‘who shall not recover many times more in this season, and in the age to come, life eternal.’

Luke 18:30

The joy of fellowship with our Christian family is excellent. For some their physical family is also their spiritual family. But even when this fails, the family of Christ at large fills the void. We have at any time a host of brothers, sisters, mothers, and fathers.

Beyond these riches, we look to eternal life. That which is to come will be wonderful, excelling above all of our fondest imagination.

Heavenly Father, we see this all as so grand. And yet it is no trouble for You. Your power is so much greater than we can ever comprehend. Thank You for Your gracious goodness and love! You are holy, pure, perfect, and so very awesome! In the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise You, Amen.

So He said to them, ‘Truly I say to you, that there is no one who has left house or parents or brothers or wife or children, on account of the kingdom of God,’

Luke 18:29

Though it is not always the case, the vast majority of Christians must leave a home, family tie, or a close friend, due to their relationship with Christ. It is not something to be done flippantly or lightly, but resolutely when the need arises. We must not hold our earthy bonds in place of that heavenly joy.

The scope of this verse is not limited to full-time Christian ministers either. A true relationship with Christ will often require a break with others, even if the demands of time or place of service to the Lord are not a factor in the situation at hand. We should always be ready to release ourselves from this life in the interest of the kingdom.

Do not misunderstand however. Jesus also teaches through the New Testament writers that we are responsible to care for our family. The Lord does not release us to live free from familial responsibility. What He does do is take first place in all things.

Heavenly Father, thank You for the life that You give us. It is a life of care and concern for others, whether in our family or otherwise. But You are above all, and our interest in Your will for us is paramount. It may call us far from home, family, and friends whether physically or in other ways. But all of this is worth it because we love You so much. You are so worthy of our devotion. Thank You for this wonderful life! In the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise You, Amen.

Then Peter said, ‘Look, we left everything and followed you.’

Luke 18:29

This is one of those questions that we expect Jesus to rebuke Peter for. We expect Him to say that he should not worry about it and just to trust Him. But that is not our God. That is not how He deals with us. He gives us an answer. He understands the question as it was meant.

Peter was impetuous. Yes, he was. He put his foot in his mouth a lot. But this was not one of those times. He was indeed growing in his understanding of what Christ does in our hearts and lives. Surely this question and this conversation came to his mind later when he spoke to thousands on the day of Pentecost.

Heavenly Father, thank You for understanding us the way that we mean things. Sometimes we are so inept in the way we express ourselves. But You understand us better than we do ourselves. You can see into our very hearts. And You always do exactly the right thing. You always give us the answer that we need. Thank You! In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise You, Amen.

But He said, ‘The impossible with men is possible with God.’

Luke 18:27

With God, anything is possible. He has no limits. He has no hold-ups. He can do whatever He wills. There are many ‘hard’ things we will face. But He can work through it all.

Heavenly Father, thank You for the miracle of salvation! We cannot make assumptions. None of us deserves Your love. We are all just incredibly blessed to be alive. Thank You! In the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise You, Amen.

But those who heard it said, ‘Then who can be saved?’

Luke 18:26

In that society the rich were often respected as the best of men. Christ’s hearers were shocked to hear that the rich class would find it hard to enter the kingdom.

Heavenly Father, thank You for revealing Your Truth to the least of us! Your mercy is truly wonderful. Thank You! In the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise You, Amen.

For it is easier for a camel to enter the needle’s eye than for the rich to enter the kingdom of God.

Luke 18:25

Jesus is of course not saying that rich people cannot be, or should not be, saved. But great wealth often keeps individuals from the truth. We are all dependent upon God, but the wealthy are numb to their dependence.

Heavenly Father, thank You for reminding us of Your care. You orchestrate everything. Nobody is outside of Your watchcare. I love You! In the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise You, Amen.

And when Jesus saw that he became very sad, he said, ‘How hard it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!’

Luke 18:24

When we find ourselves contented with material things we tend to find our comfort in this life. Even if such comfort is an illusion, we hold to it as our confidence. The poor find it so much easier to trust the Lord from day to day because they see the dependence they have on others and can readily understand how that we all depend upon God.

Heavenly Father, I will look to You for all confidence. Only You can truly be trusted. You have the ability to meet every need. We are completely dependent upon You. Thank You for Your mercy, love, and goodness. In the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise You, Amen.

But when he heard this, he became very sad, because he was extremely wealthy.

Luke 18:23

It is very important to understand what is going on here. This man really did want eternal life. And he really did believe Jesus could tell him how to obtain it. But, he was not willing to part with his riches for the sake of life.

