The Wrong Question
And behold, a certain lawyer stood up and put Him to the test, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” Luke 10:25
To Inherit – The lawyer opened the test with a mistake. He asked the wrong question. If we overlook this mistake, we won’t understand why Yeshua answers a different question and ignores the lawyer’s test. We must proceed slowly and carefully. What’s wrong with the lawyer’s question? When you think about it, it’s obvious. He asks “What must I do to inherit?” But, of course, there is nothing I can do to inherit anything. Inheritance is not based on what I do. It is based on who I am. A son does nothing to be granted an inheritance. Inheritance is a gift given to those who are in the proper relationship. This is why Sarah commands Abraham to send Hagar and Ishmael into the desert to die. “No son of a slave girl will inherit along with my son!” Sarah knows that as long as Ismael is alive, he is eligible to inherit. He doesn’t have to do anything to gain his inheritance. He just has to be there.
The Hebrew word (yarash) stands behind the Greek word (kleronomeo). The Greek word combines two thoughts – “to have in one’s power” and “a lot.” This word recalls the division of the land by lots when Israel inherited Canaan. This event established the paradigm case of inheritance for the Jews. Taking the land required action. That’s why yarash also means “to take possession, to dispossess, to drive out and to inherit.” Yarash is about conquering the land, but this action did not create the inheritance. God gave the land to Israel. The inheritance was His alone to give. Israel did nothing to earn it, but Israel still needed to take possession of what God had already given.
Do you see now why the lawyer’s question is so terribly wrong? There is nothing he can do to inherit eternal life. There are actions he must take to possess this inheritance, but these actions do not affect the status of God’s gift. These actions only personally appropriate what has already been given. No wonder Yeshua doesn’t answer this question. The assumption behind the question completely undermines the character of a compassionate God. The lawyer’s question implies that God has not given eternal life as a gift. Instead, his question implies that by some actions we can obligate God to reward us with eternal life. Yeshua doesn’t even bother which such a mistaken view.
Christians will nearly universally agree that this question is the wrong question. Christians will assert, along with Yeshua, that eternal life is a gift and that there is nothing we can do to inherit it. In spite of this agreement, we still tend to make two drastic mistakes. First, we go right on acting as if our behavior actually obligates God. We act as if our good deeds require God to bless us. We act as if our mistakes and sins erase God’s good gift. We have the right theology, but too many times our behavior looks like the lawyer’s assumptions.
The second mistake we make is the failure to understand the full sense of yarash. We think that because eternal life is a gift, we have no obligation at all. But yarash is an active verb, not a passive acceptance. It means “to take possession, to drive out, to dispossess” the enemy. The gift is there, thanks only to God, but we have to go to battle to possess it. We have to displace the enemy who occupies the territory. We have to drive out those who would prevent our full enjoyment of God’s goodness. We have to make the gift our own. The land will wait, dormant, until His people arrive and take control of their inheritance. It will not be given to any others. But it waits until we step up and do what He asks. “Go into the inheritance I have given you and occupy it.”
Topical Index: inheritance, kleronomeo, yarash, Good Samaritan, Luke 10:25
This kind of reminds me of when the Israelites were first exploring the promised land, and after the “Scary” reports, they initially refused to enter (not coudn’t – they said “No.”). If the inheritance is ours and all we need to do is take the necessary steps to possess it, you’d think more people would be willing to go in and fight for it. But, I wonder if some people see the promised land, the inheritance, and it doesn’t look the way they envisioned it or they don’t realize the full extent of the “land,” and they take one step inside, sit down, and say, “This is good. I’m done.” True, the further in we go, the more giants we face. But each step of the way, God goes before us because He wants us to possess what He’s already given us.
It’s kind of cool that the histories of the Old Testament mirror the experiences we have today (metaphorically). It’s like a multi-layered cake… the deeper I go the yummier it gets! 🙂
Hi Amada. From where I am standing I believe many do not understand the OT and its ways are a picture of what is happening within the heart. Many simply do not “Get the picture” of what is being protrayed and that it is the journey out of Egypt and into the Land of being able to worship GOD. Their inner eye has not developed possibly as it should and to put it plainly to understand. So they continue to live in the world of the seen rather than the world unseen which is far more important. I know that the other fellows here will be able to help you on this a lot more than myself but it is so refreshing to be a part of this even if I am a small part. This cite is precious for allowing us to enter into the Hebrew way of thinking.
