Jehovah's Witnesses Straight Talk - Forum/Blog

The book of Luke

January 29, 2013

Chapter 18

Luke18:1 He also spoke a parable to them that they must always pray, and not give up, 18:2 saying, "There was a judge in a certain city who didn't fear God, and didn't respect man. 18:3 A widow was in that city, and she often came to him, saying, 'Defend me from my adversary!' 18:4 He wouldn't for a while, but afterward he said to himself, 'Though I neither fear God, nor respect man, 18:5 yet because this widow bothers me, I will defend her, or else she will wear me out by her continual coming.'"

The unrighteous Judge with a stone heart could careless about the widow, but when it came to his personal discomfort he finally conceded into hearing her continue demands for justice, what does this story mean for a child of God, is God evil like the judge, does he not care?

Such thoughts are evil imputed too God by a legal minded Christian's, that is, weed Christian's having their minds set upon the law. Each Christian should understand the power of judgment by law. Each day throughout our own world seats judges of law, they are sworn to show no emotion, but to uphold the laws created by a branch of government.

Although, a judge is unrighteous him/herself they can still uphold the law, void of emotions, based upon evidence/material fact. This separation of the mind from the heart is the strengthen of the law, which is a powerful for justice. With that thought in mind we now come upon Christ words above. The Law the Jew's were under was also void of human emotion, if you violated it. you die, it was that simple! Here the sheep of God found themselves with no love, but justice from God's law. Yes, all sinners are condemned by God's law into death without hope.

Romans 8:24 For we were saved in hope, but hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for that which he sees?

Now Christ Jesus reasons with his disciples, if the Law is justice, and fair that an unrighteous judge was administering, is the God of love, less? In other words, is God whom is love, and calls himself love, does he care less than the unrighteous judge if one of his children, or holy ones, calls out to him?

Matt.7:11 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him! 7:12 Therefore whatever you desire for men to do to you, you shall also do to them; for this is the law and the prophets.

God is not unrighteous, nor is his son Christ Jesus, let alone those imputed Christ righteousness the son's of God, so yes, God must listen to his children whom he conceived in love, and disciplines in love, does he not? It was unrighteous judges whom administer the law of God for Israel, but they also had to be made right, or they could stand right before God. They were made right by the innocent blood of animals. So is the blood of Christ, less, animals, which precious blood of the Son of God gives us a clear conscience from God?

1 Peter 3:21 This is a symbol of baptism, which now saves you--not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,

No the unrighteous judge could not be made righteous by his judgment of law, as many of them were deceived into believing. They could not put away their conviction of sins, or put away the filth of their flesh. Hence, those soon to be “in Christ Jesus” could, because they were dead to sin. In other words, they have been put too death and made new in the body of Christ Jesus, without sin!

Romans 6:4 We were buried therefore with him through baptism to death, that just like Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we also might walk in newness of life.

The widow got it, it did not matter that the judge be unrighteous, or even fair, God's law was righteous, and if she plied him over and over again he must give her the satisfaction of God's righteous law. What should a child of God take away from this wonderful parable? They should know they are under the Royal law of love which their heavenly Father has placed over them in the body of Christ Jesus, which members are loved and cherished, but do they have the faith that God will give them satisfaction, if they put faith in his Royal Law of love?

Here than a child of God must understand how love acts, and what to expect if they pray for their enemies, and what faith in God will bring them in satisfaction? It may not be the destruction of ones enemies. But instead, the salvation of ones tormentors whom did them an injustice, by God opening their eyes like he did Saul's eyes on the road to Damascus.

Acts 9:1 But Saul, still breathing threats and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest,

Acts 9:4 He fell on the earth, and heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?"

Acts 9:8 Saul arose from the ground, and when his eyes were opened, he saw no one. They led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus.

Hence, one can only be under the law of love by faith, a legal minded Christian's will not understand, because their expectation are wrong according the laws of death, but not so with the child of God under the law of life.

Romans 8:7 because the mind of the flesh is hostile towards God; for it is not subject to God's law, neither indeed can it be.

Romans 8:8 Those who are in the flesh can't please God.