This may seem ridiculous to us. But the fact is that people do this sort of thing every day. Anything that a person values more than Christ is the same as this man’s riches. It was not being rich that kept him from the Lord, it was an unwillingness to forsake all and follow.

The sorrow here is real. This man was very grieved. However, many will be in hell who are very grieved. Sorrow alone does not save anyone.

Heavenly Father, it is so important for us to put our hands over our mouths to stand in awe of You! When we think we have You all figured out, we have only obtained a new level of ignorance. Thank You for graciously allowing us to view Your Truth. May we live forever to enjoy Your beautiful and holy glory! In the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise You, Amen.

When Jesus heard these things he said, ‘Yet one thing you lack. Everything that you have, sell, and distribute to the poor; and you will have treasure in heaven. And come, follow Me.’

Luke 18:22

This sounds like two things! Why did Jesus say thean only lacked ‘one thing’? He lacked love for the Lord. With love, selling all and following Christ is a reasonable expectation. Without it, these things are incredibly difficult.

Many are easily ready to push through a religious formula, pray a prayer, or climb a ladder of good works. But complete abandonment of one’s own will to the Will of Almighty God, well that takes true love.

Heavenly Father, thank You for the Truth. It isn’t easy, but it is right. I don’t always like it, but it is always what I need. It doesn’t seem fun initially, but my joy grows forever. You are so wise, and Your will can be trusted. In the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise You, Amen.

But he said, ‘I have followed all these since my youth.’

Luke 18:21

It would be easy to jump to the conclusion that this guy is overly self-righteous. But on the face of it, this may have been an honest answer. This man was very likely innocent of theft, adultery, and murder. If bearing false witness is specifically viewed as not lying about what someone else did, then he may have been ok on that score as well. And for the honor of his parents he very likely had done all that he had been taught was expected of him.

So was he good enough to go to heaven on the basis of keeping the law? No. The law sheds light on the guilt of ever person. Though this man may have been ‘pretty good’ all things considered, he was not sinless. This is why Jesus moves him on to the next step following the claim to have kept the law.

Heavenly Father, You alone are worthy of praise for Holiness. Your are thrice Holy. Our petty attempts to be good are not of much value, but they can evidence our faith. We will live in Your way because we believe Christ is Your path to righteousness for us. Your glorious plan is our joy! Thank You! In the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise You, Amen.

You know the commandments, do not commit adultery, do not murder, do not steal, do not give false witness, honor your father and your mother.

Luke 18:20

Jesus is taking it a bit further, starting with the law. Jesus is not suggesting that the law was going to get this man to heaven. But He was guiding the man to the idea that perfect righteousness is needed to enter into eternal life.

Heavenly Father, thank You for spending time on us. You do not stand aloof and uninterested. You are actively involved in our lives and really care about our true needs. Thank You! You are amazing! In the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise You, Amen.

But Jesus said to him, Why do you call me good? No one is good, except for One, God.

Luke 18:19

Some point to this in order to deny that Jesus claimed to be God. However, there is no denial here. Jesus is, as was His practice, determining where this man was spiritually. He already knew of course, but this rich young ruler needed to make a public confession. Jesus was pushing him towards that.

Heavenly Father, what a joy it is to know You! I cannot begin to thank You or praise You enough for Your work in my life. I will spend my life seeking to know You more. In the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise You, Amen.

Now a particular ruler put a question to Him, saying, ‘Good Teacher, what do I do to inherit eternal life?’

Luke 18:18

This ruler asks one of the better questions ever put to Jesus. Though not completely clear at first, he is genuinely wanting to know the answer. And the ensuing conversation almost leads to his conversion.

Heavenly Father, thank You for another day to bring glory to You. There is nothing of greater value to my life than to understand Your role in it. You have made us, and Your creation is amazing! I am constantly in awe of my children and how You have made them. Life in Your will is full of joy. Thank You! In the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise You, Amen.

Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a child, will definitely not enter into it.

Luke 18:17

Jesus is of course not saying that older people cannot be saved. But, people form their basic views about the world at a young age. The heart develops just like the mind. Those who reject Christ are also influenced by their childhood.

Heavenly Father, thank You for saving us from ourselves. You alone know what is best for us. We will look to You for leadership. In the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise You, Amen.

But Jesus summoned them, saying, ‘Leave the children to come to me, and do not stop them, for of such is the kingdom of God.’

Luke 18:16

This was a mild rebuke. Basically Jesus is saying ‘You shouldn’t be over there stopping the kids, you should be seeking my blessings just like they are, and don’t stop them while you are at it!’

