Wednesday
Evening Bible Study
January 2, 2002
Introduction
Jesus has just had His encounter with the man we know as the “Rich Young
Ruler”. When the man queried Jesus as to what he needed to do to inherit
eternal life, Jesus began quoting the last half of the Ten Commandments. The
man said that he had been doing those things since his youth. Jesus told him he
still lacked in one area, and told the man that he needed to sell everything he
had and give it all to the poor. The man went away sad because he was
apparently a very wealthy man. Then Jesus explained to the disciples how
difficult it was for a rich person to go to heaven because of how their riches
can get in the way of them coming to trust in the Lord.
:28-30 We have left all
:28 Then Peter said, Lo, we have left all, and followed thee.
we have left – aphiemi –
to send away; to leave, go way from one
all – pas – each, every,
any, all, the whole, everyone, all things, everything
Some manuscripts have the word, “our own” here. Thus the NAS translation,
(Luke 18:28 NASB) And Peter said, "Behold, we have left
our own homes, and followed You."
followed – akoloutheo – to
follow one who precedes, join him as his attendant, accompany him; to join one
as a disciple, become or be his disciple
Peter is pointing out to the Lord that they have done the very thing that
Jesus was asking the Rich Young Ruler to do.
It’s hard to tell if Peter is just wondering about these things, or if
he isn’t trying somehow to pat himself on the back.
:29 And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath
left house, or parents, or brethren, or wife, or children, for the kingdom of
God's sake,
verily – amen – firm;
verily, amen
hath left – aphiemi – to
send away; to leave, go way from one
sake – heneka – on account
of, for the sake of, for; for this cause, therefore
Note: It’s only the things
that you give to God at His prompting, for His kingdom that fall into this
category.
:30 Who shall not receive manifold more in this present time, and in the
world to come life everlasting.
receive – apolambano – to
receive; of what is due or promised; to take again or back, to recover; to
receive by way of retribution
manifold more – pollaplasion (“much”
+ “weaved together”) – manifold, much, more
In Mark 10:30, Mark records Jesus saying “he shall receive an
hundredfold now”
present time – kairos –
due measure; a measure of time, a larger or smaller portion of time, hence:; a
fixed and definite time, the time when things are brought to crisis, the
decisive epoch waited for
world – aion – for ever,
an unbroken age, perpetuity of time, eternity; the worlds, universe; period of
time, age
to come – erchomai – to
come
life – zoe – life; the
state of one who is possessed of vitality or is animate; of the absolute
fulness of life, both essential and ethical, which belongs to God, and through
him both to the hypostatic "logos" and to Christ in whom the
"logos" put on human nature; life real and genuine, a life active and
vigorous, devoted to God, blessed, in the portion even in this world of those
who put their trust in Christ, but after the resurrection to be consummated by
new accessions (among them a more perfect body), and to last for ever.
everlasting – aionios –
without beginning and end, that which always has been and always will be;
without beginning; without end, never to cease, everlasting
The word translated “world” and “everlasting” are forms of the same word.
To get the same sense as the Greek, you could translate it, “who shall
receive much more in this time, and in the age to come, ageless life”
Lesson
You can’t out-give God
Sometimes we are hesitant at the things that we begin to perceive that the
Lord might be asking us to do.
Perhaps we too think that it is going to involve too great of a cost to us.
But God always gives us more than we could ever give to Him.
Hannah
Hannah promised to give to God her child if God would give her a baby.
She kept her promise, and when Samuel was born and weaned,
she brought him to the Tabernacle and gave him to God. He was raised from that
point at the Tabernacle to serve the Lord for the rest of his life.
She said at that time:
(1 Sam
1:27-28 KJV) For this child I prayed; and the LORD hath given me my petition
which I asked of him: {28} Therefore also I have lent him to the LORD; as long
as he liveth he shall be lent to the LORD. And he worshipped the LORD there.
But it didn’t end there. God ended up giving her far more than she could
have given to Him.
