COVETOUSNESS: Lesson 13 David Covets Bathsheba

Posted on by BETH

And when he (the Lord) had removed him (Saul), he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will (Acts 13:22). See also: 1 Sam. 13:14; 2 Sam. 2:4; 1 Kings 15:5.

What is the history of David and Bathsheba? For a moment, consider some of the background of their situation. We read in 2 Samuel 3 and 2 Samuel 4 that Saul’s son, Ishbosheth, who began to reign over Israel after Saul’s death, has been murdered by two captains of his own guard. In 2 Samuel 5:1-3, David is crowned king over Israel, and by this time he is in the prime of his life, only 37 or so years old (2 Sam. 5:3-5). After battle with the Philistines (2 Sam. 5: 17-25), David was able to recover the Ark Of The Covenant which had been captured when Samuel was young, and to bring it back to Jerusalem with great rejoicing (1 Sam. 4:11; 2 Sam. 6:6-7; 2 Sam. 6:12-17). He loved the Lord enough to desire to build a house for Him, but was told that his son would build it instead (2 Sam. 7:12-13; 1 Chron. 28:6). The Lord was with him to secure his throne and give him victory over all his enemies (2 Sam. 8:1-18). (See verses 14-18, and also chapter 10). These are long readings, but vital for understanding King David’s temptation.

Then read 2 Sam. 11:2-27. David’s is the sad account of a temptation during an era when God’s people had not been guaranteed a way of escape (1 Cor. 10:13).  We are not told why King David did not go to battle with his army, but we know he did not (2 Sam. 11:1). After running from Saul for approximately ten years, he may have been weary and felt the need of a rest. We can only glean bits and pieces of the rough introduction to his new position as king over both Judah and Israel. Some had not learned to trust him yet, so his kindnesses to them had been spurned (2 Sam. 10).  The fact remains: David was at home, rose from his bed and walked on his roof-top during the evening. He was now king of the whole nation of Israel and his power and authority established, but he fell into a great temptation.

Consider that David had already inherited or was given his wives (2 Sam. 12:7-8), but seeing Bathsheba brought a new temptation to call a very beautiful woman to himself. He coveted her and sent for her. As the king, he had every right to choose who would serve him in any capacity, but Bathsheba belonged to a warrior in David’s army (2 Sam. 11:3-4). When David called her, it was approximately seven days after her “flowers” had passed and she had been purified according to the Law (Lev. 12:2-5; Lev. 15:19-28; Lev. 15:30-33). Conception took place immediately. We are not told why David did not confess his sin, or why he determined to conceal it with a murder which could look like a normal battle event, but he did.

As we have seen, 2 Samuel 11 gives the details. We are left to wonder how and why such an egregious sin could tempt a man who had overcome so many other temptations (1 Kings 15:5). Even when he almost took vengeance against Nabal, the Lord saved him by the counsel of Abigail and he was spared (1 Sam. 25).

Use the following questions to help understand more; let the scriptures do the teaching.

