By Douglas K. Wilson, Ph. D.
Professor of Biblical Studies, University of Mobile
ETERNAL LIFE
Matthew 19:16–30
Temporal wealth is a matter of perspective. When we Americans think of rich people, names like “Bezos” or “Musk” or “Gates” probably come to mind. For the masses of people in much of the world, the resident American in their midst might be perceived to be the wealthy one.
When our family lived in Nicaragua, we were rich in contrast to our neighbors. The annual government salary for the military, police officers and school teachers was about $5,000. The university’s employees were well compensated by comparison. While we were not rich by American standards, we were wealthy in the eyes of our neighbors.
Unwilling (16–22)
This week’s passage is about the rich young ruler and Jesus’ teaching about the rich. Who are the rich? At what point do you and I become the rich person about whom Jesus is teaching?
In the 1980s, I was introduced to Walter Chantry’s book “Today’s Gospel: Authentic or Synthetic?” In it, he unpacks the story of the rich young ruler to explain Jesus’ method of evangelism.
Jesus addressed the reality that only God is good. While not denying His deity, Jesus was stating that a man alone cannot attain God’s standard of goodness. Next, Jesus pointed to the commandments as the measure of God’s expectations.
The man claimed to have kept all the commandments since childhood, but Jesus pointed out that the young man was guilty of coveting. “It would not do simply to quote Exodus 20 again. Jesus translated the tenth of God’s commands into a practical test by demanding that he abandon his riches” (Chantry, p. 44).
What was Jesus calling the man to do? He was to surrender his earthly status and follow Jesus. He had called Peter and Andrew, James and John and Matthew to absolute surrender. Jesus was calling the young man to do the same, but he was unwilling.
Possible (23–26)
It will be hard for a rich person to enter the Kingdom. Jesus wanted to emphasize this so He said it again. It would be easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle.
What is the eye of a needle? Is it that door within a door that you heard about on social media? No, not likely. The large door that contained a smaller door for individuals to pass through was built in the Middle Ages.
A textual variant in the manuscripts has led some to argue that Jesus’ intended word was “rope” (“kamilon”) through the eye of a needle rather than “camel” (“kamelon”). Others state that “camel through the eye of a needle” is likely since it echoes a comparable expression in the Talmud (Berakhot 55b).
The expression was Jesus’ use of hyperbole to communicate that it is impossible apart from the intervening work of God for a rich man to enter the Kingdom. Salvation is only possible when gifted by God.
Reward (27–30)
Peter understood the analogy, confessing that he and his fellow disciples had surrendered everything to follow Jesus.
The Master affirmed his confession and promised that the disciples would receive their reward for their surrender and service.
A portion of the reward would come in this life (Mark 10:30), and part will come in eternity. Our hundred-fold inheritance must not be our motivation for surrendering to the Master, but it is His promise to us. Whether first or last, followers will spend eternity with Him.
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