Luke 18:6 The Lord said, "Listen to what the unrighteous judge says. 18:7 Won't God avenge his chosen ones, who are crying out to him day and night, and yet he exercises patience with them?
18:8 I tell you that he will avenge them quickly. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?"

Many of Christian's have prayed in the heat of battle for God's justice only to find defeat and/or death. Many of Christian's have prayed to God for destruction of those doing them unrighteousness only to find their lives continued into pain, and suffering, but why?

James 4:3 You ask, and don't receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it for your pleasures.

Well, it is simple, their expectation of God's justice was misplaced upon laws that show no forgiveness or love for their enemies. They have been deceived by their own anger fueled by the righteous hate thrpugh God's laws. They felt so strong about the injustice pointed up by God's law they thought their prayers were working out God's own justice towards their enemies. Factually, they believed their were rendering a scared service for God by their righteous judgments of the evil one, only to find destruction of their own faith in God's justice.

Rom.13:8 Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law.

Matt.7:1 "Don't judge, so that you won't be judged.

Here now we unravel the mystery of God, why so many Christian's fail and lose faith in God before Christ Jesus comes for God's justice upon the wicked. Yes, their expectation have been misplaced in what God will do for them by standing strong in God's laws, and/or commandments! These do not have faith in Christ Jesus, under the law of love, they put their faith in righteous laws that kills their enemies. These are weed Christian's with a drunken mixture of sins laws and the Royal law of love, demanding justice by such polluted doctrines.

James 1:20 for the anger of man doesn't produce the righteousness of God.

They don't have faith in love, or faith in the impartial God whom judges each person the same, but the question is? Can an impartial God judge you by a different standard? In other words, can he judge you under the law of love, and than turn and judge your enemies by the law of death? What indeed are we putting our faith in?

1Cor.13:4 Love is patient and is kind; love doesn't envy. Love doesn't brag, is not proud, 13:5 doesn't behave itself inappropriately, doesn't seek its own way, is not provoked, takes no account of evil;
13:6 doesn't rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; 13:7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 13:8 Love never fails

Will Christ find this faith upon earth or will Christian's give out by demanding justice by laws that condemned others too death? Yes, they will give out and few will be those putting faith in Christ. Instead the nations become wrathful, demanding justice, by creating even more laws which creates greater hate. Whereas, God's Royal law creates peace even with those not loving God or peace.

Matt.5:9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God.

The Jews found this truth, the more law the greater the hate towards brothers and sister, ending up in a fiery destruction of their faith by God's the law. Christian's that put faith in laws of their religion will find that they will be burnt up in the same hate denying the very life of Christ they claim to have by their religion.

Yes, denying the very person they claim to love by their commandment's. They will be filled with more and more hate thinking their righteous judgments are God's, finding instead they have been mislead into the destruction of themselves and others. Hence, when God does not deliver on the goods they have put faith in their god of law fails them, shocked, simply can't believe they were wrong based upon their righteous hatred in hating evil by God's laws!

Titus 3:1 Remind them to be in subjection to rulers and to authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work,
3:2 to speak evil of no one, not to be contentious, to be gentle, showing all humility toward all men. 3:3 For we were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. 3:4 But when the kindness of God our Savior and his love toward mankind appeared,

Their god ceases to exist! They have been mislead as the nations are by their laws that uphold good for their system of things, so to the laws of the religion institutions that has upheld law for good, will fail, but why?

God is not partial, he has had his own house under judgment for some two thousand's year, by one law, he does not play favorites! But what law has his house been under judgment by, none! They are freed by God's love, in the blood of Christ Jesus, so why would Christian's not free those offending them? It is because they seek death for their enemies by laws of sin, what are laws of sin? All laws that are not laws of life, what is the law of life? It is Christ Jesus the imperishable life ruled by God's love that freed us from God's laws judgment!

1 Peter 4:17 For the time has come for judgment to begin with the household of God. If it begins first with us, what will happen to those who don't obey the Good News of God?

