{3}         Looking back [Lk 9:62]

Lk 9:62
No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.

Problem:

·         What is wrong of looking back?

·         Does it mean that whoever want to serve in the Kingdom of God must have the condition satisfied first?

Context:

·         teaching on the road (Lk 9:57-60; Mt 8:19-22)

·         Jesus’ response to the third of 3 would-be disciples

·         “I’ll follow you, Lord,” said the man, “but....”

Explanation:

·         Response of the second would-be disciple: the father was not dead but he would follow Jesus after his father’s death.

·         Proverbial saying in an agricultural society — the ploughman who looks back will not drive a straight furrow.

·         Jesus requires the immediate action from the third would-be disciple to follow him. Apparent counter example is given by Elisha: Elijah allows Elisha to go back and say good-bye and allows Elisha to make a farewell feast (1Ki 19:19-21).

·         The business of the Kingdom of God was much more urgent than Elijah’s business and tolerated no such delay. It requires singleness of purpose.

·         Some refers the subject to Lot’s wife looking back (Gen 19:26), and Jesus on another occasion said “Remember Lot’s wife” (Lk 17:32), but in that passage Jesus was warning His hearers to flee from a future destruction comparable with the destruction of Sodom.

Application:

·         Christians should always remind themselves of the whole-heartedness that Jesus is demanding us and one should always serve in the Kingdom of God with a sense of urgency.

 


{4}         Hating one’s parents [Lk 14:26]

Lk 14:26
If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters — yes, even his own life — he cannot be my disciple.

Problem:

·         Does it contradict the law of loving one’s neighbour which Jesus emphasized and radicalized?

Context:

·         saying to large crowds travelling with Jesus

·         about cost of being a disciple

·         parallel found in Mt 10:37 (when Jesus sends out the 12 disciples)

Explanation:

·         “Hate” means loving less (see passages in Mt 10:37 with the phrase “more than” and Dt 21:15): loving less does not mean positive hatred.

·         Mk 10:29-30 seems to indicate the abandonment of natural responsibilities which contradicts 1Ti 5:8. However, Jesus actually emphasizes family responsibilities in Mk 7:10-13.

·         It is natural for men and women to make what provision they can for their nearest and dearest. Jesus’ emphasis lays on the necessity of treating the Kingdom of God as nearer and dearer still.

·         Because of the resistance of His hearers to accept this necessity with seriousness, Jesus insists on it in a most arresting and challenging language. The intent is to shock the hearers into a sense of the urgency of the Kingdom of God.

Application:

·         Just as material wealth can come between us and the Kingdom of God, so can family ties.

·         To expand and extend the Kingdom of God must be our highest priority and everything else must take second place, even family ties.

·         Mt 10:37 is followed by Mt 10:38 which talks about taking up the cross. Putting one’s family behind the Kingdom of God may be one way of taking up the cross. [more on taking up the cross in another lesson]