Mathew 19: HARDENED HEART

 

Mathew 19:7

They said to Him, “Why then did Moses command to give a certificate of divorce, and to put her away?”8 He said to them, “Moses, because of the hardness of your hearts, permitted you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so. 

 The Hardness of Heart (Divorce): Jesus states that Moses permitted divorce as a concession to the "hardness of your hearts”. This indicates a stubborn, calloused resistance to God's will and a disregard for His original design of permanence in marriage. This heart condition is not just about cruelty, but a deeper refusal to obedience of God's purpose. Matthew 19 provides insights into the human heart, it is prone to hardness, idolatry, and selfishness, while setting the standard for a transformed life. The core observation is that God's ideal (perfection/lifelong marriage) is often unmet due to human "hardness of heart"

 Mathew 19:16

Now behold, one came and said to Him, “Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?”17So He said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but one, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.”20The young man said to Him, “All these things I have kept from my youth. What do I still lack?”21Jesus said to him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”

 

Mathew 5: 48

Therefore, you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.

 

The Idolatry of the Heart (Rich Young Ruler): The rich young man's heart was divided. While he obeyed outward commands, he loved his possessions more than God. His heart was possessed by his possessions, identifying a condition where earthly wealth takes the place of God.

Reminder:

 Mathew 6: 24“No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.

The Need for Childlike Faith: Jesus contrasts the hard hearts of the Pharisees and the divided heart of the rich ruler with the heart of a child (Matthew 19:14).

Mathew 19:14

But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.”

The Kingdom belongs to those with a humbled, obedient, dependent trusted heart.

 Humble-put others above us, Love others (THE Agape Love), Pleases Dependent trusting heart-like a child depends on parents, we as children of God, depend on God who we call Abba Father.

Eziekiel 36:9 “The heart is deceitful above all things And desperately wicked;

 

Who can know it?

 

The Necessity of Spiritual Transformation: Matthew 19 implicitly highlights that a "hard, Idolatrous, divided heart cannot keep the law perfectly, requiring a transformation that only comes through Jesus (grace) rather than strict legalism, the disciples, witnessing this, realize that only God can change hearts to achieve such a high standard.

 

²⁶ I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. Ezekiel 36:26

 

The chapter shows that the natural human heart is prone to seeking loopholes (divorce) and putting earthly security (riches) before God. Jesus points back to the "beginning" (creation) to call for a return to a "soft" heart—one that is fully surrendered, humbled, loving, trusting, depended , and pleasing which is only possible through repentance ,inviting Jesus in your heart as LORD and SAVIOR so our Human heart has to die so Jesus heart in the spirit can live in me,(ALL OF ME)to flow through Me, than I am  not  trying to Follow Jesus but letting him lead, live  in us, his words in Mathew 19:28 when we obey, leave everything of this world we do not just inherit eternal life and even rewarded 100 folds .

Galations:20

I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.

Let’s pray

10Create in me a clean heart, O God,

And renew a steadfast spirit within me.

11Do not cast me away from Your presence,

And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.

12Restore to me the joy of Your salvation,

And uphold me by Your generous Spirit.

13Then I will teach transgressors Your ways,

And sinners shall be converted to You.

14Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God,

The God of my salvation,

And my tongue shall sing aloud of Your righteousness.

15O Lord, open my lips,

And my mouth shall show forth Your praise.

16For You do not desire sacrifice, or else I would give it;

You do not delight in burnt offering.

17The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit,

A broken and a contrite heart—

These, O God, You will not despise.

 

In Jesus name I pray. Amen.

 

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PASTORA KATHY – JCRC FIJI