Leaving all for Jesus?

[ByTheSpirit]

And he said to them, “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, who will not receive many times more in this time, and in the age to come eternal life.”
Luke 18:29‭-‬30 ESV

Does Jesus mean this literally?

Peter had just told him "we have left all to follow you."

And Jesus replies that anyone who leaves:
1)home
2)wife(or husband I assume)
3)siblings
4)parents
5)children
Anyone who leaves these for Jesus will be blessed many times more.

Seems rather inflammatory considering other bible passages speak of what God has put together let no one tear apart, or let everyone stay in the situation they were in when called.

But what do you think? How do you understand this passage from Jesus and others like it?

 

[Minister Monardo]

But what do you think? How do you understand this passage from Jesus and others like it?

If we are to have the faith of Abraham, we must
be willing and obedient as he was from the first.
Hebrews 11:8 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.

 

[Guojing]

And he said to them, “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, who will not receive many times more in this time, and in the age to come eternal life.”
Luke 18:29‭-‬30 ESV

Does Jesus mean this literally?

Peter had just told him "we have left all to follow you."

And Jesus replies that anyone who leaves:
1)home
2)wife(or husband I assume)
3)siblings
4)parents
5)children
Anyone who leaves these for Jesus will be blessed many times more.

Seems rather inflammatory considering other bible passages speak of what God has put together let no one tear apart, or let everyone stay in the situation they were in when called.

But what do you think? How do you understand this passage from Jesus and others like it?

Jesus meant it literally, but it was not your instruction to follow (Matthew 15:24).

 

[dqhall]

And he said to them, “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, who will not receive many times more in this time, and in the age to come eternal life.”
Luke 18:29‭-‬30 ESV

Does Jesus mean this literally?

Peter had just told him "we have left all to follow you."

And Jesus replies that anyone who leaves:
1)home
2)wife(or husband I assume)
3)siblings
4)parents
5)children
Anyone who leaves these for Jesus will be blessed many times more.

Seems rather inflammatory considering other bible passages speak of what God has put together let no one tear apart, or let everyone stay in the situation they were in when called.

But what do you think? How do you understand this passage from Jesus and others like it?

Jesus was an itinerant teacher, preaching God’s truth and righteousness. In Mark 2 Jesus saw Levi in his tax collection booth and asked him to follow.
In Matthew 4 Jesus saw Simon and Andrew casting a net in the lake and called them to follow him. He saw John and James mending their nets and asked them to follow him. They left their nets and went with Jesus. You may need a calling, if you are to follow Jesus.

 

[Joined2krist]

It is a literal expectation from Jesus. However, many people will not accept this teaching because of the distractions of the flesh, it can only be obeyed by a heart fully submitted to the Spirit

 

[Maria Billingsley]

And he said to them, “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, who will not receive many times more in this time, and in the age to come eternal life.”
Luke 18:29‭-‬30 ESV

Does Jesus mean this literally?

Peter had just told him "we have left all to follow you."

And Jesus replies that anyone who leaves:
1)home
2)wife(or husband I assume)
3)siblings
4)parents
5)children
Anyone who leaves these for Jesus will be blessed many times more.

Seems rather inflammatory considering other bible passages speak of what God has put together let no one tear apart, or let everyone stay in the situation they were in when called.

But what do you think? How do you understand this passage from Jesus and others like it?

Jewish hyperbolic language is used quite often in scripture. Also, He is not asking us to leave our families He is asking us to put Him first and love Him first before any human being. Another important note, Jesus Christ of Nazareth is addressing the Apostles. Blessings

 

[ByTheSpirit]

Jewish hyperbolic language is used quite often in scripture. Also, He is not asking us to leave our families He is asking us to put Him first and love Him first before any human being. Another important note, Jesus Christ of Nazareth is addressing the Apostles. Blessings

He may be addressing the Apostles directly, but his words say "no one" which implies a larger audience. Otherwise, we could say everything he said was to the Apostles, because well that's who he was addressing a large part of the time.

 

[ByTheSpirit]

It is a literal expectation from Jesus. However, many people will not accept this teaching because of the distractions of the flesh, it can only be obeyed by a heart fully submitted to the Spirit

Let me present this to you. In 1 Corinthians when Paul is writing, I think it's in chapter 6 or 7, he is addressing married couples and says if someone has an unbelieving spouse that is okay with staying in marriage they should not divorce, but if that unbelieving spouse should want separation they should do so. Do you think this might be the application involved here?

Jesus is saying, do the work I have called you to and if your spouse, children, or anything else tries to get in the way of that then you are permitted to separate from it?

 

[ByTheSpirit]

Jesus meant it literally, but it was not your instruction to follow (Matthew 15:24).

So you read this as not applying to us today, only to the Jews in the 1st century/?

 

[Joined2krist]

Actually, Jesus expects each of us to be able to give up everything if He or She is required to do so. He taught this and He lived it, we are meant to imitate Him. The 'Narrow way' is unpopular and only few pass through it.

 

[Guojing]

So you read this as not applying to us today, only to the Jews in the 1st century/?

