Reading the disciples reactions to Jesus’ teaching here in Matthew 19 makes me wonder if I truly take Jesus serious when he speaks. As Jesus answers questions relating to marriage and divorce (v4-9), his disciples suggest that it would be better not to marry than try to follow what Jesus says (v10). When Jesus gives instructions to the rich young man and says it is hard for the rich to enter the kingdom of heaven (v21-24), the disciples ask who can be saved (v25). If I am not taken back in the same way as the disciples, it makes me wonder if I am hearing Jesus correctly.
I often times use sarcasm with my kids and so I say outlandish things. If they get a scratch on their leg, I may tell them that we need to amputate it. They have become familiar with my sarcasm and so they now ask me, “you’re just kidding daddy, right.” There are times though that they ask if I’m kidding and I’m not kidding. It’s a huge shock to them.
Perhaps my familiarity with Jesus may at times cause me to miss out on what he is saying. Maybe it is that I have a certain view of Jesus I want to keep and that lets me down play some of what Jesus says. Either way, I think I need to read and listen more sincerely.
Jesus takes our relationships with others seriously, especially our marriages. The disciples remark that if I cannot take that connection as serious as God intends then maybe I should be single, is probably not that far off. This reminds me that I need to invest in my marriage and in that relationship to keep the connection healthy.
Jesus takes our relationship with money seriously. When he says it is hard for the rich to enter into heaven, it’s because we balk at the idea of giving our possessions away the same way the rich young man did. When we rely so much on the things that we own, it hinders us from relying on God. This reminds me of where to focus my trust, to re-examine where my sense of hope and security come from. Jesus’ words are full of grace, but they also challenge us to fully rely on grace, and not on our own works and standards.