Luke 18:15-30

 

Surrendering Control (1) – Honour is Empty

At this stage of the narrative Luke inserted two different incidents that each illustrated the need for disciples to let go of control and to stand tall in community, accepting themselves for no other reason than the fact that God loved them.

Luke 18:15-17  -  Jesus Blesses Children 

15 They brought along some babies for him to touch them.
The disciples saw this and tried to warn them off.

Following the lead set by Mark, Luke accepted the fact that the disciples were slow to hear the message of Jesus. (Their difficulty in getting the message can be encouraging for present day readers).

16 But Jesus called them to him, and said,
“Let little children come to me,
and do not prevent them.
The kingdom of God is for such ones as these.
17 I tell you clearly, whoever does not accept the kingdom of God
as a little child does
will not enter it.

There are obviously many characteristics special to babies and little children. The context helps to recognise what Jesus had in mind. Infants and children are without power or control. While still in the early stages of their lives, everything is gift. Questions of relative “personal honour” are foreign to them. Adults struggle with the insecurity that springs from their radical “emptiness” and try to compensate by seeking control.

Jesus made the point that only to the degree that disciples surrender their drive to control their lives and their self-image, and to accept their dignity and worth as pure gifts of an always generous God, can they experience the life of the Kingdom. Without that surrender they cannot be truly free.

 

Surrendering Control (2) – Addiction to Wealth

The difficulty to let go of control surfaced again in the following incident of the rich ruler. 

Luke 18:18-30  -   Rich Ruler Turns Away

18 One of the aristocracy asked him,
“Good master, what should I do
that I might inherit eternal life?”

The man’s question seemed to have come from some personal sense of uncertainty and insecurity. He wanted to be certain (and in control). His question assumed:

  • that he knew what he was talking about when he referred to eternal life
  • that eternal life could somehow be inherited (as was probably the case with every other good thing in his life).
  • and (if such were his assumption) that, whatever was needed, he could do it unaided: What should I do?
19 Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good?
One alone is good, God.

Jesus was unwilling to enter into the polite exchange of honour roles. There was no need for him to be praised in order for him to share his wisdom. He deflected the praise towards God and redirected the question to the questioner:

20 You know the commandments.
Do not commit adultery,
Do not murder,
Do not steal,
Do not give false evidence,
Honour your father and mother.”

Jesus’ answer sought to alert the man to his desire for “more”. What he was already doing apparently did not satisfy his deeper desires for life, in the present or in the future:

21 He said, “I have observed all these from an early age”.
22 When he heard that, Jesus said,
“There is one thing you lack.
Sell everything you have and distribute it to the poor.
You will have treasure in heaven.
Then come and follow me.”
23 When he heard this he became quite sad,
because he was very wealthy.

The man’s reaction indicated clearly what he lacked: the power to relinquish control. He was not free. He was addicted to wealth. He was prisoner to his own compulsive drives. 

The man’s response served to throw light on so much that Jesus had taught earlier in his ministry. Wealth is so easily addictive. It can lose its addictive power only when people make peace with their personal emptiness and learn to trust totally in God. 

24 Jesus saw him and said,
“How difficult it is for those who have possessions
to enter the kingdom of God.
25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle
than for someone wealthy to enter the kingdom of God.”
 
26 Those who heard this said, “Then who can be saved?”
27 Jesus said, “What is humanly impossible is possible with God.”

In the cultural context, Jesus’ comment was incomprehensible. There was a consistent strand running through the Hebrew Scriptures that wealth was sign of God’s blessing. It had been challenged occasionally, but generally the questioning was conveniently forgotten. The conviction persists in some Christian groupings. The “honour system” depended on it. Jesus’ comment put the possession of wealth in a broader context. God could save even the wealthy. But as Jesus had indicated on other occasions, it needed to be used appropriately.

28 Then Peter said. “Look, we left what we had and followed you.”

Luke had recounted how the earliest fishermen disciples had indeed left everything and followed Jesus [5:1-11]. Their spontaneous response had been enthusiastic and generous. It was only with time that they began to encounter the difficulties of discipleship. Whatever about their inconsistencies, Jesus had obviously been deeply attracted by them and persevered in his love for them.

29 He replied, "I tell you clearly,  there is no one who has left
home or wife or brothers and sisters or parents or children
for the sake of the kingdom of God 
30 who will not receive back very much more in this age
and eternal life in the age to come.”

Jesus was effectively describing life in the community of disciples. For Jesus discipleship took precedence over family relationships. Indeed, some of Luke’s community had no doubt experienced the pain of leaving brothers or parents in their choice for Christ. Some may even have felt the added pain of not being understood and even being rejected. Life in the community of like-minded, mutually supportive and constantly developing disciples would ideally be its own reward. Growth in the essential elements of life encouraged in community would continue into the next phase of the adventure of life in eternity.

Next >> Luke 18:31-43