#DailyDevotion The Alternative Way To Inherit Eternal Life

Luke 10:23-37 ²³Turning to His disciples, He said to them alone, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see. ²⁴I tell you, many prophets and kings longed to see what you see but didn’t see it, and hear what you hear but didn’t hear it.” ²⁵Then an expert in the Law came forward to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what do I do to inherit everlasting life?” ²⁶“What is written in the Law?” Jesus asked him. “What do you read there?” ²⁷“Love the Lord your God with all your heart,” he answered, “and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” ²⁸“You’re right,” Jesus told him. “Do that and you will live.”

Kind of an interesting thing starting off the lectionary reading here with verse 23. Now Jesus had in this chapter sent out the seventy-two disciples to preach the good news of the kingdom of God, heal the sick, cast out demons and raise the dead. They had come back very excited about doing all these things and he reminds them to rejoice their names were written in heaven. He then thanks the Father for revealing to them the things that he has, name Jesus is the Messiah, but kept them hidden from the wise.

So then Jesus called them blessed for seeing and hearing things prophets and kings longed to see and hear but didn’t. Now we have only seen and heard what the disciples seen and heard through the apostles. We are even more blessed because we believe without having seen it. We believe Jesus is the Christ the Son of God.

So then we get on the scene someone who supposedly should have known, should have seen, and should have believed Jesus is the Christ by hearing his message and seeing his miracles, a Scribe, an expert in the Law (Torah, Mishnah, Talmud). Instead of coming to learn from Jesus he comes to test Jesus. “Teacher, what do I do to inherit everlasting life?” Jesus doesn’t take the bait but instead returns the question, “What is written in the Law?” In doing this, Jesus showing he does not reject the Law but upholds its teachings. We then get the answer which is from Deut. 6:5 and Lev. 19:8. The first sums up the first table of the Law and the second, well the second table. More than than just the Ten Commandments which are written on stone, for the obedience of the first must come from all one’s soul, strength, and mind. Secondly, the neighbor is important because he is made in the image and likeness of God. How you treat the icon of the LORD shows what you think about the God the icon represents. What is done to the icon is done to the God. You can somewhat fake piety (which the command itself forbids, but you will reveal yourself to your neighbor in your actions towards him.)

Jesus tells us something quite surprising. He tells the guy he is correct. If he does these two things you will live. Whoa there Jesus! I thought we were saved by grace through faith alone in him! Well, that is true. We are saved by grace, through faith alone in him. We also can inherit eternal life if we keep these two commandments, all the time, without fail, from conception, from birth, I’d (God wouldn’t but I would) even give you to your bar-mitzvah, the age of 13. But they must be kept perfectly, inviolate, with all your heart, soul, mind and strength. If you did that you would live and inherit eternal life. Who has ever done that? No one, no one but Jesus Christ of Nazareth. I wanted to give you that option since it is available. The other option is through faith in Jesus Christ alone. It is to know Jesus, who he is and what he has done for you.

Heavenly Father, we thank you for revealing to us your Son Jesus Christ and giving us faith in him. Keep us always in this faith so we may inherit eternal life. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Jesus Christ and giving us faith in him. Keep us always in this faith so we may inherit eternal life. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.