notes
Main point summary
What is impossible with man is possible with God. A rich man can enter the kingdom of heaven if he forsakes his earthly riches to follow Christ just as the disciples did. Reward awaits the followers of Jesus, yet it is given out not according to the standard of this world.
Discourse
editing
NT
Matthew 19:23-30
esv
kjv
And Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly, I say to you, t only with difficulty will a rich person enter the kingdom of heaven.
Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven.
u Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter v the kingdom of God.”
And 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.
ideaexplanation
When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished, saying, “Who then can be saved?”
When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved?
But Jesus w looked at them and said, x “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.
questionanswer
situationresponse
Then Peter said in reply, “See, y we have left everything and followed you. What then will we have?”
Then answered Peter and said unto him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore?
Jesus said to them, “Truly, I say to you, in the new world, 1 z when the Son of Man will sit on his glorious throne, you who have followed me a will also sit on twelve thrones, b judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
c And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for my name’s sake,
And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake,
will receive a hundredfold 1 and will d inherit eternal life.
shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.
conditional
temporal
But e many who are f first will be last, and the last first.
But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first.
concessive
progression
Why do they ask that question? In our culture, to be a rich person is usually connected to be a person who compromised and stepped on others to get rich. In general we don't see rich people as morally upright people. In there culture a rich man was seen as someone who was bless by God for their moral behavior. Job is one other example who lived in such culture. The Lord's standard on wealth was not the cultures standard. The rich were not better or more favored by God than the poor. In fact, the poor are in advantage generally, because they know of their need and have not much to give up in order to follow the Lord. The rich are tempted to trust in their riches which will hinder them to follow the Lord.
discourse
Main point summary
To the surprise of the disciples, rich people who were seen as favored by God for there morally uprightness will have it hard to enter the Lords Kingdom because in order to follow Christ, they need to forsake their riches. The disciples have done that and are promised a great reward, yet not as people in the world would reward.
Mark 10
Mark 10:23-31
And Jesus e looked around and said to his disciples, f “How difficult it will be for those who have wealth to enter g the kingdom of God!”
And the disciples h were amazed at his words.
But Jesus said to them again, i “Children, j how difficult it is 1 to enter g the kingdom of God!
It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter g the kingdom of God.”
And they were exceedingly astonished, and said to him, 1 “Then who can be saved?”
Jesus k looked at them and said, l “With man it is impossible,
but not with God.
negativepositive
For all things are possible with God.”
ground
Peter began to say to him, “See, m we have left everything and followed you.”
Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, n there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and o for the gospel,
who will not receive a hundredfold p now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, q with persecutions, and in r the age to come eternal life.
inference
But s many who are first will be last, and the last first.”
Main point summary
Rich people will have it difficult to enter the kingdom of God. But with God it is possible. They have to give up and follow Christ, who rewards many times more then anybody could ever give up.
Luke 18
Luke 18:24-30
Jesus, seeing that he had become sad, said, b “How difficult it is for those who have wealth to enter c the kingdom of God!
For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter c the kingdom of God.”
Those who heard it said, “Then who can be saved?”
But he said, d “What is impossible with man is possible with God.”
And Peter said, “See, e we have left our homes and followed you.”
And he said to them, “Truly, I say to you, f there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers 1 or parents or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God,
who will not receive g many times more h in this time, and in i the age to come eternal life.”
Notes
The Lord's standard on wealth was not the cultures standard. The rich were not better or more favored by God than the poor. In fact, the poor are in advantage generally, because they know of their need of a savior. The rich are tempted to trust in their riches which will hinder them to follow the Lord. Why did the disciples forsake all and follow the Lord? Because they saw Him more valuable than what they had. Nobody is able to give it's riches up without knowing that Christ is better than earthly riches. Lasting change can only happen when Christ is more valuable than everything else. To come to that is impossible with man, but God can do that.