The Curse of Riches. Mark 10:23-27.
And Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How difficult it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God! And the disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said to them again, “Children, how difficult it is to enter the kingdom of God! “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.”And they were exceedingly astonished and said to him, “Then who can be saved?”Jesus looked at them and said, “With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God.”
Dear Heirs of the Kingdom,
The departure of the young man presents an opportunity for Jesus to teach some important truths.
Proclamation (Vv. 23-24). Jesus makes a startling declaration, that it is difficult for the wealthy to “enter the kingdom of God.” The disciples are amazed that Jesus would make such a statement but he repeats it. Wealth is not evil, in and of itself, but we have just seen a man who is so attached to his wealth that he is willing to forego eternal life!
Perplexion (Vv. 25-26). Jesus emphasises what he has just said with hyperbole. A camel was the largest animal known to most people in Israel, while the eye of a needle would have been the smallest opening. To try and thread a needle with a camel illustrates rather humorously, the difficulty of bringing the rich into the kingdom. This puzzles the disciples because the popular teaching of the day was that the rich had found favour with God and he had blessed them with wealth. If the rich could not be saved, who could?
Paradox (v. 27).Instead of answering the specific question about the rich, Jesus gives a general answer. This is because all of us have something that holds us back and keeps us from the Saviour. The sinful nature is against the Spirit so that each of us is in danger of rejecting salvation. However, God makes the impossible possible by his grace. Salvation is humanly impossible because “All our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment” (Isaiah 64:6). But despite this harsh truth, God “saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to His mercy” (Titus 3:5). Grace is available for salvation. The impossible for men is possible with God.
Your Loving Pastor Chris.