(1 Sam
2:20-21 KJV) And Eli blessed Elkanah and his wife, and said, The LORD give thee
seed of this woman for the loan which is lent to the LORD. And they went unto
their own home. {21} And the LORD visited Hannah, so that she conceived, and
bare three sons and two daughters. And the child Samuel grew before the LORD.
Amaziah
Amaziah was a king of the southern kingdom of Judah. When he became king,
he prepared for war with the Edomites.
(2 Chr
25:5-10 KJV) Moreover Amaziah gathered Judah together, and made them
captains over thousands, and captains over hundreds, according to the houses of
their fathers, throughout all Judah and Benjamin: and he numbered them from
twenty years old and above, and found them three hundred thousand choice men,
able to go forth to war, that could handle spear and shield. {6} He hired also
an hundred thousand mighty men of valour out of Israel for an hundred talents
of silver. {7} But there came a man of God to him, saying, O king, let not the
army of Israel go with thee; for the LORD is not with Israel, to wit, with all
the children of Ephraim. {8} But if thou wilt go, do it, be strong for the
battle: God shall make thee fall before the enemy: for God hath power to help,
and to cast down. {9} And Amaziah said to the man of God, But what shall we do
for the hundred talents which I have given to the army of Israel? And the man
of God answered, The LORD is able to give thee much more than this. {10}
Then Amaziah separated them, to wit, the army that was come to him out of
Ephraim, to go home again: wherefore their anger was greatly kindled against
Judah, and they returned home in great anger.
hundred talents of silver – 7,500 pounds of silver.
He had quite an investment in these troops.
Amaziah was warned that if he went to war with these men
hired from the northen kingdom, that he would have a great loss.
Amaziah couldn’t imagine giving up this great investment.
But the prophet reminds him that God is able to give him much more back.
Did God give him back his investment?
First, Amaziah did have a victory over the Edomites. But
we don’t have any record of whether or not he got his investment back.
The prophet said “God is able” to give him more.
But he didn’t promise that God would.
Actually, Amaziah’s life is quite complicated.
After he has this victory over the Edomites, he brings
back the idols of the Edomites and begins to worship them. This made God mad at
Amaziah.
In addition, the northern troops were so mad at Amaziah
that as they went home, they plundered some of the cities of Judah.
It’s hard to say if God actually gave back to Amaziah or
not because his life was in such a mess.
Financial gifts
It’s not uncommon to hear the “faith” teachers tell us that if we want to
get rich, all we have to do is give to God and then God will give us a
hundredfold back. They love to quote things like:
(2 Cor 9:6
KJV) But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and
he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.
Let’s look at the entire passage to make sure we’re getting the right
message from this. When Paul had heard of a famine in Jerusalem, he began to a
process of collecting financial gifts from all the Gentiles churches to give to
the poor in Jerusalem. When he wrote his second letter to the Corinthians, part
of his reason for writing the letter was to make sure they had already taken
care of their giving before he arrived. He tells them first about how some of
the other churches have given.
(2 Cor
8:1-5 KJV) Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on
the churches of Macedonia; {2} How that in a great trial of affliction the
abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their
liberality. {3} For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power
they were willing of themselves; {4} Praying us with much entreaty that we
would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to
the saints. {5} And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own
selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God.
Giving ought to come from a person who has first
completely given himself to the Lord.
Giving ought to be something that is prompted by the Lord.
(2 Cor
9:6-15 KJV) But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also
sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. {7}
Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not
grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
Giving ought to be done as something you choose to do
willingly. God wants you to want to give.
{8} And
God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all
sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:
Just like God’s word to Amaziah, God is able to
give back to you.
What’s most important is that we learn to give as God is
prompting us.
If God wants to give back to us to allow us to keep giving
more, than great. But there may be times that God would prompt us to give
because He doesn’t want us to hold on to what we’re holding on to. There may be
times that a person is pushing us to give, but God is not.