  1. Under the Old Testament what was the command concerning taking another man’s wife [adultery] (Exo. 20:14, 17; Lev. 20:10)?
  2. King David had a right to make any woman in Israel his wife, but when his messengers told him who Bathsheba belonged to, what should he have remembered that would help him to overcome the temptation (Exo. 20:17; Pro. 5:15-21)?
  3. Why did he determine to kill Uriah after Uriah refused to go home (Pro. 6:30-34)?
  4. According to Romans 13:9-10 what consideration should King David have given to Uriah?
  5. What spirit did David have when he was confronted with his sin (Psa. 34:18; 51:17)?
  6. Was King David forgiven when he confessed (2 Sam. 12:13)?
  7. What principle did David follow that caused God to forgive his sin (Pro. 28:13)?
  8. Was forgiveness the end of the matter (Psa. 99:8)?
  9. Even though David was forgiven, what three things did God promise as a punishment for his sin (2 Sam. 12:7-14)?
  10. When and how were those promises fulfilled? Cite scripture references.
  11. David didn’t have the New Testament command in Hebrews 13:5-6, but if he had considered that principle, would he have been better equipped to resist the temptation to take another man’s wife? He probably did have that knowledge and understanding, but it wasn’t on his mind at the time.
  12. Was King David tempted in a way that was not common to men?  Was his temptation any different than the ones we face (1 Cor. 10:11-13)?
  13. What does the New Testament tell us about the same sins (Rom. 13:9)?
  14. Are all temptations of the same degree, or are some temptations more severe than others (Luke 22:31)?
  15. We have a choice when we are tempted to do wrong: We can get as close to it as possible without actually doing wrong, or we can get as far away from it as possible and put it out of our thoughts. Which does God say a prudent person will do? When David caught sight of a woman washing herself, what should he have done that could have avoided Satan’s trap (Pro. 22:3-5; Rom. 13:14; Job 31:1)?
  16. Is it possible for a thought to be sinful (Matt. 5:27-28)?
  17. Can we meddle with evil things or even think about wrong things (like reading inappropriate books or watching questionable movies) and then expect to come away without any damage to our hearts (Pro. 6:27-28; Pro. 4:23-27)?
  18. Can I do something wrong, hide it, and expect not to suffer any consequences for it or any punishment (Eccl. 8:11-13; Psa. 10:11-14; Matt. 10:26; 2 Cor. 5:9-11; Pro. 28:13-14)?
  19. According to 2 Timothy 2:22 and 1 Corinthians 6:18, what should we do when temptation presents itself to us?
  20. From where does all sin come (Mark 7:21-23)?
  21. What could make the temptation to commit fornication or adultery stronger for the unmarried (1 Cor. 7:1-5)?
  22. What is the conclusion to the whole matter for all of us (Ecc. 12:13-14)?

GROWING TO BE LIKE THE MASTER

Posted on by BETH

Once a person had been raised to walk in the new life, his pathway was directed to become like the master (Luke 6: 40).  He must grow the way the master determines, not way he would like to grow.   There are two possible ways in which one can grow to the be “like Christ;” one correct and the other false.  The first way a man can be like Christ is to do the same deeds and outward actions he did.  This would be to imitate Christ. Jesus helped the sick and poor.  We can imitate the same deeds.  This is following Christ on the outward man.  We can follow this pathway of imitating Jesus’ outward actions even to the point of giving our bodies to be burned.  However, if our inner man is not first formed in love, there is no profit (1 Cor. 13:1-3).

The second way we can follow in the pathway to grow into Christ’s spiritual image in heart and mind.  Jesus called men to follow him by learning of his meek and lowly heart (Matt. 11:28-30).  Paul prayed that the Ephesians would grow to be like Christ on the inner man (Eph. 3:14-19).  The Pharisees did not consider their eternal inner nature and so could not follow Christ (Matt. 23:23-28).  Jesus requires the formation of the eternal inner man first (Matt. 23:26).

Today we have those who have made an agreement to follow “in his steps.”  Their lives become very different. They begin to walk in Jesus steps.  Their outward actions are generally ‘as Jesus would do.’  They “outwardly appear righteous unto men” (Matt. 23:28).  Before they make any decision they ask “WWJD,” which is “What would Jesus do?” and then do it.  They are not hearers only.  The aim is toward the outward action that Jesus would have done in their same situation. Is the change permanent?  Sadly enough, this is not New Testament discipleship.

These souls believe that by doing good things, the heart will then become good.  If that were true – the Pharisees would have been clean and pure in heart.  Jesus testified that the Pharisees “indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness” (Matt. 23:27).  Outwardly their actions were righteous. If their outward righteousness had made them inwardly righteous, then the Pharisees would have been pure in heart.  Jesus testifies that the Pharisees aimed to make certain that their outward actions were pleasing to men (Matt. 23:5).  They succeeded.  Jesus testified that their hearts had not been formed in righteousness say that (Mt 23:27, 28).  These WWJD men today make certain their outward actions are correct.  Is that enough?  Jesus testified that it was not enough for the Pharisee.  Jesus declared that the inner man must be formed first.  How many do not make the conclusion that if we just do the work of faith and labor of love on the outward man, that this will in turn form the inner man?  That method is a mistaken notion.  It did not work for the Pharisee.  The problem was that their hearts were not right and doing the outward actions did not change their hearts.  Jesus said: “Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also”  (Matt. 23:26).

