Matthew
“It is Very Hard for a Rich Person to Enter the Kingdom of Heaven”
Then Jesus says
But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first. Matthew 19:30
What does that mean?
I think the New Living Translation says it well
But many who are the greatest now will be least important then, and those who seem least important now will be the greatest then.
Following Jesus is a life where Jesus gets all the credit
Selling all you have and following Jesus is a life lived by God’s provision
So the credit you get from what you do with that provision belongs to God
Our humility is key in God’s eyes
We don’t do things to become great or to take first place
So, whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 10:31-32
Those who look at the basics or necessities of life as important
To do those things for God’s glory will be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven
It is very nice to have wealth to take care of your needs, wants, and do good works
But that will not make you great in the Kingdom of Heaven
Being great is following Jesus for your needs, wants and ability to do good works
And He receives all the credit
So, sell all you have for the Kingdom of our great King
So, His Kingdom will come in earth as it is in heaven
“It is Very Hard for a Rich Person to Enter the Kingdom of Heaven”
We all see the greatest people are the rich people.
You are a liar if you have not coveted the life style of the rich
and some also want the famous lifestyle, too.
We may criticize wealthy people
but we also respect those with wealth.
I remember after building my house,
people looked at me differently.
People saw me as greater than I was
before I built my house.
People though I had wealth.
Little did they know,
there have only been short times in my life
that I have not had a loan.
We all enjoy the respect or feeling of being greater.
Being average or below average is a hard life.
I know people who have the money to buy a new car
before the one they have, had its first breakdown.
I think that is great because when my 2005 Prius
with 200k miles breaks down, I have to fix it.
The greater something, is the closer it is to being first.
The least something, is the closer it is to being last.
The rich man who asked Jesus…
“Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?”
Had a problem…
He saw the richest of this world greater than
the riches of the Kingdom of Heaven.
When Jesus said to His disciples…
"I tell you the truth,
it is very hard for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. I'll say it again—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!"
He got the disciples’ attention...
The disciples were astounded.
"Then who in the world can be saved?" they asked.
Let’s not forget the rich man came to Jesus
asking what “Good thing must I do”.
Many rich people are generous and do
good things with their wealth.
When we see a wealthy person help by doing a good thing,
they become greater in our eyes.
It is really nice to see people do great things…
But our good things are not able to get us into the Kingdom.
This is why Jesus said to the disciples’ question..
"Then who in the world can be saved?"
And Jesus answered…
"Humanly speaking, it is impossible.
But with God everything is possible."
The rich man left sadly with his riches.
The disciples said…
“We’ve given up everything to follow you.
What will we get?”
Good Question.
Jesus tells the time of their reward and describes what it will be.
The timing is…
At the renewal of all things
Matthew 19:28 NIV
The word renewal means “Regeneration”
Spiritual rebirth, spiritual renovation.
“Re” means to do again, to do it over.
God breathed into Adam and he became a living being.
But everyone after that breathed the earth’s air for life…
And this world becomes our life till the day we die.
God is going to regenerate, redo, you and I
who are born of the Spirit…
Getting a glimpse of the new heaven and new earth.
And there will be a day when we will enter
into the Kingdom of heaven.
It is only right that our reward would come at that time.
Jesus in detail describes what the reward
will be for the 12 disciples who left their
earthy greatness to follow Jesus.
Then Jesus says…
But many who are first will be last,
and many who are last will be first.
Matthew 19:30
What does that mean?
I think the New Living Translation says it well…
But many who are the greatest now will be least important then,
and those who seem least important now will be the greatest then.
Following Jesus is a life where Jesus gets all the credit.
Selling all you have and following Jesus
is a life lived by God’s provision…
So the credit you get from what you do
with that provision belongs to God.
Our humility is key in God’s eyes.
We don’t do things to become great or to take first place.
So, whether you eat or drink or whatever you do,
do it all for the glory of God.
1 Corinthians 10:31-32
Those who look at the basics or necessities of life
as important to do those things for God’s glory…
Will be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven.
It is very nice to have wealth to take care of your needs,
wants, and do good works…
But that will not make you great in the Kingdom of Heaven.
Being great is following Jesus for…
Your needs, wants and ability to do good works
and He receives all the credit.
So, sell all you have for the Kingdom of our great King.
So, His Kingdom will come in earth as it is in heaven.
NOTE…
How to get the camel through the eye of the needle?
Shrink the camel…
And make Jesus, the Gate, bigger
John 10:1
Scripture Reading
Matthew 19:16-30 NLT
The Rich Man
16 Someone came to Jesus with this question: "Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?"
17 "Why ask me about what is good?" Jesus replied. "There is only One who is good. But to answer your question—if you want to receive eternal life, keep the commandments."
18 "Which ones?" the man asked.
And Jesus replied: "'You must not murder. You must not commit adultery. You must not steal. You must not testify falsely. 19 Honor your father and mother. Love your neighbor as yourself.'"
20 "I've obeyed all these commandments," the young man replied. "What else must I do?"
21 Jesus told him, "If you want to be perfect, go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."
22 But when the young man heard this, he went away very sad, for he had many possessions.
23 Then Jesus said to his disciples, "I tell you the truth, it is very hard for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. 24 I'll say it again—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!"
25 The disciples were astounded. "Then who in the world can be saved?" they asked.
26 Jesus looked at them intently and said, "Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But with God everything is possible."
27 Then Peter said to him, "We've given up everything to follow you. What will we get?"
28 "Yes," Jesus replied, "and I assure you that when the world is made new and the Son of Man sits upon his glorious throne, you who have been my followers will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29 And everyone who has given up houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or property, for my sake, will receive a hundred times as much in return and will inherit eternal life. 30 But many who are the greatest now will be least important then, and those who seem least important now will be the greatest then.
Holy Bible, New Living Translation ®, copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers. All rights reserved.
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