Yes, the house of God received no judgment by God, but by their own fleshly mind waring against the law of love. This war is the war all the nations must yet face, a righteous judgment of our own ways, our own fruitage of our dealings. The fire was lite by Christ two thousand's years ago at his own anointing and followed into the anointing of many body members whom will be translated into the love of Christ.

Romans 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who don't walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.{NU omits "who don't walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit"}

Romans 8:7 because the mind of the flesh is hostile towards God; for it is not subject to God's law, neither indeed can it be.

Romans 8:8 Those who are in the flesh can't please God.

Luke 18:9 He spoke also this parable to certain people who were convinced of their own righteousness, and who despised all others.

The human mind when set up on law divides the heart from the brain, this conduct is practice each day by judges and attorney's, but how does this work? It works very simply, by upholding the law, and its principles, as is higher than anyone person, we divide the heart from our brain. In other words, the judge does not look at themselves, or the accused, but rather the laws conviction of the person. Hence, in this manner they are justified for punishing the convicted by the law written without emotions.

Matthew 23:23 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint, dill, and cumin,{ cumin is an aromatic seed from Cuminum cyminum, resembling caraway in flavor and appearance. It is used as a spice.} and have left undone the weightier matters of the law: justice, mercy, and faith. But you ought to have done these, and not to have left the other undone.

Here Christ speak too the heart, not the law by telling the truth of mankind, in this case the Jews. Which was, what made a Jew righteous, or right before God, the law, or the blood? Could any person, but Christ keep the law? No! Subsequently, it required God's mercy in the innocent blood of a victim to be shed for atonement of sins against what? God's own righteousness, which was the Law. Those that “despised” all others Christ spoke of here, were equally sinners, but they thought their own actions by law made them righteous before God, giving them the right to judge and condemn others as wicked, by looking at the law, and not the blood of mercy!

Luke 18:38 He cried out, "Jesus, you son of David, have mercy on me!"

Yes, they thought they could earn life by doing certain works as attending meetings, preaching, giving money, and so on . . . but they were just as unrighteous as the person that did none of those things, their own righteousness did not come from them nor their works, in so called good works, it came from God by a legal act of mercy in giving them the innocent blood of a victim.

Isaiah 64:6 For we have all become as one who is unclean, and all our righteousness is as a polluted garment: and we all fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away.

Ecclesiastes 9:2 All things come alike to all. There is one event to the righteous and to the wicked; to the good, to the clean, to the unclean, to him who sacrifices, and to him who doesn't sacrifice. As is the good, so is the sinner; he who takes an oath, as he who fears an oath.

John 6:63 It is the spirit who gives life. The flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and are life.

Here they look down on sinners, but they were sinners, they looked down on those that didn't do as they thought earning them a good standing with God by so called works of faith in God. But they proved to be worst than the very people they condemned because they were hypocrites thinking they could earn salvation by self-righteousness works.

1 Peter 3:21 This is a symbol of baptism, which now saves you--not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Proverbs 16:2 All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but Yahweh weighs the motives.

Proverbs 20:9 Who can say, "I have made my heart pure. I am clean and without sin?"

Luke18:10 "Two men went up into the temple to pray; one was a Pharisee, and the other was a tax collector. 18:11 The Pharisee stood and prayed to himself like this: 'God, I thank you, that I am not like the rest of men, extortioners, unrighteous, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 18:12 I fast twice a week. I give tithes of all that I get.' 18:13 But the tax collector, standing far away, wouldn't even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me, a sinner!' 18:14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted."

The fleshly mind struggles with parable like this, why? Because it is a legal mind, and a legal mind earns merit, it stand on its judgment by laws to condemn or excuse certain conduct. When it thinks of the Pharisee's as self-righteous, it simply labels him as wicked and moves on missing the whole point of Christ Jesus story, and what is that?

Hence, this Pharisee's in all of us, we all judge, we all look down on others by what we accept and don't accept in this life, and we all think we are in better standing by our rules. The Pharisee's were the keepers of God righteous law they did not condone unrighteous acts against the law, and many of them became Christ followers, so what is the point?