The shortest distance between two points is a straight line. Point one- G-d speaks. Point two- we obey.
I would like to recommend a book (to all) this morning by Major Ian Thomas. The title of the book is “The Saving Life of Christ.” Hopefully this wonderful book already resides in your “library”.. (you do have a library- right?), but if not it is one of my “top five” recommendations. (well.. it’s on ‘Carl’s list’ anyway..)
I do not have my finger on the pulse of the church today as I am not one of those “widely traveled”/seasoned followers of the Way. But I am like any man- I know a delicious steak when I eat one- and this book is “delicious!”
1 Corinthians 10:11 states: “These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come.” There is (very much) a “reason” for all the “history” of G-d’s people written in G-d’s book. This is (of course) far from a random collection of “stories.”
“Every word of G-d is pure (and purposeful!)
Not a Jew living on the planet that hasn’t heard about the Exodus. But not only was there a “coming out” (of Eygpt)- there was also (and this is where we all fail) an “Eisodus”- a “going into”. The land of Canaan was already given (yes) but unoccupied by the ones to whom it had already been given. Bear in mind also- in order to occupy the land or even to set foot in it- a certain river had to be “crossed over!” The river “Jordan”. A purported eleven day journey that took forty years to “do.” I also can report a forty year time span in my own life that I would consider “wasted.” But G-d (praise His name) never “wastes” anything! There was a purpose even in the crumbs that were gathered after the feeding of the four thousand gathered to listen to the Messiah.
Brother Skip is absolutely right about the lawyer’s wrong question in “Today’s Word” (I still like “At G-d’s Table” better!).. How can we possibly get the right answer by asking the wrong question?
My “second favorite” question in all the Bible is this (out of the mouth of Pharoah-in this case, right question/wrong answer!) Who is the LORD that I should obey Him? (Exodus 5.2).
The mother of Yeshua knew the right answer to this. (too bad she wasn’t there to tell Pharoah!)- She said unto the servants- “whatever He says unto you- do it.”
Cannan- (the land of milk and honey) is still today- very much- “accessible.” By G-d’s grace and according to His mercy this “good land” is the inheritance of all who today are His. But it is also (still) up to us to “enter in and possess our possessions”. Do we even have a clue of what is ours – “in Christ?” Good question.
Carl , in your understanding of Who GOD is do you accept the Son of GOD as GOD in Flesh?
Carol.. I almost forgot the “method of our Master!”. He might answer this query with a question: “What saith the Scripture?”
Yes Carol- the LORD, He is G-d. Consider His name “Emmanuel”- G-d with us. The evidences of this are overwhelming, He is who He says He is! Consider His words- “before Abraham was- I am”..
Yeshua not only was “G-d Incarnate” (G-d with a human face) but amazingly (we often forget this) He still is very much today,- the now reigning G-d/man. He ascended into heaven as the second Adam, the “firstfruit” of many to follow. G-d came unto us as the Son of man (one of His favorite names for Himself) that we may become the sons (and daughters!) of G-d! How thrilling it is for me to know, I belong to Him!- “bought with a price!”
Yeshua was one of three things. He either was a liar. Or He was a lunatic. Or He is LORD. And dear sister Carol- as the man on t.v. says- (I guarantee it!!)- He is LORD!!
And can it be that I should gain
An interest in the Savior’s blood?
Died He for me, who caused His pain—
For me, who Him to death pursued?
Amazing love! How can it be,
That Thou, my G-d, shouldst die for me?
Amazing love! How can it be,
That Thou, my G-d, shouldst die for me?
“for through the Messiah, G-d was reconciling the world to himself by not counting their sins against them. He has committed his message of reconciliation to us.” (2 Corinthians 5.19)
“The evidences of this are overwhelming, He is who He says He is! Consider His words- “before Abraham was- I am”..”
Hi Carl,
I think the context of “I am” is important; before the famous “Abraham was I am” reference, Jesus starts out by saying that:
John 8:18 “I am He who testifies about Myself, and the Father who sent Me testifies about Me.”
