Key Text: Again I say unto you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God (Matthew 19:24).
Matthew tells us that a rich young ruler asked Jesus, in earnest, “Good Master, what good thing shall I do” to gain him eternal life (salvation) v 16. The concept of “good master” is followed by a request for something “good” that the young man may do to gain heaven. However, Jesus’ concept of good was that which is divine. The idea is if you want to gain eternal life, you must first of all enter it. To the young man’s credit, he didn’t come asking theological questions for curiosity. He came to Christ for a purely religious purpose, not seeking personal advantage for himself or for others, but earnestly desiring to lay hold of eternal life. Before showing the young man the way to life, Jesus impresses on him the high standard required by God and that all but God are sinners, his most serious spiritual defect. The young man protested that had kept commandments (dealing with human relationships). Jesus then revealed his real weakness: Love the Lord thy God, with all thy heart and love thy neighbor as thyself.” The young man’s self-centered wealth and luxurious self-righteousness had blinded him to his real weakness. To expose this, Jesus ordered, “go and sell all your possessions and give to the poor…and come…follow me v 21. The young man’s true heart was exposed and revealed he was not blameless as far as the law was concerned. And he lacks true faith, which involves willingness to “surrender all and make Him first place.” The young man loved himself more and he went away sorrowful (grieved).
The young ruler did not need a new commandment, but a deeper understanding and the knowledge of who can be saved. Jesus explained the human difficulty for the rich to be converted: That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven v 24. Jesus destroys the notion that anyone can merit enough divine favor to gain entrance into heaven. Salvation is possible only through divine grace. Forsaking earthly benefits will bring a hundredfold blessing and everlasting life. And, while rewards will be abundant, attitudes are still crucial and “many” would be “first” shall be “last” and the “last shall be first” v 30. AMEN!
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