Matthew 19:23-26 Mark 10:23-27


Matthew 19:23-26
23 And Jesus said to His disciples, “Truly I say to you, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24 “Again I say to you, 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.” 25 When the disciples heard this, they were very astonished and said, “Then who can be saved?” 26 And looking at them Jesus said to them, “With people this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
Mark 10:23-27
23 And Jesus, looking around, said to His disciples, “How hard it will be for those who are wealthy to enter the kingdom of God!” 24 The disciples were amazed at His words. But Jesus answered again and said to them, “Children, how hard it is 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 They were even more astonished and said to Him, “Then who can be saved?” 27 Looking at them, Jesus said, “With people it is impossible, but not with God; for all things are possible with God.”
Who can be saved?  This is the key question the disciples what to know in this exchange with Jesus.  The previous text asked an even more important question: What can I do to be saved?  However, when the rich young ruler, who asked that question, walked away sad and lost; Jesus affirms the teachings of this text.  They are vital teachings for us to understand correctly.  In order to gain this understanding, it is important to understand the context in which it occurred.  Remember the rich young ruler has just rejected the invitation to follow Christ because he did not want to sell his possessions and give the money to the poor.

THE DIFFICULTY OF SALVATION FOR THE WEALTHY: Wealth is generally considered to be a blessing from the Lord.  Poverty is generally seen as a type of curse from God.  Certainly, the disciples considered this to be the case.  So, it was a complete surprise to them when Jesus says it is difficult for the wealthy to enter the kingdom of God.  The general consensus was that wealth was a sign that they had already been guaranteed a place in the kingdom of God.  Jesus clarifies that our entrance into the kingdom has nothing to do with the amount of our possessions.  Heaven cannot be purchased, and wealth is not always a blessing from God.  The reason it is difficult for the wealthy to enter the kingdom, is self-sufficiency.  It is easy for the wealthy to consider themselves to be independent.  Salvation requires humility and the recognition that we cannot earn it.  Salvation is a gift that comes from the grace of God.  There is no other way to receive the gift of salvation but faith.  It is hard for a wealth person to be dependent on anyone but self.  The greatest hindrance to salvation is self-reliance.  The reason it is so difficult for the wealthy to enter the kingdom is that it is difficult for the wealthy to stop trusting in themselves and their possessions and start trusting Christ exclusively for their well-being.  As long as a man considers his wealth as a means of salvation, he cannot be saved any more than and camel can go through the eye of a needle.

THE IMPOSSIBILITY OF SALVATION FOR THE WORLDLY: The teaching of Jesus about the wealthy was astonishing to the disciples because it went against everything they considered to be true.  This teaching caused them to ask who could be saved.  Jesus affirms that salvation is impossible for the worldly.  By that, I mean those who try to gain salvation through worldly means such as wealth, good works, political position, religious affiliation or popularity.  All of these things will purchase status on earth but it is a currency that is not valid to God.  The only currency God accepts for salvation is the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ.  Faith in Him is the only means by which we can obtain that currency.  So, while it is impossible for a man to save himself by any means, with God this is graciously possible.  The standards of man and God’s standards are very different.  This was extremely surprising to the disciples and will be surprising to multitudes of people when they finally stand before God.  Our job is to proclaim this message to all who will hear so men might know that salvation is possible and available through Christ

APPLICATION: Don’t be impressed or enamored by wealth.  It can be a detriment to following Christ.  Money can easily become an idol in our lives and we must do all we can to prevent that idol from taking up residence in our hearts.  Warn others that the only means available for salvation is faith in Christ.

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