel: “And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him…” Jesus looked at him, amazed at his spiritual blindness, and it was because he loved him and had compassion on him that he spoke to him further. 

And what did Christ say to get through to the man? “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” (Luke 18:22, ESV).

I have four observations to make about this saying of Jesus. 

One, Christ did not argue with the man about whether or not he had, in fact, kept the five commandments he had mentioned from the time of his youth. He could have argued this point, but he did not. He let it go. 

Two, Christ decided to focus on the sin that was most obvious in this man’s life, namely, the sin of covetousness. Covetousness is forbidden in the tenth commandment. Earlier, I noted that Christ had listed five of the last six of the Ten Commandments. He did not mention the tenth commandment, which is, “thou shall not covet”. Now, he returns to focus on it. 

The tenth commandment, it should be noted, is different from the other five that Christ mentioned in that it is, strictly speaking, a sin of the heart. We know that sins of adultery, murder, theft, bearing false witness, and the dishonoring of father and mother all come from the heart, but they are, strictly speaking, things that people say and do. Covetousness is different. It is, first and foremost, a heart-sin. And it is from this heart-sin that many other sins do flow. 

When Christ spoke to this rich young ruler, saying, “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”, it was to reveal the covetousness and love of money and possessions that resided in his heart. There was certainly a great deal of sin in this man’s heart, but he could not see it. The sin of covetousness was prominent, and so Christ highlighted it when he said, “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” (Luke 18:22, ESV).

Three, some mistakenly assume that Christ calls all who wish to follow him to sell all they have and distribute to the poor. That is not true. As I have said before, it is very important to interpret Scripture in light of Scripture. Many other passages of Scripture make this interpretation impossible. For example, in Luke 19:8, we find a story about a chief tax collector named Zachaeus. When he decided to follow Jesus, he said, “Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold” (Luke 19:8), and this was regarded by Christ as sufficient. Furthermore, in 1 Timothy 6:18 the Apostle Paul gives this general command to the rich: “They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.” (1 Timothy 6:18–19) (see also Luke 12:33, Luke 16:9, Acts 2:45, Acts 4:34-35). When Christ called the rich young ruler to sell all that he had and to distribute it to the poor”, it was a calling somewhat unique to him. The purpose was to expose the covetousness that had a firm grip on his heart so that he might turn from this sin to Jesus as Lord and Savior. 

Four, notice that the end of the answer provided by Christ to the rich man’s question, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” is “follow me”. The rich young ruler asked, “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” Here is the answer that Christ gave him. “Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me” (Luke 18:22, ESV). The command to sell all does not apply to all, but the command to turn from sin and to follow after Jesus does apply to all. In brief, all who wish to have life everlasting must repent and believe in Jesus. Repentance without faith in Christ will not save you. And neither will faith in Christ without repentance. Eternal life will be given to all who turn from their sins to follow after Jesus. 

The Rich Man’s Response 

The response of the rich young ruler is recorded in verse 23, and it was a very sad response. “But when he heard these things, he became very sad, for he was extremely rich” (Luke 18:23, ESV). In other words, the covetousness and love of money that resided in his heart were so strong that they hindered him from following after Jesus.

Many are kept from following Jesus because they love this world and the things of this world more than they love Him. And this is why Christ says, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it. For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?” (Mark 8:34–36, ESV).  Sadly, this rich young ruler would not let go of the things of this world to have Christ and the eternal life that only he can give.

Jesus’s Commentary

Christ’s commentary regarding the response of the rich young ruler is found in verse 24. “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’” (Luke 18:24–25, ESV). 

The image of a camel attempting to go through an eye of a needle is very fitting. For one, it communicates the impossibility of the action. Essentially, Christ teaches that it is impossible, humanly speaking. for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God. Two, the image says something about why this is so. It is impossible for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle because a camel is very big and the eye of a needle is very small. And so it is as it pertains to the entrance to life in God’s eternal kingdom. The doorway is small and narrow. Those who attempt to enter while holding on to their large estates and their many possessions will not succeed. 

The Response Of The Disciples Of Jesus And Jesus’s Reply To Them

The response of those who heard these things and Jesus’s reply to them is found in verses 26-30. Let’s consider this section briefly. 