No human being is righteous by their own goodness, even if they preach and teach righteous law, and uphold it. None can put away the filth of their flesh. Subsequently, we all died from sin, which is filth to God, filth of our flesh. Now many of us think we put our sin away by doing good works, going to certain religious meetings, giving too the poor, and so on . . . just like this Pharisee's truly believe he stood taller in God's eyes than this tax collector.

Rom.13:8 Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law.

Romans 3:24 being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.

His mind was a legal mind a fleshly mind, which allowed him to separate himself from the truth of his own heart. He could hate by the law, which allowed him to hate the evil in others, he could justify it by the law because he thought he keep it perfectly, or at least better than others, but in Christ judgment of him, he was self-righteous hypocrite. You see, the word truth does not appeal to the self-righteous, they are not concerned with truth, but being better than their neighbor by condemning them with laws, beating them in a competition of good and evil!

1 Corinthians 2:12 But we received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is from God, that we might know the things that were freely given to us by God.

Romans 8:7 because the mind of the flesh is hostile towards God; for it is not subject to God's law, neither indeed can it be.

Romans 8:8 Those who are in the flesh can't please God.

The legal minded truth is about the other guy, not the truth of ourselves, and what is that? There is not a day we don't sin, having evil thoughts or at least lusting for the opposite sex or some possession, but this truth hurts, and makes us dependent upon God's forgiveness, which word requires that we be freely forgiven others . But the legal mind wants payment and it wants to beat the enemy through judgments of being better and worst, justified by laws.

The Pharisee truly believed his love for the law, was better than tax collectors lack of love for the law, thinking it made him better, better in what way? Righteousness, but he was wrong! His feeling, and emotions of good or bad did not justify him before God, what did justify him? Moreover, what justifies us, zeal, hating evil, keeping God's commandment's. Well, the humility of the tax collectors said it all, God's gift of precious blood, freely giving us the life of another whom deserves to live. Yes, God's allows for the taking of life for our sins, how right can any of us be when we cannot stop sinning?

1 Peter 3:21 This is a symbol of baptism, which now saves you--not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,

Luke18:15 They were also bringing their babies to him, that he might touch them. But when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them. 18:16 Jesus summoned them, saying, "Allow the little children to come to me, and don't hinder them, for the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 18:17 Most certainly, I tell you, whoever doesn't receive the Kingdom of God like a little child, he will in no way enter into it."

We are all born into sin, and from that sin comes death, but there is more to Christ words here about children. Christ is not saying children are sinless, although that is a very popular belief among many religious people. They are however innocent to the evils adults think.

Romans 5:12 Therefore, as sin entered into the world through one man, and death through sin; and so death passed to all men, because all sinned.

But more importantly, they trust their parents, they are not born into distrust for their parent examining each motive of their parents with the idea if they don't justify their existence upon earth the parent will not take care of them. Moreover, they don't impute evil too their parents, they don't talk about love, or the meaning of love to their parents, nor detail a legal definition of whom they can love or cannot love, they just love without words, words and concepts must be taught a child from whom? Their parents own insecurities, not their own. They are blank sheets being written upon by whom? The parents, if the parent, hates dogs, and lives in fear of them, hence, that fear and hate will be passed on too the child.

Matt. 7:9 Or who is there among you, who, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone?
7:10 Or if he asks for a fish, who will give him a serpent?
7:11 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!

Christ Jesus point here is, all those he was talking to, that is, becoming his followers would have a new birth, upon a fresh new tablet of their hearts, a new heart, one created by God their Father whom is love. But who would write upon it? Would it be the laws of hate, causing wrath and lack of peace with God, or God's law of love from a Heavenly Father?

1 John 4:18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear has punishment. He who fears is not made perfect in love.

Christ had just exposes the fruit of law in the Pharisee's heart, and the truth of the tax collectors heart in humble admission of sin just above in this same chapter. Now he takes his followers into a choice would they become teachers of law, leaders of judgments, calling God wicked, judging from a wicked heart of distrust for their heavenly Father by pointing up evil in each other and God. Which is Christ point, or rather, live in love from the new heart God will create in them through adoption by Holy Spirit?

