Matthew 19:23-30 When Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly I tell you, it is hard for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, “Who then can be saved?” Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Peter answered him, “We have left everything to follow you! What then will there be for us?” Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first.”
There are many different explanations to the above analogy of how difficult it is to enter the kingdom of heaven. The most common interpretation is that the eye of a needle was a gate into the city of Jerusalem where probably for protection reasons it was made narrow and small. To keep commerce going when security measures were heightened, a gate would allow a camel to pass through it on its knees, but with no burden on its back. The burden it transported would have to be taken off the camel and dragged or carried through the gate separately. But regardless of the interpretation, we hear the disciples saying something quite startling. When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, “Who then can be saved?” They were not saying, what rich man can be saved for his love of riches will not let him abandon his wealth for the kingdom of God. No, they were saying something about themselves, which one of us then can be saved? Quite a remarkable response, for they were questioning whether they could be saved or enter the kingdom of God if it were so difficult. The Bible says the young man who questioned Jesus was attached to his wealth to the point he could not envision himself ever releasing the security and status riches provided. Jesus says to the young man, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth. (21-22) The rich young man was an honest, introspective person who diligently kept the law. He also knew his heart, and he knew his reliance on wealth made his life worth living. The disciples responded to Jesus’ interaction with the young man by not addressing the specifics of this one wealthy person; they extrapolated Jesus’ comments to them as well. They felt concerned about their own lives, their hope of entering the kingdom of God. To them, this perfection Jesus inferred seemed an insurmountable hurdle, for who can withstand the scrutiny of God on a person’s life? This kind of perfection is determined by God, not men. For God even knows the intentions of the heart, not just the outward appearance that might be considered perfect from men’s perspective. The disciples knew they might please men with their lives, but who can get by God’s eyes of judgment. Jesus understood completely the fear that raced through their minds, so he says, With man this is impossible. A soul unblemished is an impossibility in this life. Perfection will always escape people, for humans possess the implacableness of Adam’s imperfection. Jesus understood this reality of men, so He calmed their fear, their anxiety, by saying with God all things are possible. How wonderful this statement is, for God allows humans to enter the kingdom of God through his grace and mercy.
Peter eases his own conscience by saying, We have left everything to follow you! And truly they had. They walked, ate, and slept with Jesus. Their lives were not their own, for they went where Jesus went and stayed where He stayed. Initially, they were probably following him for many reasons, not just believing He was the Messiah. At one time, Jesus confronted them with the question, "Who do people say the Son of Man is?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” (Matthew 16:13-16) Of course, this was the correct answer, but later Peter would deny Jesus in front of men, something someone totally convinced that Jesus was the Son of God would not do. However, for sure, they knew Jesus was a great man, and as his followers they received some deference from the people. And if He was the Son of God, they would receive great eternal rewards. Wanting a quicker and more sure payoff, Judas was not willing to wait for a future reward. He received 30 pieces of silver for betraying Jesus to the religious leaders. But the other disciples were dedicated and faithful to Jesus the Christ. They did abandon Jesus when He told them to put away their weapons when the mob of people came to arrest Jesus. Then they all fled. Peter and John followed the mob from a distance to the house of the high priest to see what they were going to do with Jesus, but in the high priest’s courtyard, Jesus’ prophecy of Peter’s denial was fulfilled. Accused of being a follower of Jesus, Peter was put on the spot. He denied it. “Woman, I don’t know him,” he said. A little later someone else saw him and said, “You also are one of them.” “Man, I am not!” Peter replied. About an hour later another asserted, “Certainly this fellow was with him, for he is a Galilean.” Peter replied, “Man, I don’t know what you’re talking about!” Just as he was speaking, the rooster crowed. The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. (Luke 22:57-61) Peter, as with the rich young man who desired the kingdom of heaven, held his life to be too precious to follow Jesus to the grave. Peter did not want to die, and he knew Jesus was in a precarious situation. He knew the high priest and the elite of Israel wanted Jesus killed. If he confessed to be a follower of Jesus, his life too would be on the chopping block. He could not go that far. His life was too important to him to cast it away by identifying himself as a follower of Jesus. The rich young man’s life was too precious to him, for he could not see living a viable, abundant life without his wealth. But Jesus had told the disciples that they would receive great rewards from God if they stayed true to him, even eternal life. Everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life. But the generator of true life within had not come to Peter’s life as yet. Only after the infilling of the Holy Spirit was Peter willing to stand up in front of a huge crowd and talk about the fact that he was a follower of Jesus, the one who was crucified by the leaders of that city. He identified with Jesus completely. Otherwise, he put his life in jeopardy that day. And from that time on, he would face persecution from the elite of the Jewish community.
“Who then can be saved?” is the appropriate question. The answer: a miracle must happen. With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible. We see in this dialogue, Jesus expanding the conversation to the requirements of eternal life, a new creature must come into view with a nature contrary to the human nature of a self-serving Adam. Jesus earlier commended the rich young man for his willingness to obey the law, but then Jesus tells him his actions must include helping others, especially the poor. If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me. Jesus tells the man, God will credit him in heaven for giving to the poor, but he must also follow Jesus wholeheartedly; then he will be perfect. Otherwise, faith accompanies actions, faith in Christ’s works. But that means, losing one’s own life. I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. (Galatians 2:20) Peter would not allow himself to be crucified with Jesus. The rich young man would not disallow his life by giving away his riches to follow Jesus. This life was too dear to both of them. Yes, Who then can be saved? Jesus in his ministry taught about what was necessary in the community of God. Jesus washed his disciples’ feet and told them to do likewise. He wanted them to lower themselves, to love their enemies, and to do good to those who abused them. He desired for them to be meek and lowly, servants to all men, not just to those who favored them. He had them put away their swords, to trust in God’s justice, not their own. They were to live lives of sacrifice, not lording it over others. They were to serve the least in the community, for Jesus was with the least. Jesus concludes his teaching in the above verses by saying, many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first. Jesus came and turned the world upside down—the great of this world will be last and the least in this world will be favored by God. Heaven belongs to the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5:3) The disciples wanted to be in the kingdom of heaven; they had heard Jesus’ teachings about the kingdom. They had experienced the very presence of the Son of God. But they needed more to finish out their lives in victory. This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high. (Luke 24:46-49) Neither the disciples nor the rich young man could fulfill God’s mission on earth without the infilling of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit’s message of redemption is for all people for all time. Believers will be imbued with the power God. This message of redemption is to be propagated everywhere, so people will have eternal life and know the Creator of all things. Without the Spirit, good intentions are not enough as was demonstrated in the disciples’ lives. They fled from Jesus at the end of his life. Peter, the chief disciple, warrior of God, denied he ever knew Jesus. The rich young man saw his wealth as more important than following Jesus. Following the law for him was good enough. But Jesus said, you must be perfect to be in the household of God. Perfection only comes from the Perfect One as we embrace him. We who know Christ through faith in Jesus’ works, sit now in heavenly places to rule and reign with him. Amen!
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