Verse 26: “Those who heard it said, ‘Then who can be saved?’” In other words, if it is true that this is what is required to be saved, and if it is true that it is difficult for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God, and easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God, then who will make it in? “But he said, ‘What is impossible with man is possible with God.’” In other words, God is able to change the hearts of men, to release them from the love of money, and to fix their affections on God and Christ.

In verse 28, Peter said, “See, we have left our homes and followed you.” It seems that Peter needed to be reassured that their sacrifice would be worth it. Whatever Peter’s reason for speaking, Christ reassured his disciples with these words. “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” (Luke 18:26–30, ESV).

In brief, Christ teaches us that any sacrifice we make to follow him in this world will be worth it. It will be worth it now, given the many blessings that come to those who forsake the world to follow after Jesus in this life. And it will certainly be worth it in the life to come, for to renounce all and to follow after Christ in this life is to “store up… treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal” (Matthew 6:20, ESV).

Conclusion

Dear friends, as you seek to apply this text to your own lives, I would urge you to focus on three things. 

One, as it pertains to the question, “what must I do to inherit eternal life”, be sure that you are trusting, not in yourself and in your own ability to keep God’s law, but in Christ alone, who has keep God’s law for sinners and has died in their place. This is the only way to have eternal life. 

Two, as you come to see your sin and your need for Christ the Savior, do not allow love for this world and the things of this world to hinder you from following after him. Not every Christian is called by Christ to forsake great wealth, houses, homelands, and relationships with family and friends to follow after Jesus, but some may be called to do this. They must not hesitate as the rich young ruler did. But all Christians must forsake the world, die to self, and take up their cross daily to follow Jesus. You must know that it is worth it. Do not allow anything to hinder you from following Jesus. 

Three, those who have decided to follow Christ must forever grow in their conviction that having Christ, a right relationship with God through faith in him, and the hope of life everlasting is far better than having anything this world can offer. Along with the Apostle Paul, we must “count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus [our] Lord. For his sake [we must be wiilling to suffer] the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that [we] may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of [our] own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith…” (Philippians 3:8–9, ESV).

Baptist Catechism 50 & 51

Q. 50. Which is the first commandment?

A. The first commandment is, Thou shalt have no other gods before me. (Exodus 20:3)

Q. 51. What is required in the first commandment?

A. The first commandment requireth us to know and acknowledge God to be the only true God, and our God; and to worship and glorify Him accordingly. (Joshua 24:15; 1 Chron. 28:9; Deut. 26:17; Ps. 29:2; Matt. 4:10)

Scripture Reading: Joshua 24.1-15

“Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel to Shechem and summoned the elders, the heads, the judges, and the officers of Israel. And they presented themselves before God. And Joshua said to all the people, ‘Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, ‘Long ago, your fathers lived beyond the Euphrates, Terah, the father of Abraham and of Nahor; and they served other gods. Then I took your father Abraham from beyond the River and led him through all the land of Canaan, and made his offspring many. I gave him Isaac. And to Isaac I gave Jacob and Esau. And I gave Esau the hill country of Seir to possess, but Jacob and his children went down to Egypt. And I sent Moses and Aaron, and I plagued Egypt with what I did in the midst of it, and afterward I brought you out. Then I brought your fathers out of Egypt, and you came to the sea. And the Egyptians pursued your fathers with chariots and horsemen to the Red Sea. And when they cried to the LORD, he put darkness between you and the Egyptians and made the sea come upon them and cover them; and your eyes saw what I did in Egypt. And you lived in the wilderness a long time. Then I brought you to the land of the Amorites, who lived on the other side of the Jordan. They fought with you, and I gave them into your hand, and you took possession of their land, and I destroyed them before you. Then Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, arose and fought against Israel. And he sent and invited Balaam the son of Beor to curse you, but I would not listen to Balaam. Indeed, he blessed you. So I delivered you out of his hand. And you went over the Jordan and came to Jericho, and the leaders of Jericho fought against you, and also the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Girgashites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites. And I gave them into your hand. And I sent the hornet before you, which drove them out before you, the two kings of the Amorites; it was not by your sword or by your bow. I gave you a land on which you had not labored and cities that you had not built, and you dwell in them. You eat the fruit of vineyards and olive orchards that you did not plant.’ Now therefore fear the LORD and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness. Put away the gods that your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the LORD, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.’” (Joshua 24:1–15, ESV)

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Please excuse any typos and misspellings within this manuscript. It has been published online for the benefit of the saints of Emmaus Reformed Baptist Church but without the benefit of proofreading.

