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Here is an explanation
of the "GO" order in Matthew 19:21
Within the context of Matthew 20:1-16
When
reading the text in the next column remember that many things
Jesus said, he later expounded on, so as to explain the context
of what he said or to provide a deeper understanding to the true
meaning of what he was trying to say.
The first thing to
note of interest is that what Jesus said was to go and sell what you
have and give to the poor, but then we have the surprise in
verse 29 where Jesus states that if you do that you will have
one hundred times more and in Luke 18:30 it actually says you
will have 100 times more here on earth. Which would be against
the "Go, Sell and Give Away" doctrine understood in this verse.
Jesus explains the context of the use of wealth to bless the needy
in Matthew 20:1-16 Here Jesus starts with the word "FOR"
or "THEREFORE" tying the context of the two chapters together,
but also in verse 16 Jesus reaffirms this with Matthew 20:16
where he states "So
the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called,
but few chosen." Jesus uses the word "SO" to reiterate or
emphasis that this parable has the intention of helping explain
what was said the last time He used this saying in Matthew
19:30. Which has everything to do with explaining the
impossibility of
a rich man or owner of vineyard going through the eye of a needle and has nothing to do
with the workers in Matthew 20. In this case though he adds an
extra explanation "many are called but few are chosen."
We must understand
that being called does not make us chosen. For example: I may be
called to be a dentist, but that doesn't make me a dentist and
it certainly doesn't encourage others to CHOOSE me as their
dentist. What makes the difference isn't if I have all the
tools, the office, the workers etc, but that I prepare
myself with education, disciplines, priorities, purpose, wisdom and
understanding so that when someone in time chooses me because of
all these attributes as their dentist, I can use all the resources that God has given me to
fulfill that calling. Many rich people do not prepare themselves
to be fishers of men with what they have.
So the context of
Matthew 19:21 according to Matthew 20 is to use ones wealth to
provide a need that the poor have. The need was not money,
the need was work! This also takes into context what Paul the
Apostle stated in 2 Thessalonians 3:10 "For even when we were
with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work,
neither should he eat." The steward in Matthew 20 did not focus
on how much work the person did or how much time the person
worked, but on the fact that the person was willing to work to
have his need met. The steward then gave each one the same
amount because each person was willing to work when provided the
opportunity and had the same need for money (which comes as a
result of the work) to supply food etc...
for their families .
If we study the
word steward it doesn't have anything to do with giving away
things, but everything to do with using or administering what
God has given us to store up riches in heaven, and the only way
to do that, is to work the wealth that God has given us for
eternal kingdom purposes.
That does not
mean that we should give all our money away to all these mercy or
compassionate ministries. Jesus didn't ask that, He didn't say,
"Give it to me and I and my team will do that for you." No, Jesus
left that responsibility with the one that was made a steward of
that wealth by God. Now that steward may enter into partnership
with another steward, but he never loses the responsibility
towards God for what God has given him to administrate.
Now let us look at Matthew
19:21
One of the main problems
here is to not misinterpret or do an automatic translation when
we read this verse. One of the keys is the word "AND" where we
need to understand that this word does not mean "THEN" or
"AFTERWARDS" but means "at the same time" or "in addition to".
Therefore coming and
following Jesus was meant to happen while the rich man was doing
the "Going", the "Selling" and the "Giving"
"GOING" was to go and get
on a continual basis while you have work for others to do as
outlined in Matthew 20.
"SELLING". This word does
not mean "getting rid of", but means to negotiate with or work
the resource that you have as we find in Matthew 20.
"GIVING" was meant
to provide or give work opportunities to these people with needs
for work.
"COME" means to leave
behind your old self-centered way of doing things to now take on
Jesus' purpose in what we do.
"FOLLOW ME" means
the same as when Jesus called his disciples. "and I will make
you fishers of men."
Why "fishers of
men", because that is the only thing that can be born again and
pass through the eye of a needle. The only thing that can pass through
the eye of a needle into the eternal is the seed of faith
that is in the embryo stage. That is why only all that we do by
faith pleases God and brings a reward from God. As Paul states
in Hebrews 11:6 "But without faith it is impossible
to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he
is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him."
The greatest of these riches that we can store in heaven are
souls that have been impacted by our lives and the use of the
resources God has given us to steward over. A good steward does
not look at the seed that is sown into the ground as a loss but
as an investment into the harvest that is coming. So likewise,
we as stewards of so many abilities, knowledge and riches
must be willing to sow into the eternal so that we can reap
an eternal harvest. What are some of the seeds of faith?, obedience, patience, mercy, compassion, forgiveness, loving your
enemies etc...
Remember that all these seeds are eternally useless without
faith since then they would not please God, we can do all these
things from a religious, obligation, cultural or works
perspective and miss the reward because we aren't motivated by
faith in God when we do them.
MAY GOD HELP US BE GOOD
FAITHFUL STEWARDS OF ALL THAT HE HAS GIVEN US.
In summary and to
top it all off, Jesus mentioned in verse 29 & 30 of Luke 18, the
reward here on earth of doing all this as mentioned above, is that one will receive a
harvest of 100 times what he has sown by faith here on earth,
and as
well he will receive eternal life.
Luke 18:29 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,
30 Who shall not receive manifold more in this present time, and
in the world to come life everlasting.
You ask why or
how "100 times"? Because we as partners now in
His
Kingdom Business are able, with God's help to use the 7 resources
that He has given us to their maximum potential. |
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Matthew 19:16-30
16 And, behold, one came and said unto
him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have
eternal life?
17 And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none
good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life,
keep the commandments.
18 He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no
murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal,
Thou shalt not bear false witness,
19 Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy
neighbour as thyself.
20 The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept
from my youth up: what lack I yet?
21 Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell
that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have
treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.
22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away
sorrowful: for he had great possessions.
23 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto
you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of
heaven.
24 And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go
through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into
the kingdom of God.
25 When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed,
saying, Who then can be saved?
26 But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is
impossible; but with God all things are possible.
27 Then answered Peter and said unto him, Behold, we have
forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore?
28 And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye
which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man
shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon
twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
29 And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or
sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands,
for my name’s sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall
inherit everlasting life.
30 But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be
first.
Matthew 20:
1 For the kingdom of heaven is like
unto a man that is an householder, which went out early in the
morning to hire labourers into his vineyard.
2 And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day,
he sent them into his vineyard.
3 And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing
idle in the marketplace,
4 And said unto them; Go ye also into the vineyard, and
whatsoever is right I will give you. And they went their way.
5 Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour, and did
likewise.
6 And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others
standing idle, and saith unto them, Why stand ye here all the
day idle?
7 They say unto him, Because no man hath hired us. He saith unto
them, Go ye also into the vineyard; and whatsoever is right,
that shall ye receive.
8 So when even was come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his
steward, Call the labourers, and give them their hire, beginning
from the last unto the first.
9 And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour,
they received every man a penny.
10 But when the first came, they supposed that they should have
received more; and they likewise received every man a penny.
11 And when they had received it, they murmured against the good
man of the house,
12 Saying, These last have wrought but one hour, and thou hast
made them equal unto us, which have borne the burden and heat of
the day.
13 But he answered one of them, and said, Friend, I do thee no
wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a penny?
14 Take that thine is, and go thy way: I will give unto this
last, even as unto thee.
15 Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is
thine eye evil, because I am good?
16 So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be
called, but few chosen.
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