Would they remain a child of God, or become a wicked slave beating their brothers and sister with the Law? Would they use the law created for the wicked upon the children of God? Here, is the point, not becoming a person of distrust, but a person compelled by God's love in not judging others like the Pharisee! In order for them to do this, Christ make the most profound statement a person could make, and what was that? If you want to remain innocent before God, you must trust Him like a child does a parent, and if you do that he will take care of any judgment of others, like a parent, but you are not to become the parent!

1 John 4:8 He who doesn't love doesn't know God, for God is love.

Luke 18:18 A certain ruler asked him, saying, "Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?" 18:19 Jesus asked him, "Why do you call me good? No one is good, except one--God.

The fleshly mind looks for the one button that will answer every question about God, and if they push that button they will be saved. In other words, make it rock-solid write it down in a contract, and I will do that work of law and/or contract to please God so I can be saved!

Fear is the nature of the legal fleshly mind, it hates simple faith, but it lies too others about its faith, why? Simply put, it puts its faith in concrete rules, not in walking on water. Here this ruler wanted a royal command simple stating in concrete terms from Christ Jesus so he could go about his business, and be saved making him righteous before God, hence, not taking away too much time from his business of rulership.

But Christ shocked his fleshly legal mind into a reality of the spirit world where God governs by a Spirit Law of Love, how did Christ do that? This ruler had seen and heard of Christ good works, certainly he was comparing his own works against God's prophet Christ Jesus. Jesus said: “why do you call me good, no one is good, but God!” What shocking words to a ruler, wasn't the ruling class better than common people, wasn't that the reason there were common people, and isn't that why he wasn't?

Wasn't Christ being called the king of Jews, didn't Christ consider himself special, above, better than others on earth? No! Christ did not delude himself like fleshly minded people do, because they associate with some group or knowing certain people in high places making one better superior, Christ instead spoke divine truth, truth(s) of all truths, and what was that? He was in his flesh a servant sent to do a job and that job was not completed, so how could one glorify themselves upon earth ? How could he be good when that had been decided by his Almighty Master yet?

Matt.18:1 In that hour the disciples came to Jesus, saying, "Who then is greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?" 18:2 Jesus called a little child to himself, and set him in the midst of them, 18:3 and said, "Most certainly I tell you, unless you turn, and become as little children, you will in no way enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.
18:4 Whoever therefore humbles himself as this little child, the same is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven. 18:5 Whoever receives one such little child in my name receives me.

Today many in false religion have glorified their position upon earth being leaders over vast amounts of human through powerful positions created by religious corporation(s)/governments thinking indeed they are good or they would not be at the top by their special talent, but they should consider what Christ said too the ruler and wonder if they are in the truth of the faithful servant whom waits upon his master for the final approval?

Matt.18:6 but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to stumble, it would be better for him that a huge millstone should be hung around his neck, and that he should be sunk in the depths of the sea. 18:7 "Woe to the world because of occasions of stumbling! For it must be that the occasions come, but woe to that person through whom the occasion comes!

Luke18:20 You know the commandments: 'Don't commit adultery,' 'Don't murder,' 'Don't steal,' 'Don't give false testimony,' 'Honor your father and your mother.'"{Exodus 20:12-16; Deuteronomy 5:16-20}

So many legal minded Christian's when reading Christ words here and some of the apostles words stating the Old Law, say; “well, I have keep theses commandment's unlike other sinners. Which means I am better than others”, no! This was the exact thinking of this rich ruler, what many Christian's don't understand, and truth of this rich ruler was?

No human born from Adam's sin could keep the commandment's not one that is why God sent us Christ Jesus, what does this mean? What is means is just that, if you were a sinner you do not qualify to keep the commandment's of God before you every try to keep them! In other words, if you have every hated someone you commit murder in God's eyes, you don't have to physically kill someone to murder them from hate. If you look at the opposite sex with lust you have committed adultery.

