With God All Things Are Possible
(Matt. 19:23–30; Luke 18:24–30 )
(Mark 10:23-31 NKJV) (23) Then Jesus looked around and said to His disciples, “How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!” (24) And the disciples were astonished at His words. But Jesus answered again and said to them, “Children, how hard it is for those who trust in riches to enter the kingdom of God! (25) “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.” (26) And they were greatly astonished, saying among themselves, “Who then can be saved?” (27) But Jesus looked at them and said, “With men it is impossible, but not with God; for with God all things are possible.” (28) Then Peter began to say to Him, “See, we have left all and followed You.” (29) So Jesus answered and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My sake and the gospel’s, (30) “who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time–houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions–and in the age to come, eternal life. (31) “But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”
V23 “Then Jesus looked around and said to His disciples, “How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!” After the young ruler leaves in sorrow, because he cannot have eternal life and covetousness, Jesus looks around Him to ensure people are listening. Then, He says that it is hard for those who are rich to enter the Kingdom of God. There is nothing sinful about being rich. The problem is in the heart (Matthew 15:19-20). Those who are rich have an idol and probably dishonor their parents, and commit sexual sins. Setting aside covetousness is difficult. A person’s love for money is usually very strong. Luke 16:13-14 (MKJV) “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. You cannot serve God and mammon. [14] And being money-lovers, all the Pharisees also heard all these things. And they derided Him.”
V24 “And the disciples were astonished at His words. But Jesus answered again and said to them, “Children, how hard it is for those who trust in riches to enter the kingdom of God!” They were so shocked, Jesus needed to repeat it. The Greek word for “riches” is (G5536) χρῆμα chrḗma, which means anything useful and referring to belongings, riches, financial wealth, etc. Barclay (beware) writes: “The word used for money is chremata (G5536), which is defined by Aristotle as, “All those things of which the value is measured by coinage.”
The danger for Christ-followers faces is being choked out by riches and diverted to following riches instead of being a church ready to meet her Lord. See Matthew 13:7 and Matthew 13:22.
V25 “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.”
We need to prioritize the Kingdom of God over the kingdoms of the world, the riches of heaven over the riches of earth, and the joys of heaven over the joys of the earth. What is our first love?
V26 “And they were greatly astonished, saying among themselves, “Who then can be saved?” They don’t understand salvation yet. Jesus is going to teach these disciples something shocking. Faith as the condition for salvation was known but evidently not taught to the people. See Genesis 15:6, Habakkuk 2:4, and Isaiah 28:16.
V27 “But Jesus looked at them and said, “With men it is impossible, but not with God; for with God all things are possible.” God can! All things are possible in alignment with God’s character. Thus, God cannot lie (Hebrews 6:18). Satan is the opposite, as he enjoys doing (John 8:44).
V28 “Then Peter began to say to Him, “See, we have left all and followed You.” Peter, as usual, doesn’t know what to say but wants to say something. He is saying we left our financial goods to follow you. The rich young man did not, but the disciples did.
V29 So Jesus answered and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My sake and the gospel’s…” Jesus teaches them another truth. The gain we receive is our brothers and sisters in Christ. Which is better? Which is an eternal blessing? Is it riches and power or life and the family of God? Matthew 16:26 For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
V30 “…who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time—houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions—and in the age to come, eternal life.” Note all the good and happy things followed by the words “with persecutions.” It all ends well for in the age to come (the eternal age), Christ followers receive the riches of eternal life. Compare Romans 8:35-39 and
V31 “But many who are first will be last, and the last first.” Those who have been Christ-followers for decades might have fewer rewards than those who only were Christ-followers for a few years or even a few months. God rewards faithfulness and a ready life to do God’s will.
We learn:
- Money and riches are nice but can be dangerous.
- We may not have physical riches in this life, but we have spiritual riches for eternity.
- We also have the family of Christ for our brothers and sisters.
Questions:
- What is our priority?
- Are we enjoying the family of Christ?