Yes, Jesus himself excluded us from the gospel he was preaching to Israel (Matthew 10:5-8, Matthew 15:24)

 

[Guojing]

Actually, Jesus expects each of us to be able to give up everything if He or She is required to do so. He taught this and He lived it, we are meant to imitate Him. The 'Narrow way' is unpopular and only few pass through it.

the question OP is asking is, if we do that, should we trust Jesus in expecting "who will not receive many times more in this time, and in the age to come eternal life”?

 

[Strong in Him]

And he said to them, “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, who will not receive many times more in this time, and in the age to come eternal life.”
Luke 18:29‭-‬30 ESV

Does Jesus mean this literally?

The verse that you've just quoted says,
"There is no one who has left house ..... for the sake of the Gospel who will not receive many times more" Luke 18:29-30
The NIV says, "no one who has left home ...... etc etc"

This is not the same as saying "all disciples must leave home etc ..."

A
And Jesus replies that anyone who leaves:
1)home
2)wife(or husband I assume)
3)siblings
4)parents
5)children
Anyone who leaves these for Jesus will be blessed many times more.

No, he said that anyone who HAD LEFT home etc for the Gospel.
The disciples had done that; left their jobs, family life, security etc to follow Jesus, an itinerant preacher.
Some preachers/evangelists leave their families for months at a time while they travel, lead conferences, rallies and so on. Some missionaries sell their homes to support themselves on the mission field.

 

[ByTheSpirit]

The verse that you've just quoted says,
"There is no one who has left house ..... for the sake of the Gospel who will not receive many times more" Luke 18:29-30
The NIV says, "no one who has left home ...... etc etc"

This is not the same as saying "all disciples must leave home etc ..."



No, he said that anyone who HAD LEFT home etc for the Gospel.
The disciples had done that; left their jobs, family life, security etc to follow Jesus, an itinerant preacher.
Some preachers/evangelists leave their families for months at a time while they travel, lead conferences, rallies and so on. Some missionaries sell their homes to support themselves on the mission field.

So you think it's referring to a temporary leave, like you can't take them with you on a missions trip type deal? That's interesting and I don't think I've ever considered that aspect, thank you

 

[Strong in Him]

So you think it's referring to a temporary leave, like you can't take them with you on a missions trip type deal? That's interesting and I don't think I've ever considered that aspect, thank you

I'm not sure actually.

My point was that Peter said they had left everything to follow him, and Jesus replied that anyone who leaves home, family etc will receive much more; that is the context in which it is written.
I can't imagine Peter would have said that if the disciples were going back to their families each evening. Yet after the resurrection, Peter and some of the disciples went off fishing - which would suggest that they still owned boats and nets, unless they were able to hire them. Also, Jesus asked Peter "do you love me more these?" Was he saying "do you love me more than you love fishing and the tools of your trade?"

Certainly both evangelists, and their families, make huge sacrifices when they go off to do their rallies, or go out onto the mission field. Even if someone took their spouse with them, they would probably still have family back in their own country.
Very often, local Christians provide hospitality and food, as well as fellowship, prayer etc - just as they did when Jesus sent the 12 out, in fact.

 

[com7fy8]

For a while I understood that if we leave our own families, we will get many more parents and brothers and sisters and children.

And I left all, except for my clothes on my back and glasses. And I walked interstate, showing up at various churches. I found food and shelter materials, but ones gave me things and at times kept me where they lived.

But I could get hot under the collar about people who disagreed with what I taught and who criticized me for not having "the best of everything".

So, I could be self-righteously criticizing those who criticized me!! And I realized I was not loving them the way Jesus says to love people who reject you. So, I was my problem, and I was perhaps out there to get God's correction and find out how to love.

And there were church people with families and jobs and houses who were a good example of how I needed to become and love

 

[com7fy8]

I know I can be very ready to self-righteously judge well-to-do ministers. But I have shared with well-to-do people who were good examples of how I need to become and love like Jesus wants.

Ones of these do prison visitation, homeless outreach, and have personally shared with me in their homes. They have been kinder with me, than I have been with people.

I think it would be wise and honorable if I spoke personally with a multi-millionaire minister and let him or her speak for one's self about what is involved in him or her being rich.

But I think I have seen how the greatest genius and most rich person is someone who can communicate in love with anyone.

 

[Aaron112]

Does Jesus mean this literally?

Matthew 16:24 - Take Up Your Cross

Then Jesus told His disciples, If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me.

biblehub.com

\ for 'anyone' who wants to follow Jesus

 

[Guojing]

And he said to them, “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, who will not receive many times more in this time, and in the age to come eternal life.”
Luke 18:29‭-‬30 ESV

Does Jesus mean this literally?

Peter had just told him "we have left all to follow you."

And Jesus replies that anyone who leaves:
1)home
2)wife(or husband I assume)
3)siblings
4)parents
5)children
Anyone who leaves these for Jesus will be blessed many times more.

Seems rather inflammatory considering other bible passages speak of what God has put together let no one tear apart, or let everyone stay in the situation they were in when called.

But what do you think? How do you understand this passage from Jesus and others like it?

Jesus is referring to the period of the Tribulation for Israel, also known as Jacob's trouble.

 

[Aaron112]

Jesus is referring to the period of the Tribulation for Israel, also known as Jacob's trouble.

When is the tribulation/persecution for followers of Jesus ? According to Jesus ? i.e. in the Bible....