Matt. 5:21 "You have heard that it was said to the ancient ones, 'You shall not murder;'{Exodus 20:13} and 'Whoever shall murder shall be in danger of the judgment.' 5:22 But I tell you, that everyone who is angry with his brother without a cause{NU omits "without a cause".} shall be in danger of the judgment; and whoever shall say to his brother, 'Raca{"Raca" is an Aramaic insult, related to the word for "empty" and conveying the idea of empty-headedness.}!' shall be in danger of the council; and whoever shall say, 'You fool!' shall be in danger of the fire of Gehenna.{or, Hell}

Wait a minute! Those standards are way to high for any human being, how can this be, I am a good person, now you have made Christ exact point. Any person loving truth would know they are a sinner and would not become self-righteous, why? It is because God supply righteous blood at his altar the seat of mercy for this rich young ruler, did this ruler think it was for someone else and not him? Are you a Christian's that thinks Christ blood is for only the extremely wicked person physically breaking God's commandment's above?

Matt.5:27 "You have heard that it was said, {TR adds "to the ancients,"} 'You shall not commit adultery;'{Exodus 20:14}
5:28 but I tell you that everyone who gazes at a woman to lust after her has committed adultery with her already in his heart.

Well, if you do your wrong, perhaps dead wrong! The lack of love is a sin to God, but not too humans, so Christ makes the point instead of stating the above he ask what was impossible for this rich young ruler to do; sell all that he had distributing it to the poor. Now this was impossible for him to do or any rich person; he could materially understand how hard it was to enter into the kingdom by human effort, but failed to understand it spiritually.

So what did he need? Forgiveness through the innocent blood for breaking God's commandment's, subsequently, he unwittingly broke all the commandment's if he could not keep one of them, he broke them all, how? Just as Christ stated above, but still that not enough for some. If you can't enter into a race because you can't meet the standards of the race rules, than, if you run without being qualified you break all the rules no matter how well you do! If you are a sinner you cannot get into God's Kingdom without the precious blood of Christ Jesus to qualify you, no matter how much you try daily. You will not enter in, by your good works, instead, it is Christ good works imputed too you that gives you life. In other words, you better have faith in Christ Jesus and not yourself, by thinking how much better you are than others.

Luke18:21 He said, "I have observed all these things from my youth up." 18:22 When Jesus heard these things, he said to him, "You still lack one thing. Sell all that you have, and distribute it to the poor. You will have treasure in heaven. Come, follow me."
18:23 But when he heard these things, he became very sad, for he was very rich.

Matt.5:19 Whoever, therefore, shall break one of these least commandments, and teach others to do so, shall be called least in the Kingdom of Heaven; but whoever shall do and teach them shall be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven.

Luke 18:24 Jesus, seeing that he became very sad, said, "How hard it is for those who have riches to enter into the Kingdom of God! 18:25 For it is easier for a camel to enter in through a needle's eye, than for a rich man to enter into the Kingdom of God." 18:26 Those who heard it said, "Then who can be saved?"
18:27 But he said, "The things which are impossible with men are possible with God."

Here Christ Jesus reaches the fleshly mind shocking it into hopelessness when its material things are affected its protection diminishes, hence, its pride, power and position is shaken too the core. Yes, and earthly kingdom that can be shaken into fear and panic!

Hebrews 12:28 Therefore, receiving a Kingdom that can't be shaken, let us have grace, through which we serve God acceptably, with reverence and awe,

But none Christ was speaking too here were cut to their hearts by their sins, in missing the mark of entering into God's Kingdom losing out on the treasures in heaven a perfect relationship with our Heavenly Father YHWH. If a rich man whom the world loved and honored because of his power and position was grieved knowing what Christ ask him was impossible, how could the apostles enter into the kingdom having so little materially to offer God?

James 4:8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
4:9 Lament, mourn, and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to gloom. 4:10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he will exalt you.

Again Christ affected the core of the human fleshly mind, which compares itself against other fleshly people in this case the rich young ruler, but none of this had anything to do with Christ Jesus spiritual words too them

Romans 8:7 because the mind of the flesh is hostile towards God; for it is not subject to God's law, neither indeed can it be.

Romans 8:8 Those who are in the flesh can't please God.

