The Miracle of Embracing Salvation’s Treasure | Matthew 19:23-30

Scripture

• Matthew 19:23–30

About this sermon

Introduction: When the writer of Hebrews described the kind of people who inherit eternal life, he described what characterizes genuine faith. THESE are the people who will inherit eternal life, those who have genuine faith — “all these died in faith.” Hebrews 11:13–16 (LSB) 13 All these died in faith, without receiving the promises, but having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance, and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. 14 For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own. 15 And indeed if they had been remembering that country from which they went out, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 But now, they aspire to a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He prepared a city for them. This is something that we ALL must be clear about. God saves sinners through faith. It is a kind of faith that none of us were born with. It is a kind of faith not natural to fallen sinners. It is a kind of faith, along with everything else that belongs to salvation, that is a gift from God. Ephesians 2:8–9 (LSB) 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not of works, so that no one may boast. So, it is THE PRESENCE OF FAITH that the writer of Hebrews is describing. WHEN GOD GRANTS FAITH A man sees what he didn’t see before A man seeks what he didn’t seek before A man says what he didn’t say before (vs.13-14a) His AFFECTIONS have changed and therefore his ASPIRATIONS have changed. ALL OF THIS IS BECAUSE HIS EVALUATIONS HAVE CHANGED. He doesn’t just TRUST in Christ — HE TREASURES CHRIST. Matthew 13:44 (LSB) 44 “The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in the field, which a man found and hid again; and from joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. He treasures Christ, and all that is FOUND IN CHRIST. Christ drives this point home —the value system of the man or woman who has genuine faith — in a conversation that He has with His disciples following a sad encounter with a rich young man. The man walked away grieved BECAUSE HE HAD GREAT POSSESSIONS (vs22). The young valued his riches more than he valued Christ. The man walked away grieved, but the conversation that follows seems to indicate that Jesus was also grieved. Jesus loved the man, and watched that man walk away still lost, holding on to his possessions. NAS Mark 10:21 And looking at him, Jesus felt a love for him, and said to him, "One thing you lack: go and sell all you possess, and give to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me." THAT YOUNG MAN WAS RICH IN WORLDLY POSSESSIONS BUT BANKRUPT IN HIS SOUL. THE DISCIPLES OF JESUS, ON THE OTHER HAND, HAD LEFT EVERYTHING TO FOLLOW JESUS BUT WERE ETERNALLY RICH. It is that upside down reality that Jesus teaches us about in our verses. Jesus wants His disciples to recognize what is true treasure, but equally to recognize that it is a miracle when someone values that treasure. Today we will look at these verses under three headings. (1) The deception of earthly treasure (vs.23-24) (2) The deliverance by divine power (vs.25-26) (3) The destiny that matches heavenly desire (vs.27-30). • THE DECEPTION OF EARTHLY TREASURE (vs.23-24) Our Lord is reflecting on His conversation with that young man and debriefing with His disciples at the same time. Jesus emphasized that this was an important opportunity for learning. “TRULY, I say to you.” “AGAIN, I tell you.” With two emphatic statements Jesus is saying, “listen up.” Jesus wants us to recognize something about this world that we’re living in.

Topics

• Salvation
• Miracles