First things must come first.  We all know that giving our bodies to be burned without first forming love in the inner man is of no profit to God or to us.  Unless we form that love in the inner man first, all of our ‘walking in his steps’ will avail little.  How, then, is the inner man formed?

“THIS IS AN HARD SAYING; WHO CAN HEAR IT?”

Posted on by BETH

          Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it? When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, Doth this offend you?  What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before?  It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life  (John 6:60-63).

Jesus’ teaching often seems hard.  These disciples would not endure his teaching.  Many left him.  The primary problem was that they did not understand his teaching.  Today, we find men rejecting parts of his teaching because they are too hard.  He warned us that:

For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables (2 Tim. 4:3-4).

Sound doctrine must be endured.  Those who will not endure can not be saved.  We must be among these who will endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ (2 Tim. 2:3,4).  We must endure and hear even that teaching which appears to be unacceptable.  Abraham heard some horrifying words when the Lord commanded him to offer his son as an offering on a certain mountain, but he endured them.  We must walk in Abraham’s steps though the words may seem too hard.  “God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able” (1 Cor. 10:13). The teaching of Luke 14 is not too hard for faithful men.  It is first principle doctrine, for Jesus used these very principles to convert the multitude to be his disciples.

Two parables enforce Jesus’ conclusion (Luke 14:28-33).  The conclusion to both parables is stated in verse 33:  “So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.”  That is the requirement – forsaking all that we have.  He is not talking about leaving all of the material things that we have.  We know that because John was the disciple Jesus loved, yet he still owned his own home (John 19:27).  We must forsake all that we have in the sense of 2 Corinthians 5:15 and Mark 8:35.  Jesus died so that we would forsake all that we have.   “And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again” (2 Cor. 5:15).  When we forsake all living for ourselves we turn to live only for Christ.  There is nothing that we can hold on to if we are going to be Jesus’ disciples.  He describes the same principle as plainly in Mark 8:35: “For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it.”   Jesus warned all men that the gate that leads to life is ‘strait’ (Matt. 7:13,14), which is difficult to navigate.  It is not easy to enter.  Jesus said “Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able” (Luke 13:24).  Jesus knew that the entrance was not easy. These are the very principles he used to make disciples.  Now we consider the two parables Jesus used to make disciples which prove the conclusion – the necessity to forsake all in order to be his disciple.

The first parable to illustrate his conclusion is that of a man building a tower.  The principle is that he must first count the cost to see if he has enough to build the tower (Luke 14:28).  There is a cost to being Jesus’ disciple.

For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish (Luke 14:28-30).

It is only sensible to count the cost before we begin anything, especially following Christ.  If we begin the pathway to be like Christ we need to fulfill that goal.  What will it cost us to be like Christ?  The cost is not in terms of material things.  Jesus said that the cost is to forsake all that we have (Luke 14:33), to lose our life for Christ’s sake (Luke 9:24).  We should be looking at what we get for the price, rather than just consider the cost!   The product we receive is be fully like Christ (Luke 6:40).   We get to build a spiritual house or tower – the heart of Christ.  It is costly, but look at what we get!  The parable of the pearl of great price and the parable of the great treasure in the field teaches the same thing (Matt. 13:44-46).  The treasure or the pearl required them to go and sell all that they had.  It is not just whether we get the treasure or the pearl.  If we don’t get them, we get to end up in torment.  Jesus warns us: “For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it” (Mark 8:35).  If we begin to build and turn back, all that see will begin to mock saying this man began and was not able to finish.  Jesus applies this same principle in the next two verses where he talks about salt that has lost its saltness.  It is of no value to God or man (Luke 14:34,35).  “And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God” (Luke 9:62).  Similarly, if we begin the pathway to become like Christ but do not finish, we are a mockery to ourselves as well as to Christ – and are worse off than if we had never started.

For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.  For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them (2 Pet. 2:20-21).

What is the cost?  Jesus requires a man to first determine that he will pray the price to become like him.  This price is not anything of physical value, but includes a willingness to suffer and lose all that we have in order to follow in his steps (1 Pet. 2:18-23).

The second parable is the captain of an army which is going to war against his enemy.  It also proves that we must forsake all to be his disciple (Luke 14:31-33).  The captain must make a decision to fight or surrender.

Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand? Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace (Luke 14:31,32).

