Matthew 19:23-24 Amplified Bible
23 Jesus said to His disciples, “I assure you and most solemnly say to you, it is difficult for a rich man [who clings to possessions and status as security] 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 a rich man [who places his faith in wealth and status] to enter the kingdom of God.”
Word of God for the Children of God
Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.
Jesus is emphatic: It is extremely difficult for the rich to embrace the radical call of discipleship in the Kingdom of God.
But, salvation does not depend on our ability, but on God’s generous grace.
The key point for us, however, is to be reminded about the dangers of wealth and possessions.
They can become our god, our stumbling block, our choking point, our diversion, our downfall as they become things we wont give up to follow Jesus.
From our vantage point, following Jesus’ radical call is impossible.
Fortunately, God has provided the Holy Spirit and fellow-Christians.
We all need the guidance of the Spirit and the strength of a dedicated Christian community to lead, guide, direct, and yield to Jesus’ call in all areas of our lives, including using our “poverty, wealth and possessions” to serve our neighbors.
Camels were one of the largest animals in the lands of the Bible.
Their ability to go without water is legendary.
Camels function like tractor trailers today because they can carry large amounts of cargo over great distances and harsh desert terrain.
In Biblical times, owning camels was a sign of wealth and many well-known individuals possessed them, Abram (Gen. 12:16), Jacob (Gen. 31:17), and Job (Job 1:3).
Jesus makes a spiritual point by referencing the size of a camel.
In Matthew 19:16–24, a rich young man approaches Jesus, asking, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?”
Jesus responds by highlighting the commandments, which the young man claims to have kept.
Then Jesus said, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me” (v. 21).
The young man, saddened by his response, walked away because he had great wealth.
Jesus then turned to His disciples and said, “Truly I tell you, it is hard for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. 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” (vv. 23–24).
The imagery of a camel attempting to pass through the eye of a needle is intentionally jarring.
Since camels were the largest animals commonly seen in Israel at the time, His audience would know this would be uncommon and extremely difficult.
While some argue that the “eye of the needle” referred to a small narrow gate, it is much more likely it meant the minuscule eye of an actual sewing needle.
What does Matthew 19:24 mean?
It means Jesus was able to see that what came first in this man’s heart was his riches…. To follow Christ we have to give up everything that will take His place as God in our life. So be in riches or people or status or popularity and fame. If we cannot give that up, cannot walk or run away, we cannot be His disciple.
This underscored the seemingly impossible task of entering God’s kingdom with a heart gripped by our “Golden Calves” material wealth and possessions.
Jesus had failed to separate the rich young man from his wealth. The trouble with possessions is that they can too easily possess us.
Jesus calls for radical change in our lives, a change that can seem unattainable.
However, he poignantly reminds us that, while something may seem utterly impossible for mortals, “for with God, all things are possible”.
Go Deeper
What are you holding on to that might hinder your spiritual growth? Consider what it means to “sell your possessions and give to the poor” in your own life?
In the name of God, the father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit
Praying …
Psalm 49
The Folly of Trusting in Riches.
To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of the sons of Korah.
49 Hear this, all peoples;
Listen carefully, all inhabitants of the world,
2
Both low and high,
Rich and poor together:
3
My mouth will speak wisdom,
And the meditation of my heart will be understanding.
4
I will incline my ear and consent to a proverb;
On the lyre I will unfold my riddle.
5
Why should I fear in the days of evil,
When the wickedness of those who would betray me surrounds me [on every side],
6
Even those who trust in and rely on their wealth
And boast of the abundance of their riches?
7
None of them can by any means redeem [either himself or] his brother,
Nor give to God a ransom for him—
8
For the ransom of his soul is too costly,
And he should cease trying forever—
9
So that he should live on eternally,
That he should never see the pit (grave) and undergo decay.
10
For he sees that even wise men die;
The fool and the stupid alike perish
And leave their wealth to others.
11
Their inward thought is that their houses will continue forever,
And their dwelling places to all generations;
They have named their lands after their own names [ignoring God].
12
But man, with all his [self] honor and pomp, will not endure;
He is like the beasts that perish.
13
This is the fate of those who are foolishly confident,
And of those after them who approve [and are influenced by] their words. Selah.
14
Like sheep they are appointed for Sheol (the nether world, the place of the dead);
Death will be their shepherd;
And the upright shall rule over them in the morning,
And their form and beauty shall [a]be for Sheol to consume,
So that they have no dwelling [on earth].
15
But God will redeem my life from the power of Sheol,
For He will receive me. Selah.
16
Be not afraid when [an ungodly] man becomes rich,
When the wealth and glory of his house are increased;
17
For when he dies he will carry nothing away;
His glory will not descend after him.
18
Though while he lives he counts himself happy and prosperous—
And though people praise you when you do well for yourself—
19
He shall go to the generation of his fathers;
They shall never again see the light.
20
A man [who is held] in honor,
Yet who lacks [spiritual] understanding and a teachable heart, is like the beasts that perish.
Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.
Loving God, Living God, Loving Hope, Living Hope, Loving Living Life His Way! "Many things are possible for the person who has hope. Even more is possible for the person who has faith. And still more is possible for the person who knows how to love. But everything is possible for the person who practices all three virtues." - Brother Lawrence (1605-1691), Practicing the Presence of God (1692). 