09/29/2022
A study of chapter 19 of the Gospel of Matthew, verses 23 to 26
Rich people and the place where God rules in heaven 19:23-26
23 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly I tell you, it is hard for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24 Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” 25 When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, “Who then can be saved?” 26 Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
Verse 23 Jesus explained about rich people. This was after his conversation with the rich young ruler. It is very difficult for rich people to enter where God rules for two reasons:
1. Because of their wealth, they may not feel that they need God. This is because their money makes them feel safe. It allows them to buy anything that they want. They may believe that their money can rescue them from any problems.
2. Rich people can easily forget that life on earth does not last for ever. They may be like the rich fool in the story that Jesus told (Luke 12:13-21). They may forget about life that lasts for ever in heaven.
Verse 24 People try to explain the picture language that Jesus uses here in different ways.
Some people say that there was a narrow gate in the city wall called a ‘needle hole’. If a camel had a load on its back, it could not get through that narrow gate.
But the words were probably a familiar way to describe a very difficult action. The camel was the largest animal in Israel. The hole in a needle is very tiny.
Verse 25 The *disciples were astonished about Jesus’ warning. They thought that rich people would always have a place in God’s *kingdom. They believed that God gave wealth to people that he approved of. Now they thought that nobody had a chance to enter where God rules.
Verse 26 Jesus did not say that it was ‘impossible’ for a rich man to be his *disciple. Rich people can become citizens where God rules. God will help them, but it is difficult for them to forget their money. Matthew himself left his good job to follow Jesus (Matthew 9:9). Zacchaeus promised to pay back all the money that he had taken from people. He also said that he would give half his money to help poor people (Luke 19:1-10). Also there were Joseph from Arimathea and Nicodemus who were *Jewish leaders (Matthew 27:57-60; John 19:38-40).