{9} (As it
is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his
righteousness remaineth for ever. {10} Now he that ministereth seed to the
sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and
increase the fruits of your righteousness;) {11} Being enriched in every thing
to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God. {12} For
the administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the saints,
but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God; {13} Whiles by the
experiment of this ministration they glorify God for your professed subjection
unto the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal distribution unto them, and
unto all men; {14} And by their prayer for you, which long after you for the
exceeding grace of God in you.
Paul knows that when the saints in Jerusalem are blessed
with the gifts, they will be praising God for the Corinthians and praying for
them.
{15}
Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.
Paul leaves the subject with reminding us that God is
always a better giver than we are.
Illustration
A Brother Like That!
A man named Paul received a new automobile from his
brother as a pre-Christmas present. On Christmas Eve, when Paul came out of his
office, a street kid was walking around the shiny new car, admiring it. “Is
this your car, Mister?” he asked. Paul nodded, “My brother gave it to me for
Christmas.” The boy looked astounded. “You mean your brother gave it to you,
and didn’t cost you anything? Gosh I wish.....” He hesitated, and Paul knew
what he was going to wish. He was going to wish he had a brother like that. But
what the lad said jarred Paul all the way down to his heels. “I wish,” the boy
went on, “that I could be a brother like that.” Paul looked at the boy in
astonishment, then impulsively he added, “Would you like to ride in my
automobile?” “Oh, yes, I’d love that!” After a short ride the urchin turned,
and with his eyes aglow said, Mister, would you mind driving in front of my
house?” Paul smiled a little. He thought he knew what the lad wanted. He wanted
to show his neighbors that he could ride home in a big automobile. But Paul was
wrong again. “Will you stop right where those steps are?” the boy asked. He ran
up the steps. Then in a little while, Paul heard him coming back, but he was
not coming fast. He was carrying his little polio-crippled brother. He sat down
on the bottom step, then sort of squeezed up right against him and pointed to
the car. “There she is, Buddy, just like I told you upstairs. His brother gave
it to him for Christmas, and it didn’t cost him a cent, and someday I’m gonna
give you one just like it; then you can see for yourself all the pretty things
in the Christmas windows that I’ve been trying to tell you about.” Paul got out
and lifted the little lad into the front seat of his car. The shining-eyed
older brother climbed in beside him and the three of them began a memorable
holiday ride. That Christmas eve, Paul learned what Jesus meant when He said,
“It is more blessed to give....”
The street kid was impressed with the gift. He was impressed to the point that he wanted
to be a giver like that.
I think that’s what ought to happen in our lives because
of Jesus.
When we see just how much Jesus gave for us, it ought to
turn us into givers like He is.
Paul wrote to the Corinthians,
(2 Cor 8:9
KJV) For ye know the grace of our Lord
Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that
ye through his poverty might be rich.
:31-34 Jesus tells of His death
:31 Then he took unto him the twelve, and said unto them, Behold, we go up
to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the
Son of man shall be accomplished.
he took – paralambano – to
take to, to take with one’s self, to join to one’s self
shall be accomplished – teleo
– to bring to a close, to finish, to end; to perform, execute, complete,
fulfil, (so that the thing done corresponds to what has been said, the order,
command etc.)
When Jesus hung on the cross, the last thing He said was,
(John 19:30 KJV) When Jesus therefore had received the
vinegar, he said, It is finished (teleo): and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.
by the prophets – the things Jesus is talking about aren’t things He’s
just made up. These have long been a
part of God’s plan, even revealed to the prophets.
I would imagine that this part of Jesus’ statement made the guys
excited. They expected Jesus to be
coming and establishing an earthly kingdom and that they would be ruling with
Him.
