Thoughts on Luke 18:9-30

The emphasis of Luke 18:9-30 is evident in the passage's structure. Luke opens with a parable, moves to an illustration, then to a narrative encounter that climaxes with the main point in verse 27: "What is impossible with man is possible with God." With each movement from one to the next, the point becomes increasingly evident. Justification, Kingdom citizenship, and eternal life cannot be earned; they can only be received by grace through humble, dependent trust in God.

The progression of passages opens with a description of the sin condition in the hearers Jesus is addressing. They are people who "trust in themselves that they were righteous and treated others with contempt" (verse 9). It seems (although this is not certain) that Jesus was addressing the Pharisees. The reader is left to conclude that, but then the target is made clear in verse 15. Not even the disciples are exempt from this kind of sinful thinking, despite what we might think of ourselves. Then Luke brings in a case study — a Law-keeping rich person who most would think surely must be bound for the Kingdom. Jesus exposes the problem in the rich man. He is trusting in himself (or his riches and his performance), which brings us right back to the opening problem. The remedy is found in Jesus' words in verse 22. "Follow me." Jesus reaffirms this solution in verse 28 when Peter, seeking assurance that they are on the right track, says, "We have followed you." Entrance into the Kingdom of God depends not on human merit, status, or possessions, but on humble, dependent faith in Christ, who is ultimate in merit, status, works, and possessions.

Verses 9-13 contrast self-righteousness and legalistic thinking with genuine humility and repentance. It shows that true justification comes only by God's mercy, not human righteousness. We need what Luther called an "alien righteousness," that is, one that comes from outside ourselves. It's foreign to us. Verses 15-17 raise the bar and increase the pressure, first by showing that the disciples are not free from the problem, and second, by demonstrating that the Kingdom belongs to those who receive it like a helpless child, which requires utter dependence on God and humility to realize this truth. Finally, verses 18-30 show the impossibility of entering the Kingdom by one's own achievements or possessions. It's as impossible as a one-ton camel going through a pinhole most seniors can't even see! Without the previous two sections, it might be easy to think that it's impossible to enter the Kingdom by works and money, but that doesn't capture the complete picture of impossibility here. It's impossible to be genuinely humble without Jesus. It's impossible to be truly dependent on God without Jesus.

The end of the first two sections drop hits at the central point in verse 27. Verses 14 and 17 anchor in the significance of humility. It is the humble who enter the Kingdom, but with man, entry is impossible. It is only the one who truly humbled himself and perfectly submitted himself to God--even to death on a cross--who can enter the Kingdom. And it is only by his work and status that he freely credits to us, while even taking on our sinful work and sinful status, which makes a way for us to enter the Kingdom.

The Law exposes our failures, but the only solution is found in the grace Jesus extends to us. In the illustration of the little children, we're supposed to relate most to the babies. It's not enough to think we're winning if we're disciples who let the babies come to Jesus. We're instructed to be like the babies! They are the heroes of the story (without even trying, because if they try, they are no longer totally dependent on one outside themselves). Luke shows us the wonder of God's grace — the impossible made possible through Jesus Christ. "With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God" (Mark 10:27).