The enemy is twice as strong as the king.  How does this apply to the disciple of Christ? The disciple of Christ is called to fight and to be victorious in a war (1 Tim. 6:12).  He is not called to war after the flesh, with fleshly weapons (2 Cor. 10:3-5), but he is to fight a spiritual battle against spiritual wickedness (Eph. 6:12).  Satan is at least twice as strong as we are!  We do not want to make peace with our enemy.  The price of accepting conditions of peace means subservience. The price of peace with Satan is eternal slavery.  It is far too dear a price.  Winning the battle is the only other alternative.  To win, we must forsake every earthly  purpose and goal (all that we have) in order to win the spiritual battle.  Timothy was commanded to: ”Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life” (1 Tim. 6:12).  If Timothy already had eternal life why command him to lay hold on it?  When we determine to follow Christ we agree to go to war against Satan.  We must fight with all we are and have, if we expect to win.  If we will not forsake all that we have in order to fight and win that battle, we will surely lose that war.  If we will not agree to forsake all of our own earthly hopes, purpose and goals to win this fight, Jesus will not accept us as his disciples (Luke 14:33).  This is not an unfair requirement, for God reminds us: “Behold, all souls are mine” (Eze. 18:4).  We belong to him.

All of this translates to making disciples the way that Jesus made disciples.  To make a disciple we must 1) convince a man that all souls belong to God. 2) that man has an eternal inner man which God ordains be formed in the image of Christ.  Further, we must 3) persuade him that he needs to turn away from all masters but Jesus.  We must 4) convince him to determine to take up his cross daily to put his old man to death so that he can 5) follow Christ in order to grow to have a mind and heart like his.  He must count the cost and determine to pay the price, for Jesus to accept him.  Once a man has become a disciple of Christ, his old man of self has been crucified with Christ and he is then ready to be buried.  Crucifixion takes place when a man determines the he will not longer live for himself (2 Cor. 5:15).  Baptism is not a crucifixion – Baptism is a burial.  If there is no crucifixion, we can immerse a man in water as many times as we like, but nothing will happen.  The crucifixion must take place before a genuine burial can occur.  In crucifixion his old man (who was living for himself) is hand the crucified old man of sin is destroyed in the watery grave.  Only then can the new man rise to grow in a new life (Rom. 6:4).  When this happens all of the old is passed away and literally everything is made new (2 Cor. 5:17) because the very purpose of our existence and actions has changed from living for self to living only for Jesus (2 Cor. 5:15).

LESSON 12: Saul Spared Agag and the Booty

Posted on by BETH

“But Saul and the people spared Agag, and the best of the sheep, and of the oxen, and of the fatlings, and the lambs, and all that was good, and would not utterly destroy them: but every thing that was vile and refuse, that they destroyed utterly” (1 Sam. 15:9).

Saul is one of the most tragic figures in the Old Testament. Head and shoulders above all the other men in Israel, he began his reign with great promise but ended it in shame.

“And he (Kish) had a son, whose name was Saul, a choice young man, and a goodly: and there was not among the children of Israel a goodlier person than he: from his shoulders and upward he was higher than any of the people” (1 Sam. 9:2).

As Israel’s first king, Saul had the opportunity to be an example for all future rulers, but his covetousness for the praise of men and for power over them, was his downfall.

Saul had other admirable physical qualities that made him fit to be received by Israel during the period immediately after the last judge.  Because of his stature, he was quickly accepted by the people.  Furthermore, the Lord used him as a good military leader, as shown by his victories early in his reign.  Here we have a king who was not only is a warrior himself, but a man whose sons were also warriors.  Note that his son Jonathan’s victory over the Philistines comes the first year after King Saul was anointed (1 Sam. 14:6-16).

One of Saul’s first sins was his failure to wait for Samuel at Gilgal (1 Sam. 13:8-9). The Philistines had gathered together against Israel with a large army and the Israelites had fled to hide themselves.  Saul had to know if God wanted him to go to battle or not, and in order to approach God, he had to offer a sacrifice.  There he assumed the role of a priest by making a sacrifice to ask for God’s blessing and to seek God’s counsel. His excuse for acting as a priest was totally unacceptable:

And Samuel said, What hast thou done? And Saul said, Because I saw that the people were scattered from me, and that thou camest not within the days appointed, and that the Philistines gathered themselves together at Michmash; 12 Therefore said I, The Philistines will come down now upon me to Gilgal, and I have not made supplication unto the LORD: I forced myself therefore, and offered a burnt offering” (1 Sam. 13:11-12).