The Kingdom of God cannot be shaken so easily, in fact, it can't be shaken at all? But why? because its not based upon earned merit as the fleshly minded rich ruler world was. God's Kingdom is ruled from the Royal Law of Love, which law does not gain by things, or by taking, nor lusting for material things. The spirit world where Christ Jesus came from was not created because of someone gaining more materiel things having more than someone else. It was created because of God's own love to share all He has with His children from love. Love does not brag, it does not compete, and it has no lust of the sinful flesh in it. Love is given freely, without self efforts, in earning it from the one loving us. It first gives respect, and dignity too all that it touches, and love does not look for evil in others.

Subsequently, love cannot fail or be shaken like the earthly life of all humans. But not the apostles nor the rich young ruler could imagine such a God would give them life freely by trusting that He is love, soon, however, all would be sobered up when the love of God greatest expression was murder to save them, Christ Jesus.

1Cor.13:4 Love is patient and is kind; love doesn't envy. Love doesn't brag, is not proud, 13:5 doesn't behave itself inappropriately, doesn't seek its own way, is not provoked, takes no account of evil;
13:6 doesn't rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; 13:7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
13:8 Love never fails.

Luke 18:28 Peter said, "Look, we have left everything, and followed you." 18:29 He said to them, "Most certainly I tell you, there is no one who has left house, or wife, or brothers, or parents, or children, for the Kingdom of God's sake, 18:30 who will not receive many times more in this time, and in the world to come, eternal life."

Jesus stated a fact he was not dangling a carrot to get followers like so many in false religion do. In context to Christ words in this part of Luke Jesus had just stated that the rich young ruler was a materialist whom thought he was perfect according to the law. Unfortunately, he did not understand Christ was sent to fulfill the law for sinful mankind, not those thinking they had been made righteous by it.

Luke 9:58 Jesus said to him, "The foxes have holes, and the birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head."

In doing so he proves that the rich young ruler was not the Messiah or was he on the same level as Christ Jesus whom had no material things. Whereas, the fleshly mind of his disciples looked to this powerful class of Jew's too produce the Messiah as a materially wealth king like David was and others.

James 5:1 Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries that are coming on you. 5:2 Your riches are corrupted and your garments are moth-eaten.
5:3 Your gold and your silver are corroded, and their corrosion will be for a testimony against you, and will eat your flesh like fire. You have laid up your treasure in the last days.

In other words, if you can't sell all things and follow me, your a sinner no matter your high your thoughts are of being a better person than other in society because of your position. The materialistic ruler could no longer compare himself by position and wealth he must compare himself against God righteousness. Now Christ Jesus own disciples concluded from their fleshly mind that they had given up everything to follow the Christ thinking they were better somehow than the ruler by self-merit.

Matt.5:40 If anyone sues you to take away your coat, let him have your cloak also. 5:41 Whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two. 5:42 Give to him who asks you, and don't turn away him who desires to borrow from you.

Christ stops this fleshly minds thinking by informing them they had given up nothing compared to what they would gain in the next world. This satisfied their lust of material things, trading a little for a lot more! Of course after the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon Christ resurrection we find another thought of love for God as the riches treasure in heaven opened by Christ Jesus putting away the flesh and its condemnation in completing the law for us and them. The apostles got it, what was the real substance and power of God was not in material things, but gaining the life of Christ Jesus through the outpouring of Holy Spirit by unmerited kindness of YHWH.

1Pet.1:23 having been born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, through the word of God, which lives and remains forever. 1:24 For, "All flesh is like grass, and all of man's glory like the flower in the grass. The grass withers, and its flower falls;
1:25 but the Lord's word endures forever."{Isaiah 40:6-8} This is the word of Good News which was preached to you.
Luke18:31 He took the twelve aside, and said to them, "Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and all the things that are written through the prophets concerning the Son of Man will be completed. 18:32 For he will be delivered up to the Gentiles, will be mocked, treated shamefully, and spit on.
18:33 They will scourge and kill him. On the third day, he will rise again."

We so often read within the God's written word the lack of understanding of Christ Jesus apostles many Christian's wonder how could they have been so dense on so many subjects. But instead of looking at them as uneducated, we should rather look at ourselves.
We should instead wonder how Christ could make such simple statements and it be hidden from their understanding?

