Entering the Kingdom
A Sermon on Luke 9:57-62
Originally preached June 9, 1963
Scripture
57¶ And it came to pass, that, as they went in the way, a certain man said unto him, Lord, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest. 58And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath …
Sermon Description
Why is the kingdom of God so divisive? It may seem strange to say that Jesus and His message are a source of controversy and division, but in this sermon on Luke 9:57–62 titled “Entering the Kingdom,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones shows that it is just that. Jesus’s call is to follow Him and to become a member of His kingdom. It is a call to put Him above all things and Jesus takes precedence of all earthly comforts, even one’s own family. This is the radical message of the gospel: it tells that Jesus is everything and that His kingdom is now the most important thing in life. All conceptions of the kingdom of God that do not challenge the sinful human conception of power and the meaning of life are not the message that Christ brings. This sermon tells that Jesus has come to save and that nothing one does can bring about the kingdom of God. No amount of good works can bring heaven on earth, for the gospel is the only power of salvation. Only the gospel confronts with the need for salvation and God’s Savior, Jesus Christ.
Sermon Breakdown
- The sermon begins by introducing the passage from Luke 9:57-62 which describes Jesus’ encounters with three men who want to follow him.
- The first point is that it’s important to have the right understanding of the nature and character of God’s kingdom. The first man was enthusiastic to follow Jesus but didn’t understand the true nature of Jesus’ kingdom.
- Jesus rebukes the first man, saying “foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.” Jesus’ kingdom is not like earthly kingdoms. Jesus has no place of His own and will suffer and die.
- The second man wants to follow Jesus but first bury his father. Jesus rebukes him, saying “let the dead bury their dead, but you go and preach the kingdom of God.” The kingdom of God is urgent and must come before all else.
- The third man wants to follow Jesus but first say goodbye to his family. Jesus says “no one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.” The kingdom demands total commitment and undivided loyalty.
- The kingdom of God is the only hope for the world. Nothing else can solve man’s problems and put the world right.
- The kingdom of God is not like man’s kingdoms. It does not appeal to man’s enthusiasm or make it easy to follow. The kingdom is not a popular movement but a call to die to self.
- The three men illustrate common misunderstandings about the kingdom. The first man misunderstood the nature of the kingdom. The second man failed to see the urgency of the kingdom. The third man lacked total commitment to the kingdom.
- Entering the kingdom demands a right understanding of Jesus as the Son of Man who has come to die, not gain popularity or success. It requires urgency, total commitment, and unconditional surrender.
- The world offers fleeting pleasures but the kingdom offers lasting treasure. We must give up all for the surpassing worth of knowing Christ.
Sermon Q&A
What Does Jesus Require of Those Who Would Follow Him According to Luke 9:57-62?
According to Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones' sermon on Luke 9:57-62, Jesus has specific requirements for those who would follow Him. Here are the key questions and answers from his exposition:
What are the three main misunderstandings about following Jesus shown in this passage?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones identifies three fundamental misunderstandings represented by the three men in Luke 9:57-62:
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The first man misunderstood the nature of Christ's kingdom, viewing it as an exciting political or social movement rather than understanding its sacrificial character.
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The second man misunderstood the urgency of following Christ, wanting to postpone his commitment until after his father died.
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The third man misunderstood the totalitarian demands of the kingdom, trying to maintain divided loyalties between Christ and the world.
Why did Jesus discourage the enthusiastic first follower rather than welcome him?
Jesus discouraged the enthusiastic follower because:
"Our Lord, who was able to read the minds of men and who understood them better than they understood themselves, one who was able to search the hidden recesses of the mind and the heart and to detect motives and ideas and thoughts, he recognizes exactly what he's dealing with and he can see that the men like this is no men for the kingdom of God as he is."
The man was attracted to Christ's personality, teaching, and miracles, but had a false enthusiasm based on misunderstanding Christ's mission. He saw Jesus as "a popular agitator" or "social reformer" who would lead an exciting movement with glamour and success, not understanding that Christ came to suffer and die.
What does Jesus mean when He says "let the dead bury their dead"?
According to Lloyd-Jones, Jesus means:
"Let the dead bury their dead. He says, you know, if you are in my kingdom, if you're going to be a Christian, you've got to realize that it's something that an ordinary man can't do. Everybody can bury the dead... That's what the world is doing. The world is just a case of the dead burying the dead."
Christ is teaching that spiritual matters must take precedence over worldly concerns. Those who are spiritually "dead" can handle worldly responsibilities, but those who have been awakened to spiritual realities must prioritize the kingdom of God and the saving of souls above all else.
What does Jesus mean by "no man, having put his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God"?
Lloyd-Jones explains this as teaching:
"The importance of realizing the totalitarian demands of the kingdom of God... an unconditional surrender. Once you realize the nature of his kingdom, what he's come to do, once you realize it's a question of your soul's salvation, you not only don't hesitate, you make an unconditional surrender."
The image illustrates that Christianity requires complete devotion and focus. Just as a plowman who looks back cannot plow a straight furrow, a disciple who maintains divided loyalties between Christ and the world cannot properly serve in God's kingdom.
Why is there an urgency to responding to Christ's call immediately?
There is urgency because:
- The soul is in danger of eternal destruction
- Life is uncertain and death could come at any time
- When these two realities are understood properly, one realizes "there isn't a moment to be lost"
As Lloyd-Jones puts it: "The moment you realize the danger of your soul, you'll have no need to hesitate about this. You will see that it's inevitable. It must be done at once. The matter is tremendously urgent."
What does Lloyd-Jones say is the true purpose of Christ's coming?
Lloyd-Jones emphasizes that Christ did not come primarily to: - Reform politics - Reform morals - Be a social reformer - Start a popular movement
Rather, Christ came: - "To seek and to save that which is lost" - To save souls, not just bodies - To give his life as a ransom for many - To deliver people from sin and its consequences - To establish a kingdom that is "not of this world"
As Lloyd-Jones states: "Christ has come to save the immoral, to give them life anew. He hasn't come to do what the dead can do. He's come to do what only he who is life itself can do."
Sermons on the Kingdom of God
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones (1899-1981) was a Welsh evangelical minister who preached and taught in the Reformed tradition. His principal ministry was at Westminster Chapel, in central London, from 1939-1968, where he delivered multi-year expositions on books of the bible such as Romans, Ephesians and the Gospel of John. In addition to the MLJ Trust’s collection of 1,600 of these sermons in audio format, most of these great sermon series are available in book form (including a 14 volume collection of the Romans sermons), as are other series such as "Spiritual Depression", "Studies in the Sermon on the Mount" and "Great Biblical Doctrines". He is considered by many evangelical leaders today to be an authority on biblical truth and the sufficiency of Scripture.