Introduction

There is a good reason why the first of the Ten Commandments is stated first! The commandment, “You shall have no other gods before me”, is stated first because it is of supreme importance. 

What good will it do if we succeed at keeping the other nine commandments (to some degree) but fail to keep the first, which, as we will soon learn,  requires us “to know and acknowledge God to be the only true God, and our God; and to worship and glorify Him accordingly.” Will it do us any good (ultimately) to not bow to idols, to treat the name of God with respect, and to observe the Sabbath day? Will it do us any good (in the end) to honor father and mother, not murder, not commit adultery, not steal, not bear false witness, and not covet, if we do not first have God as our God and honor him as such? I suppose some may say, well yes, it would be better for someone to obey God’s moral law (somewhat) even if they do not honor God as God. And I suppose there is some truth to that. A moral atheist is certainly better than an immoral one, worldly speaking. But I am asking the question in an ultimate sense. Will it do us any good ultimately, or perhaps we could say, really, truly, and eternally, to keep the other nine commandments if we do not, first and foremost, love God and live for his glory? The answer is, no. 

Do not forget, brothers and sisters, that the sum of the first four of the Ten Commandments, is to love the LORD our God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. If we wish to keep these commandments really and truly, we must begin and end with love for God. And this is true, not only of the first four but of the last six as well. All of our efforts to keep God’s law must be motivated by our love for him. As Christ said, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments” (John 14:15, ESV). And the aim of our obedience ought to be the glory of God. As Paul said, “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31, ESV). If our obedience to God’s law is not motivated by our love for him, then our obedience is not from the heart – it is merely superficial. And if our obedience is not aimed at bringing honor to God, then it must be aimed at some other end or purpose, most likely our own honor or praise.

And so we must begin here. If we wish to live a life that is right before God, we must start by honoring God as God and having no other gods before him. You will notice that the first commandment is stated negatively – “you shall not…”, it says. And so it is good for us to ask what it requires, positively. The negative command implies a positive requirement.  What does this commandment require? Our catechism is right to say, The first commandment requires us to know and acknowledge God to be the only true God, and our God; and to worship and glorify Him accordingly.

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Catechism Explained

Three requirements are mentioned here. One, the first commandment requires us to know God as the only true God and our God. Two, the first commandment requires us to acknowledge God to be the only true God and our God. Three, the first commandment requires us to worship and glorify God accordingly.

Let us consider each of these requirements one at a time. 

One, the first commandment requires us to know God as the only true God and our God. When the first commandment forbids us (in a negative way) from having any other gods besides the one true God, it does also require us (in a positive way) to have God as our God. And to have God as our God, we must know him. 

What does it mean to know God? Two things: 

First, to know God is to know the truth about him. Do you know about God? Do you know that he exists? Do you know what he is like? Do you know about his nature,  his attributes, and his ways with men? If we are to have God as our God we must know about him. And where must we go to find out the truth about God? Well, we know that he has revealed the truth about himself in two places. He has revealed some things about himself in nature, and he has revealed the truth about himself much more thoroughly and clearly in Scripture. And so we must study these two books – the “book” of nature, and the book of Scripture – if we wish to know the truth about God. These two “books” will always agree, for they are both from God – he reveals himself through both. If they ever seem to contradict, the problem is not with the one book or the other, but with the interpreter. And of these two books, the book of Scripture is supreme, for through the Scriptures God has revealed himself with great clarity. And so I ask you, do you know God? Do you know the truth about him – who he is, what he is like, and how he relates to man? You should! The first of the Ten Commandments requires us to have God as our God. And this means we must know about him. 

Second, to know God is to be in a right relationship with him. All men and women are in a relationship with God. He is their Creator and they are his creatures. This is true even if they deny him. And they are not only related to him as his creatures. They are related to him covenantally too, for all men and women are born under that broken covenant of works that was made with Adam, and all do also live under the covenant of creation that was made in the days of Noah after the flood. All who live are in a relationship with God. The question is, what kind of relationship is it? Answer: not a good one. By nature and because of sin, we are called children of wrath. By nature – that is to say, by virtue of our natural birth – we are enemies of God because of our sin, and we are under his condemnation. So then, all people do know God and are in a relationship with him in this sense – God is their creator, and they are his creatures. And given the fact of sin, God is the judge and they stand before him guilty and condemned (see John 3:16-18). To know God in the way that the first commandment requires is to be in a right relationship with him. The first commandment requires that we know God to be the only true God and to have him as our God. 

