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Luke 18 18-30 FOLLOWING JESUS TO HAVE ETERNAL LIFE 18 The caution
📖 Luke 18:18-30
15Oct2020 - *The caution* - _Luke 18:18-30_ - FOLLOWING JESUS TO HAVE ETERNAL LIFE 18 – Bible reading: _Acts 13:46-49_
Peter, not only made a statement of leaving all and following Jesus but he also raised a question. _Matthew 19:27-30 Then Peter answered and said to Him, "See, we have left all and followed You. Therefore what shall we have?"_
The Lord, responded, sharing with His disciples, the benefits that were in store for them in following Him. Nevertheless, why did Peter raise this question? We can understand what was in Peter’s heart from the answer that the Lord gave, as He concluded the teaching from the interaction with the Rich Young Ruler.
_Matthew 19:28-30 So Jesus said to them, "Assuredly I say to you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. (29) And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My name's sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life. (30) *But many who are first will be last, and the last first*._
As we see from other conducts of the disciples, on various occasions, they were expecting Jesus to set up His kingdom and they expected to have prominent positions in His kingdom. There was a competitive spirit that was gripping them in their heart. It was this attitude that the Lord was addressing.
The Jews were conscious that they were the chosen race and that the oracles of God were made known to them. They saw the Gentiles as those, ‘cut off’ from the wealth of Israel. Yet, the Lord was warning the Jews not to take their position for granted.
This incident with the Roman centurion, a Gentile, conveyed this admonition. _Matthew 8:10-12 When Jesus heard it, He marvelled, and said to those who followed, "Assuredly, I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel! (11) And I say to you that many will come from east and west, and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. (12) But the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."_
The same truth comes through, in a different manner, in this episode at Antioch, Pisidia, when Paul and Barnabas preached at the Jewish synagogue.
_Acts 13:46-49 Then Paul and Barnabas grew bold and said, "It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken to you first; but since you reject it, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles. (47) For so the Lord has commanded us: 'I HAVE SET YOU AS A LIGHT TO THE GENTILES, THAT YOU SHOULD BE FOR SALVATION TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH.' " (48) Now when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and glorified the word of the Lord. And as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed. (49) And the word of the Lord was being spread throughout all the region._
The Jewish religious leaders, in particular, were arrogant in their point of view that eternal life was guaranteed for them. John the Baptist brought them crashing down from their lofty position.
_Matthew 3:7-12 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, "Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? (8) Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance, (9) and do not think to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.' For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones. (10)
And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. (11) I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. (12) His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather His wheat into the barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire."_
The message of John is a warning for all of us and it was very much pertinent for the disciples, who had forsaken all to follow Jesus. The Lord is winnowing His threshing floor. He is separating the wheat from the chaff.
Let us, therefore, walk before Him with a broken and a contrite spirit, embracing our position as unworthy Doulos of our Lord Jesus Christ, for *many who are first will be last, and the last first*.
*Thought to ponder*
```Are you open before God to take away from within you, any desire for personal prominence?```
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