Jesus then expresses what He had said at other times, it is this genuine heart of seeking Him that is the pathway to the kingdom. These children and their parents recognized Christ as the source of blessing, even if they did not fully understand Him. Their understanding would grow if their heart was truly His.

Heavenly Father, You are Holy! There is nothing and no one that compares with You. You are Who You are, and there is nothing beyond You. You know the bounds of everything. Existence is in Your hand. You hold all of reality in Your hand, it is Yours. Your goodness is absolutely astounding. I would never have conceived of a God such as You. I will praise You forever! In the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise You, Amen.

People were also bringing infants to Him that He might touch them, but the disciples saw it and rebuked them.

Luke 8:15

These little children were brought by parents who were acting in faith. We do not know their exact motivations, but if nothing else they valued Jesus very highly to be doing this.

The disciples did often take matters into their own hands. They must have seen themselves as leaders under Christ, for so they were to some extent. But their need for continued training under the Master was sometimes very obvious.

Heavenly Father, thank You for this day to serve You. It is a joy, a privilege, and a pleasure, to be in Your service. To work alongside You in this great process of the gospel in this world is a blessing! I blush at the honor that it is to serve the One who made the very stars of heaven. You Alone are God, and I am happy to be Your servant. The message of the gospel is not only true, but lovely, pure, and good. I’m thankful to be Yours, not only because you are All-Powerful, but because You are Holy Above All. In the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise You, Amen.

I tell you, this one, rather than the other, went down justified to his house. For the one who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.

Luke 18:14

Jesus says this sinner was justified. This is quite significant in that Jesus is upholding humility and repentance as the proper response to the law of God, versus the hubris of the self-righteous Pharisee.

Jesus does this elsewhere in the gospels. His meaning is not to minimize sin, but to explain the importance of our proper relationship to Almighty God. This man was aware of his guilt before God. The Pharisee on the other hand thought that God’s law had confirmed that he was better than others around him. The Pharisee compared himself to his fellow humans. The tax man compared himself to God’s Holy standard.

Heavenly Father, above all else your name is to be praised! You are, forever, good, just, holy, pure, and faithful. What more can we do but thank you and praise you for all of our lives? To be able to say that you are our God is so wonderful. We love you! In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise you, Amen.

But the tax officer, standing far away, would not even lift his eyes to heaven, but kept pounding his chest, saying, ‘God, make atonement for me, the sinner!’

Luke 18:13

This man, in spite of his profession, understood two things. For one, he saw the gravity of his own sin. And for the other, he knew that the Lord would have to do something to take away his sin.

Heavenly Father, thank You for making atonement for us! Without that we would have no hope in this world. We would be sinners without light. I will thank You forever! In the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise You, Amen.

I fast twice per Sabbath, I pay a tenth of everything that I aquire.

Luke 18:12

The Pharisee was very impressed with himself and felt God should be as well. Outlining good deeds, he sought to qualify himself as a very righteous individual.

Fasting twice a week was not required in the law. There were required fasts, but not with this regularity. The tithe was the law, though the Pharisees tended to make paying it an art form. They would bend over backwards to ensure a tenth of absolutely everything was paid.

Heavenly Father, thank You for the abundant gifts You have blessed us with. Our obedience to Your commands is only a just response to Your goodness. We are not righteous and are nothing on our own. But I praise You for Christ! By Him alone we may come to You and live in His righteousness. To be righteous is a wonderful blessing, but it is nothing we could ever earn, and wholely trust in Christ for it. Thank You! In the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise You, Amen.

The Pharisee, having stood to himself, was praying like this, ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortionists, lawbreakers, adulterers, or even as this customs official.’

Luke 18:11

This Pharisee was providing the Lord with a laundry list of his own sins. The Pharisees were a sort of racketeering group that had set up shop and were able to extort from any one that they pleased. Although many of them pretended to be unaware of their own hypocrisy, they knew exactly what they were doing.

The Pharisee goes on to say that he was not a lawbreaker or an adulterer. These two convey the idea of those who are not keeping the law, and those who are spiritually unfaithful to God, both sins of which the Pharisees were guilty.

Heavenly Father, thank You for Your love for us. Though we are so often hypocritical, You work in our lives. Without the grace brought to our lives by the cross, and the Holy Spirit living within us, we could never defeat sin. You have made a way to escape the horrible fate to whcih we would otherwise succumb. We will sing of your glory in this for all of eternity! In the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise you, Amen.