Ain’t No Way Luke 18:18-27

“But He said, ‘The things that are impossible with people are possible with God’” (Lk. 18:27, NASB).

In 1968 the Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin records a song written by Carolyn Franklin titled Ain’t No Way. The song is about a young woman pleading with the man that she loves to let her love him. The woman knows that she loves the man. She knows that her duty is to love her man and give him all that she has to him. She knows that her duty is to give her whole self to the man. However, for some reason the man will not allow this woman that loves him deeply and completely to love him. She laments, “Ain’t no way for me to love you if you won’t let me. It ain’t no way for me to give you all you need if you won’t let me give all of me.” Further, she laments, “Oh but how can I, how can I give you all the things I can if you tie both of my hands?” While this song is a woman’s plea to the man that she loves I am using the title of this song for this article because the words expresses the heart of Jesus as He talks with the rich young ruler in Luke 18:18-27 and recorded by Mathew in Matthew 19:16-26.

In Luke 18:9-17 Jesus is teaching the people about what it means to be righteous in the kingdom of heaven? The Pharisee thinks that he is righteous because he follows the Law by fasting and paying tithe (v. -12). The tax collector, on the other hand, beats himself and humbles himself recognizing that he is a sinner in need of God’s mercy (v. 13).

While Jesus is teaching, people (mothers) are bringing their babies to Jesus so that He can touch (bless) them. The disciples observe that Jesus is busy. They do not think that He has time to waste on children. The text seems to indicate that the disciples do not think that there is a place in the kingdom of heaven for babies. I believe that Luke writes this story (Lk. 18:15-17) because even Jesus’ disciples do not yet know that Jesus accepts all people regardless of their human status into the kingdom. In verse 16 Jesus tells the disciples to allow the children to come. He says, “‘Permit the children to come to Me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.’” Jesus also says, “‘Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it at all’” (v. 17, NASB).

Now, in my lifetime I have heard people use verse seventeen to say that you have to have childlike characteristics. I do not believe this to be what Jesus is saying. Think about it. Children can be selfish and demanding. Children often look out for their pleasure with no thought for their welfare. Children are often mean to each other. They fight over toys. They fail to share their possessions with the other kids, and the list goes on. So then, what does Jesus mean when He says that everyone must enter as a child? Jesus is saying that people must enter the kingdom thinking of them self as being no better than they think of the children. We now turn look at our text.

After Jesus teaches that all people must see themselves in the same way that the disciple sees the children to enter into the kingdom, He is approached by a rich young ruler. The young man wants Jesus to affirm that he will be allowed to enter into the kingdom. The young man addresses Jesus as “Good Teacher,” but Jesus makes us aware that He is more than a Good Teacher. Jesus is good because He is God and “no one is good except God” (v.18). The young man asks Jesus what he must do to inherit eternal life. We will notice here that the young man thinks that inheriting eternal life is determined by what one does. He knows that he is an established member of society, and he enjoys the status of a young ruler. He has authority, power and prestige. Jesus tells him to keep the commandments. The young man is thinking that he assured of eternal life because he has kept the commandments in the Law form his youth. Jesus is about the put a needle into his balloon and burst it.

Jesus replies to the young man with words that sends him into a state of shock and unbelief, the first stage of grief when a person first receives words of a tremendous loss. Jesus’ words to the young man are much like the words of the doctor that tells the family that their family member did not make it through surgery. The news is shocking and the family enters into a state of unbelief. Jesus says, “‘One thing you still lack; sell all you possess and distribute to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven; come, follow Me’” (v. 22, NASB). The words of Jesus are shocking, and they cannot be believed.

All of his life the young man has believed what the religious leaders, the Pharisees, scribes, and elders teach. Keep the commandments and you will have favor with God. Live a good life and make the most of your opportunities and you will have favor with God. So, how is it that Jesus is telling him to sell everything that demonstrates his favor with God? What is Jesus talking about when He says give what you have to those that are poor and do not deserve it? Their poverty is a clear indication that they are sinners and God rejects them. The young man misses the point that Jesus has been trying to get across when He tells the parable of the Pharisee and the Publican. He does not understand what Jesus is saying when He says that he must humble himself to the status of children. “But when he heard these things, he became sad, for he was extremely rich” (v. 23). These words of Jesus must have made the young man angry. Likely, he finds the challenge of Jesus depressing. Anger and depression are two stages of the grief when one suffers loss; especially the loss of something or someone that they love very much.

Regardless of how the young man thinks and feels Jesus cannot change His words. Jesus knows that the young man is having a very hard time accepting the truth that He tells (v. 24). Jesus speaks to the people saying, “‘for it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God’” (v. 25). In his gospel Matthew writes, “but when the young man heard this statement, he went away grieving; for he was one who owned much property” (Matt. 19:22, NASB). That the young man went away means that he does not accept the conditions that Jesus says that God requires for him to inherit eternal life. This brings us back to the song recorded by Aretha Franklin.

In the song the young woman states that she loves the man. However, the man will not accept the woman’s love. She is willing to give the man everything that he needs. In the same way, Jesus has everything that we need to inherit eternal like. Jesus loves the rich young ruler. The evidence is that Jesus willingly will do what is required for him to enter into the kingdom of God. God requires the blood of a lamb without spot or wrinkle; that is a man without sin. John is baptizing in the Jordan River. And he tells the people about the Christ that is coming. “The next day he saw Jesus coming to him and said, ‘Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world’” (Jn 1:29, NASB)! John the Baptist also declares Him to his disciples. “And the next day John was standing with two disciples, and he looked at Jesus as he walked, and said, ‘behold the Lamb of God!’” (Jn. 1:35-36, NASB).

In the song the young woman says that the man is tying both of her hands. He does not accept the truth about himself. “Stop trying to be someone you’re not.” The rich young ruler cannot accept that he is not the man that he thinks that he is. His attitude is one marked by arrogance and pride. “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before stumbling” (Pro. 16:18, NASB). When the young rich ruler walks away he forfeits the opportunity to inherit eternal life. Jesus wants to love him. Jesus wants to give him eternal life. Like the woman in the song, Jesus is begging the young man, and he is pleading with us today. He says to us, “Ain’t no way for me to love you if you want let me. It ain’t no way for me to give you all you need if you want let me give all of me.”

The people hear Jesus say, “For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God” (v. 25). They ask Jesus, “‘Then who can be saved” (v. 26)? “But He said, ‘The things that are impossible with people are possible with God’” (v. 27). Only God can make it possible for us to enter into the kingdom of God. We must let go of the things that we believe and hold dear and accept the truth that Jesus tells us. Jesus wants to save us and give us life in the kingdom of God. Jesus wants to love us, but ain’t no way for Him to love us if we won’t let Him.