Already, you can see that a Savior is needed. If rebel sinners are to know God as their God – if they are to be in a right relationship with him – they need someone to deal with the problem of sin. Jesus Christ is that Savior. He lived, died, and rose again to redeem us from bondage to sin and to reconcile us to God the Father. The redemption and reconciliation that Israel experienced in the days of Moses was an earthly picture (foreshadowing) of the greater act of redemption and reconciliation that Jesus Christ, the Promised One, would accomplish. Through faith in Jesus the Messiah, we are really and truly reconciled to God so that we might know him, that is to say, be in a right relationship with him. Those who have faith in Christ do not know God as Judge but as Father.     

So then, the first commandment requires us to know God. Two, the first commandment also requires us to acknowledge God to be the only true God. What is the difference between knowing God and acknowledging him? Well, I suppose it would be possible to know God privately in the mind and heart, but not publicly. But this is not the way we are to walk before our God. If God is truly our God, we will openly acknowledge him as such.  We will honor him as God by acknowledging him in all our ways (Proverbs 3:6). We will honor him by fearing him in our walk (Genesis 42:18). We will honor him by trusting in him (Psalm 25:2). We will honor him by submitting to him (James 4:7). 

Those who have the LORD as their God will not be private it about. Instead, they will acknowledge the LORD as God in their thoughts, words, and deeds. With their whole life, they will say, “I am the LORD’s” (Isaiah 44:5). They will declare, “But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD” (Joshua 24:15). Those who truly have the LORD as their God will “made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses” (1 Timothy 6:12). They will confess with the mouth “Jesus is Lord” while believing in the heart that God raised him from the dead (Romans 10:9). And do not forget the warning of Jesus: “So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 10:32–33). 

The commandment, you shall have no other gods before me, is negative. It forbids us from having any other god besides the one true God. But considered positively (and considered in the light of what the rest of the Scriptures say about this subject)  it requires us to have God as our God.  And to have God as our God, we must know him and acknowledge him to be our LORD and God. 

Three, the first commandment requires us to worship and glorify God accordingly. Those who know God and acknowledge him to be their God will worship him and live for his glory. 

To worship is to bow down. One may worship by bowing down physically. Certainly, we must bow down before the Lord in the mind and heart. To worship is to acknowledge that God is worthy of our obedience and praise. To worship is to give oneself up to the will of God, to surrender to him, and to serve him (2 Chronicles 30:8). We worship God individually as we bow before him in private prayer, as we contemplate his Word, and as we surrender our lives to him as his humble servants. We worship in private families as we pray, read Scripture, and sing. And we worship in public as we assemble with God’s people on the Lord’s Day to hear the word of God read and preached, as we pray in Jesus’ name, as we sing Psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, and as we break the bread in obedience to Christ’s command. The Old Covenant people of God had ordinances for worship; and the New Covenant people of God have ordinances too. Those who have the one true God as their God, will know him, acknowledge him, and worship him.

To glorify God is to honor and exalt him. We exalt God when we worship him in the way he has prescribed. We exalt God as we obey him. And we exalt him as we trust him, live lives of thankfulness and contentment before him, and as we testify concerning his goodness to us in Christ Jesus. We glorify God as we worship and serve him with all that we are and urge others to do the same (1 Corinthians 6:20).    

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Conclusion

Brothers and sisters, the first of the Ten Commandments does not merely forbid having other gods besides the LORD. No, when all is considered, it requires us “to know and acknowledge God to be the only true God, and our God; and to worship and glorify Him accordingly.” 

But let me ask you, have you kept this law perfectly? All must confess, no we have violated this law in thought, word, and deed. All must confess this, except one, Christ Jesus our Lord, who kept God’s law perfectly on our behalf, and died in our place so that we might be reconciled to God, and serve him faithfully all the days of our life. May all who hear this be found trusting in him for the forgiveness of sins and life everlasting. Amen.