The Jews were a legal nation, they had God's righteous laws. Moreover, they had compounded these laws in to thousand's of rule which allowed for no free choice of conscience on most matters. Such legal thinking can and does blinded us to simple spiritual understanding, what does this mean? It means simply, the human brain set upon law divorce itself from human emotion it must because if not it will not enforce law evenly. In other words, a judge cannot introduce his personal feeling and emotion into the law or he is biased, he must stay neutral and keep the rule of laws. Law is legal it not fair, fairness if it exist in the cold legal law is legislated by the creators of the law for punishment.

Hence, we find a nation dummy down into not thinking in spiritual terms which spiritual thoughts are contrary to legal understanding, legal understanding is material on paper not spiritual like the wind. So if a Christ Jesus performed a merical, not something physical, and/or from a physical doctrine on paper or stone, it was from the demons!

John 8:52 Then the Jews said to him, "Now we know that you have a demon. Abraham died, and the prophets; and you say, 'If a man keeps my word, he will never taste of death.'

Christ apostles were stunned many times because they could not imagine putting to death some one not breaking the law, it simply was not in their thinking. The law was for punishment of the wicked and Christ their teacher and leader was not wicked, so they gave Christ words, though spoken often, any no credence.

1Tim.1:9 as knowing this, that law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and insubordinate, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, 1:10 for the sexually immoral, for homosexuals, for slave-traders, for liars, for perjurers, and for any other thing contrary to the sound doctrine;

In other words, the law was given to affect the core of mankind his heart condition into repentance and humility before God, the Jews used it to declare themselves righteous as better than other sinners as superior too others not keeping it. Even the simplest parable of Christ would have been put into legal terms by his apostles blocking them from the Spirit teachings them the truth.

Subsequently, we find after the outpouring of Holy Spirit, Christ promised upon his death and resurrection, a transformed spiritually mature group of men known as Christ Jesus apostles. Where they once thought Christ words foolish by law, they now understood the depth of what they have overlooked as mundane.

John 6:63 It is the spirit who gives life. The flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and are life.

Luke 18:34 They understood none of these things. This saying was hidden from them, and they didn't understand the things that were said.
Often Christian's don't understand that Christ taught many things that were humanly impossible for them too do, and what does this mean? Christ taught that a person broke all the commandments if they lusted in their heart from the opposites sex. Yes, all of them, not one of them, why? Because if you break one law it proves you are a sinner and you cannot keep the laws of God.

Matthew 5:19 Whoever, therefore, shall break one of these least commandments, and teach others to do so, shall be called least in the Kingdom of Heaven; but whoever shall do and teach them shall be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven.

Christ also stated that the rich young ruler was also a sinner even though he seemed righteous in his own eyes and others, why? Because he was grieved, not happy to sell all his things and give to the poor so he could follow Christ. Christ Jesus also taught that if a person was anger with another person they were a sinner. Yes, it is that simple, once you sin, you can't go back and not be a sinner. In other words, you can't repair the damage, just like Adam and Eve found they could repent enough to make things right, or become sinless again once they sinned, now could they?

Romans 7:23 but I see a different law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity under the law of sin which is in my members.

So the point of Christ Jesus teachings are often missed as his own disciples here would not get the meaning of Christ words until later, when? At God's time, by God's Holy Spirit, after Christ was killed for their sins. The flesh is proud, its nature thinking differently than the Spirit of God. It believes is can earn its way into not being a sinner by some good work. Yet, Christ every words to his disciples and to those he taught which is now us by God's written word proves without God's own love towards us we cannot know God, or truly understand His words too us in the bible.

1Cor. 2:14 Now the natural man doesn't receive the things of God's Spirit, for they are foolishness to him, and he can't know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 2:15 But he who is spiritual discerns all things, and he himself is judged by no one.

All hope of eternal life depends upon God, all provision for eternal life depends not upon our self-worth but God's own love. If we cannot do the least how can we be entrusted with the things of Christ Jesus whom was faithful in all things.

Luke 12:26 If then you aren't able to do even the least things, why are you anxious about the rest?

Commentary by: Daniel a Slave of Christ Jesus

Completed on March 21, 2013