Mini Commentary (10/12/09)

 Ok, it's been a little while, but I'm back in action! Here's what I focused on today:


Matthew 18:20 "For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them."

Even if it's only two or three! A couple doing devotions together, or some friends studying the Bible, Jesus says that He will be right there with them. How cool is that!?


Matthew 19:16-26 "Rich Young Ruler"

Jesus uses His knowledge of the man's heart to expose him. Sure, the man did not murder or steal, however, he could not get into heaven because his earthly riches were too dear to him! He didn't fully understand what Jesus was telling him. Jesus tells us to store up our treasure in Heaven, not on earth. Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also (Matthew 6:21). The rich young ruler's heart belonged to his wealth, not Jesus. Perhaps he was somewhat like Simon the Sorcerer (Acts 8:9-25), both had bad motives. Simon wanted to be able to perform miracles, while the rich man here wanted to live forever (with his wealth). Now wait. Let me point out, NO, Jesus is not saying here that rich people can't go to heaven. There are some very strong Christians who have lots of money. The problem is the love of money and how money becomes an idol. Remember the commandment "Thou shalt have no other gods before Me"? That's exactly what Jesus is using here. Hehe, love the ending verse too: (Jesus talking) "With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." SO COOL!!!


Matthew 20:1-16 "Parable of the Laborers"

Jesus makes a point here to talk about the last becoming the first, and the first becoming last. Now, I may be completely off here, but as Jesus talked about the landowner giving the laborers who only worked an hour the same wage as the laborers who worked a full day, I had to think about Christians receiving Christ at different times in their lives. Say someone receives the Lord at a very young age and serves his entire life for Christ. Now take a man who lived his entire life for the world, doing whatever he wanted for 70 years. On his deathbed, someone tells him the gospel (for the first time in his life) and he realizes what a fool he was. With his dying breaths, he proclaims Christ as the one true God to all who would come see him. Will one of these men be greater in the Kingdom of Heaven? Possibly. Will one have more crowns to lie down at Jesus' feet? Probably. However, all who come to Christ with a repentant heart will receive salvation! It doesn't matter what time in a person's life, it doesn't matter what happened before. The laborer's who were hired at the eleventh hour were standing around idle all day, and only worked for one hour. Yet they received the same payment. The parable stands as a testament to the grace and generosity of God.