He was willing to force himself to disobey God so he could win the people’s favor.  Strangely, he determined to disobey God in order to persuade God to help him. Saul knew he had done wrong, but he justified his sin instead of following the law exactly (Lev. 3:5 and Lev. 6:9-13).  There is no doubt in this incident that he knew that only the priests of God (descendants of Aaron) were to offer a sacrifice, and he knew Samuel’s purpose and promise was to do just that.  So why is he so faithless in following a command of God he knows to do?  He feared losing the people! He coveted their allegiance.

Another sin followed soon afterward. After defeating Moab, Ammon, and Edom, Saul was told by Samuel to go to war against the Amalekites and to “…slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass” (1 Sam. 15:3). Saul carried out his instructions well except for two things: he spared the life of Agag, the king, and saved the best of the animals. When he returned from the battle, he lied to himself and to Samuel and told Samuel that he had “performed the commandment of the Lord.”  He imagined that disobedience to some of God’s commands was acceptable.  Samuel approached Saul that day with a heavy burden on his heart.  King Saul’s problem was that he had turned back from following God.  During the night of the battle, God had spoken to Samuel and said, “It repenteth me that I have set up Saul to be king: for he is turned back from following me, and hath not performed my commandments” (1 Sam. 15:11).

At the end of verse 15 we see that Samuel was grieved and cried all night to the Lord—interceding for Saul that he might remain Israel’s king.  Saul was a mighty man of valor and a great military leader, but his covetousness of the people’s praise and allegiance had overtaken him, causing him to sin greatly.  Was being a military leader enough?  Was having a handsome well-liked king the plan God had in mind for Israel?  No, God was seeking a man who would obey all His commands—a spiritual leader whose thought was not for himself, but for serving God by training the people in righteousness. King Saul had not remembered the one who had set him up as king, given him his power nor why.  God had called King Saul to do His (God’s) work, not his own.  King Saul’s first and foremost thought should have been, “What shall I render unto the LORD for all his benefits toward me? I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the LORD. I will pay my vows unto the LORD now in the presence of all his people (Psa. 116:12-14).

From that time forward, Saul exhausted his total strength and power to pursue one whom he perceived to be his enemy, when his greatest enemy was actually himself.  He wasted all his time and energy in fruitless attempts on David’s life because he could not accept that God had removed him from being King over Israel.

QUESTIONS:

  1. Was it natural for King Saul to be afraid of the Philistine’s great and strong army and to seek God’s help?
  2. Did King Saul try to do what was right in God’s sight by asking God if he should go against the Philistines?
  3. Who were the only ones that God allowed to offer sacrifices to him? (Lev. 1:7-9; Lev. 3:5 and Lev. 6:9-13)?
  4. Was King Saul a descendent of Levi or Aaron?  Give specific BCV here.
  5. Why was King Saul wrong to offer the sacrifice?
  6. Was King Saul justified in doing evil that good may come (Rom 3:8)?
  7. Even though King Saul had the right desire to draw near to God, did he approach God according to God’s law?
  8. What does God say must happen when someone draws near to him (Lev. 10:1-3)?
  9. Had King Saul turned back from following God (1 Sam 15:11)?
  10.  If King Saul was not fighting Israel’s battles for the Lord, for whom was he fighting them (1 Sam 15:24)?
  11. Whose voice did King Saul obey: God’s or the people’s (1 Sam 15:24-26)?
  12. How many of God’s commands did King Saul obey when he killed all the Amalekites?
  13. How many commands did King Saul disobey (1 Sam. 15:8-9)?
  14. Whose will did King Saul do when he feared the people and obeyed their voice?
  15. How many commands did King Saul tell Samuel that he obeyed?
  16. Does God accept man’s obedience when they are not willing to obey all of his commands (James 2:9-10)?
  17. When God told Saul that He had rejected him from being king, did King Saul listen to God’s correction?
  18. When God told King Saul that he had appointed another man to be king over Israel, what should King Saul have done?
  19. When King Saul refused to obey God to give the kingdom to God’s chosen man, was he justified in seeking God to know if he should fight against the Philistines as king of Israel?
  20. What did King Saul spend most of his time doing, instead of obeying God?

