Luke 18:24-27 (ESV)
[24] Jesus, seeing that he had
become sad, said, “How difficult it is for those who have wealth to enter the
kingdom of God! [25] For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a
needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” [26] Those who
heard it said, “Then who can be saved?” [27] But he said, “What is impossible
with man is possible with God.”
A wealthy man came to Jesus asking
what he needed to do to inherit eternal life. He had kept the commandments. He
was wealthy. In the eyes of the community he should be the one who inherits
eternal life before anyone. Wealth was, in their minds, an indicator of God’s
approval. That’s why when Jesus says that it is difficult for the wealthy to
enter the kingdom. His disciple’s response is, “Then who can be saved?” If
those who have been blessed by God can’t be saved, who can?
There have been many explanations
about what Jesus meant when he said that “it is easier for a camel to go
through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of
God.” Most of them try to explain how hard it is, but it is not impossible. I’ve
heard explanations from weaving and rug making to gates in the city wall. But
here’s the thing, Jesus meant it to be impossible. That’s exactly what his
disciples understood. They responded, “Then who can be saved?” Jesus replied
that it is impossible with men. It is impossible, but God. . .
Reading this, we should not look
down on the wealthy and exalt the poor. Rather, we should consider the
impossibility of entering the kingdom and inheriting eternal life. That is what
Jesus was communicating. It is impossible apart from the grace of God. Jesus
told the rich man to sell all he had and give it to the poor, not because equal
distribution of wealth is the goal, but because he had to let go of that which
he thought indicated his own righteousness. Salvation comes when we are ready
to let go of our own goodness, our own righteousness, realize our own inability
to gain God’s favor, and trust that God will accept us and transform us because
of Jesus alone. That is the point Jesus is making. It’s not hard, it’s
impossible. Only by God’s grace does it become possible.
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