“Myself” and the “Father” are clearly two different characters in the passage above and in the passage below as well:
John 8:19 So they were saying to Him, “Where is Your Father?” Jesus answered, “You know neither Me nor My Father; if you knew Me, you would know My Father also.”
In my view, when asked who he is, Jesus replies that he (Son of God) was sent by his Father.
And like the other Sons of God, Jesus was with Yahweh before Abraham was born:
John 8:57 So the Jews said to Him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?”
John 8:58 Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham [fn] was born, I am.”
Although I can’t support my interpretation of the passage above with a knowledge of Hebrew, Jesus seems to be playing with two meanings of “I am”
“I am” is God who was there before Abraham and Jesus is saying “I am” there too; one with God but not equal to God.
Clearly a different mission.
Maybe this will be a help (I hope). In the beginning was the Word, the Word was with G-d and the Word was G-d, the same was in the beginning with G-d. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us and we beheld His glory- the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. “I and my Father are ONE”. “Hear O Israel, the LORD our G-d is ONE. He that has seen me has seen the Father. The confession of Peter (received by Yeshua) was “Thou art the Christ- the Son of Living G-d.” My personal confession is this- “You are the Messiah- the Son of the living G-d and You are (the) Christ, G-d the (now and ever) living Son!”
We need to also “tuck away” in the back of our mind, Yeshua (even though He was G-d wrapped in human flesh) never once “pulled rank” but lived his entire existence from birth through death as the Second Adam- the perfect man. He (of course) did this to demonstrate to us (in the flesh- up close and personal, how to live so as to be pleasing unto Him.
I know it gets confusing, but when you realize I myself am a Father, a son, a brother and I even used to be a carpenter- I have played multiple roles in my limited lifetime.
There is still plenty of mystery left for us to “unravel” and I have only a gut feeling we will be “discovering” the delights of our G-d throughout the course of eternity! It doesn’t bother me at all that YHWH is a mystery- I thrill at the prospect of getting to know Him better!
When we hear even the words – “our G-d is an awesome G-d”, we really don’t have a clue as to “how” awesome, now do we?
Truly Michael (and all)- the only way we will ever “know Him” is through the cross of Calvary. The cross is the doorway of which He spoke. Roy Hession has written and excellent book entitled- “The Calvary Road.” For those in need of “fresh fire”, I highly recommend this and also would advise a box of tissues be close at hand! Hallelujah for the cross!
Thank you Savior for your atoning blood shed for me on the tslav and for your complete victory over sin and Satan, over death and the grave. You are the ONE who is worthy of our praises and of our complete and total fealty. Yours O LORD is the victory, majesty, power and might. Forever- Amen.
Carl … thanks for chiming in on a topic that frankly I am surprised to keep seeing creep up at the TW venue.
Yeshua is not the other G_D … Yeshua is not some minor diety …. Yeshua is not hasatan’s brother ….
Yeshua is the FORM of the Infinite ONE that has no form! To see the Infinite ONE there is only Yeshua!
ELOHIM ECHAD means ONE … SPIRIT, FORM, FLESH …
To exclude Yeshua from the unity of ELOHIM is confusion and that is “babylon”!
YEs, I see it as you do but an answer came back to me from this cite that really threw me as to where you were going with the IDENTITY of the LORD while He came and visited with a mission that NO ONE ELSE was capable of doing . Thank you all again. And Amanda I sure can relate to what you have said. Our tribulations are here loud and clear even if some of them are within the mind and emotions to overcome by the blood. There is so much need of truth to prevail over error. I feel for the ones who are looking for guidance and each guide speaks differently and many with fork tonge. Anyway, still traveling and still pondering but striving to keep my eyes on HIM alone. Thank you again.
CarL:When we speak of them coming OUT of Egypt there were 12 tribes. Hebrews or Israelites is the name that they were given. Judah was only one tribe. Why do you speak of that multitude as Jews? Jews are from the tribe of Judah and were not even mentioned until the book of Ezra? When I speak of them even today I remember that so that I do not put them on 12 tribes into one and call them Jews. Something to ponder concerning some accuracy unless you see it differently loved one.