We can see that this was their understanding by how James and John
responded, as recorded in Mark:
(Mark 10:35-45 KJV) And James and John, the sons of Zebedee,
come unto him, saying, Master, we would that thou shouldest do for us whatsoever
we shall desire. {36} And he said unto them, What would ye that I should do for
you? {37} They said unto him, Grant unto us that we may sit, one on thy right
hand, and the other on thy left hand, in thy glory. {38} But Jesus said unto
them, Ye know not what ye ask: can ye drink of the cup that I drink of? and be
baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? {39} And they said unto him,
We can. And Jesus said unto them, Ye shall indeed drink of the cup that I drink
of; and with the baptism that I am baptized withal shall ye be baptized: {40}
But to sit on my right hand and on my left hand is not mine to give; but it
shall be given to them for whom it is prepared. {41} And when the ten heard it,
they began to be much displeased with James and John. {42} But Jesus called
them to him, and saith unto them, Ye know that they which are accounted to rule
over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise
authority upon them. {43} But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will
be great among you, shall be your minister: {44} And whosoever of you will be
the chiefest, shall be servant of all. {45} For even the Son of man came not to
be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
James and John missed the part about Jesus suffering and only heard Jesus
talking about going to Jerusalem to fulfill the prophets.
:32 For he shall be delivered unto the Gentiles, and shall be mocked, and
spitefully entreated, and spitted on:
he shall be delivered – paradidomi
– to give into the hands (of another); to give over into (one’s) power or
use; to deliver up one to custody, to be judged, condemned, punished, scourged,
tormented, put to death; to deliver up treacherously; by betrayal to cause one
to be taken
unto the Gentiles – Jesus was turned over to the Romans to be put to
death.
shall be mocked – empaizo (“in”
+ “to play like a child”) – to play with, trifle with; to mock; to delude,
deceive
spitefully entreated – hubrizo
(hubris = “pride”) – to be insolent, to behave insolently, wantonly,
outrageously; to act insolently and shamefully towards one, to treat
shamefully; of one who injures another by speaking evil of him
spitted on – emptuo (ptuo
= “to spit”, we say “ptooieee”) – to spit upon
David, as a prophet, wrote about these things,
(Psa 22:13-18 KJV) They gaped upon me with their mouths, as a
ravening and a roaring lion. {14} I am poured out like water, and all my bones
are out of joint: my heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels.
{15} My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my
jaws; and thou hast brought me into the dust of death. {16} For dogs have
compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have enclosed me: they pierced my
hands and my feet. {17} I may tell all my bones: they look and stare upon me.
{18} They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture.
:33 And they shall scourge him, and put him to death: and the third day he
shall rise again.
shall scourge – mastigoo –
to scourge; from mastix – a whip,
scourge
put … to death – apokteino –
to kill in any way whatever
he shall rise again – anistemi
(“up” + “stand”) – to cause to rise up, raise up; raise up from laying
down; to raise up from the dead; to rise, stand up; of the dead
Isaiah the prophet wrote,
(Isa 53:4-7 KJV) Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried
our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. {5}
But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities:
the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
{6} All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own
way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. {7} He was
oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as
a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he
openeth not his mouth.
:34 And they understood none of these things: and this saying was hid from
them, neither knew they the things which were spoken.
understood – suniemi
(“with” + “to send”) – to set or bring together; to put (as it
were) the perception with the thing perceived; to set or join together in the
mind; i.e. to understand: the man of understanding; implies a native insight,
knowledge gained through the five senses.
Aorist tense, this particular thing Jesus was saying they didn’t
understand.
The disciples had a hard time putting all this together.
was hid – krupto – to
hide, conceal, to be hid; escape notice; metaph. to conceal (that it may not
become known)
knew – ginosko – to
learn to know, come to know, get a knowledge of perceive, feel; to know,
understand, perceive, have knowledge of; a knowledge grounded on personal
experience. Imperfect tense. There was an ongoing sense of not knowing
what Jesus was saying as well.
Lesson
We don’t understand much either
Sometimes I don’t feel so bad that there’s so much that I don’t
understand. The disciples didn’t
understand sometimes either. And look
how God used them. I guess there’s hope
for me.