1. As we have seen before, here again, at the beginning of the chapter, religious leaders try to trick and trap Jesus. He meets them on their terms and, on the question of marriage, he refers them back to the first two chapters of the Bible.
Their follow-up question cites a guidelines given by Moses; but, Jesus has heard enough and he is ready to end the conversation. In v. 9, he says, "it was not this way from the _______________. In the same verse, what does he say about the condition of their hearts?
We can see, therefore, that their concern was not to understand God's word, or to figuring out how to honour God in the sometimes complicated terrain of marriage and family life. Rather, they were trying to use the Bible (and trying to use Jesus for that matter) for their own purposes.
Be careful never to do this. This approach is rooted in pride and selfishness and always leads to frustration and bitterness.
2. Jesus' instruction regarding singleness is difficult: "not everyone can accept this word." On the subject, he says, some choose to live this way "for the sake of the kingdom of God." This is a very difficult teaching. If you can, try to explain it. In particular, talk about why Canadian society in 2020 might be resistant to this.
3. What does Jesus say about little children in vv. 13-15? What connection can we draw here with what we read yesterday?
4. Matthew 19:16-30 is a very important, very memorable story. Briefly summarize it.
5. Why is Jesus' offer of life more than rule-keeping?
6. In v. 26, we read, "Jesus looked at the disciples and said, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” How does this saying fit with what we read about "impossible" two days ago (Matthew 17)?
7. What does Jesus say about people who have sacrificed in order to follow him?
Jesus' teaching on money and marriage is not easy to follow. It won't make any sense at all, unless we put him first.
If we are not prepared to trust God in these two areas, it might be that we are not willing to trust him at all.
This is illustrated in our chapter today: first the trap/trick of the Pharisees, then the case of the wealthy man who "went away sad."
If we come to Jesus with our agenda, the result, usually, is to expose that agenda. If we come to him in order to know him, and to learn from him, to love him - then we are changed and transformed.
If it is as both-and, so to speak, then we get nothing. If I want to follow Jesus to some extent, but maintain personal control in other areas of life ... then, I am not following Jesus and I will lose control anyway. Double lose.
We might say that it is hard to follow. Not that it is complicated - especially given what Jesus said about little children: "the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."
It is hard to follow - or, maybe we can say it, Jesus is hard to follow - because this new life begins in death. Dying to self, dying to this world, dying to the pattern of human thinking and human doing that we were born into.
But then, we find life. We find freedom and forgiveness and grace. Then, it is our joy, not a force, to give up all things, for the sake of the one who loves us best.
This is resurrected life: in love, sacrificing for the other. Would we embody that love, grow in it, and share it with the world.