MAKING DISCIPLES JESUS’ WAY

Posted on by BETH

Jesus shows us how to make disciples.  We should walk in Jesus’ steps and seek to make disciples in the same way he made them.  He called the multitude to him (Luke 14:25) and taught them what decisions they must make in order to become a disciple.  He gave the rules that one must follow in order to be accepted as a disciple.

If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.  And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.  For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?  Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him,  Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish.  Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand?  Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace.  So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple. (Luke 14:26-33)

We may not understand these commands concerning becoming a disciple, but we should accept his words without fail.  He says if a man does not qualify in certain specific ways, “he cannot be my disciple.”  Jesus will not accept just anyone who desires to be a disciple.  They must meet his qualifications.  The preacher may accept them, but Jesus testifies that he will not accept them.  He told the multitude three times that they could not be his disciples unless they qualified.  He lists at least three major qualifications that are required before he would receive a man as his disciple.  Jesus testified:  “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber”  (John 10:1). We must become his disciple his way or we will not be accepted.

The first qualification is to hate our father, mother, etc. and our own life (Lk 14:26). This is surely a negative command, but we must do it.  The subject is Master and disciple.  The disciple can only have one master.  We can not be like two masters at the same time.  Jesus said that when it comes to choosing masters: “No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other” (Luke 16:13).  Neither his father, nor mother, nor sister nor anyone else can be his master if Jesus is his only master.  In that sense we turn away from all other would-be masters and choose Jesus as our one Master.  If we refuse to do that, he will not receive us.  If we determine to follow the one shepherd and flee from all others (John 10:5), he will accept us.  We can be like one masters.

A second qualification contains two commands.  First we must bear our cross (Luke 14:27).  Some would define a cross as only suffering.  In New Testament times a cross was never only suffering.  A cross was death.  If we pick up our cross we must pick it up in order to die.  This cross is not the initial crucifixion we have before burial with Christ.  We are told that we have an initial crucifixion before we can be baptized into Christ (Rom. 6:3-6).  The initial crucifixion with Christ takes place before we are baptized with him.  This old man must be crucified, put to death, before he is buried.  We don’t bury living beings.  We must put off the old man with his sins.  This is paramount to cutting off of the old man in New Testament circumcision:

In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:  Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.  (Col. 2:11-12)

However, the cross required in Luke 14:27 is the same cross that must be taken up after one is baptized into Christ.  This is the cross that must be taken up daily (Luke 9:23).  This cross is also unto death.  He commands us to “Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry” (Col. 3:5).  These ‘members’ must be put to death little by little in a painful crucifixion-like death that requires much suffering.  This pain is further described in our Father’s chastening us in purging out our sins.  He describes this chastening as something that is grievous which results in the peaceable fruit of righteousness in his children.  “Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby” (Heb. 12:11).  It is painful to do, but if we get rid of our pride there is room for the humility of Christ.  Putting off all of our old man, day by day, makes room for the love of Christ in our hearts.  If we are not willing to take up this cross daily to mortify (crucify) the members of the old man, Jesus will not receive us.  Only if we have that mind is there hope that we can be like him.

A second positive command in Luke 14:27 is to follow Christ.  Jesus ran the race ahead of us.  He is the author and the finisher of our faith (Heb. 12:1-3).  We follow Christ by following in his steps (1 Pet. 2:21).  Jesus learned to obey (Heb. 5:8).  Jesus was not born with all wisdom but “ . . . grew in wisdom and in favor with God and man” (Luke 2:52).  “in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren . . .” (Heb. 2:17) and thus had to grow in the same way his brethren grew. “Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered He learned obedience by suffering” (Heb. 5:8).  We need to follow in his steps in learning obedience in the same way.  Only if we follow in the steps of Christ, can we be like  him. Why should Jesus accept a man as his disciple if he has no desire to fulfill the purpose of becoming a disciple?  We must be determined to follow him to be like him (Lk 6:40) so that he will accept us as his disciple (Luke 14:27).