Matthew 19:23-30
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I. Impossible Salvation (23-26)

Difficult for a rich person to enter heaven—Jesus’ response after the rich young ruler turned away from following Jesus rather than give up his wealth

Mark’s gospel records that Jesus had looked at him and loved him before His answer to the seeking young man. So Jesus’ comment was one of sorrow and compassion for a human being who could not measure what was most valuable at the peril of his soul. Then Jesus sharpens His point by defining just how difficult—like passing a camel through the eye of a needle. In other words, impossible. Why would that be? G. Campbell Morgan said, “Because wealth means power, and power is far more likely to create pride than to create poverty of spirit.”

Beatitudes: Blessed are the poor (bankrupt) in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 5:3). The disciples were “greatly astonished, saying, “Who then can be saved?”

It is true that the Jewish culture of that day viewed wealth as a prime indicator of God’s favor on a life. Certainly those who saw life this way could point to Abraham, David, Solomon, Daniel and others to prove their point.

In our times, we can hardly help feeling that those who are wealthy are so because they possess greater skill and insights than ordinary folk, or have had some breakthrough we wish would happen to us. G. Campbell Morgan thinks it is possible that the disciples are getting at something deeper yet. What Jesus is saying probes every human heart, and the disciples realized it.

“There is not one of us that would not be rich if we could; and if the desire to possess wealth, and the determination to do it if we were able, prevents us coming into the Kingdom, who can be saved? These disciples were in all likelihood more honest than we often are. They recognized that if they could have possessed the young man’s wealth, they would; and they recognized that Jesus Christ in His statement of difficulty was not dealing with a class after all—He never did deal with a class—but that he was getting down to the common facts of human nature and human peril.”

For anyone to be saved—rich or poor—he somehow has to reverse what comes natural to him—living for the here and now, doing what he wants to do, doing his best to overcome his sins and weaknesses so that he can be happy. It is difficult to the point of impossible to believe in what he cannot see and what hasn’t happened yet enough to abandon hope in himself, realize his helplessness, and thus cast his entire trust upon Jesus Christ to rescue him.

The beautiful thing is what Jesus says next: Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

Rich people can get saved and do get saved, despite the fact that their wealth is like an undertow dragging them out to drown in the ocean of their own self-reliance.

The nature of every human being is set on a hellbound course—children of disobedience, children of wrath. Our very nature from which come our desires, thoughts, words, deeds—is set 180 degrees off, setting our course away from God, away from the kingdom of heaven (Ephesians 2:1-10). We are saved not of ourselves, but by grace through faith. The Lord opens our heart (Lydia—Acts 16:14), the Lord grants us repentance that leads to life (Acts 11:18). The Lord creates faith—faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ (Romans 10:17).

Salvation is impossible with man. But with God all things are possible.

II. Astonishing Reward (27-29)

Peter is not exaggerating. He and his fellow disciples have left their businesses and families. In Levi’s (Matthew’s) case, he can never go back to serve as a tax collector for Rome. He had just left his money tables and followed Jesus. He was very public about his new Master, inviting his friends for a banquet so they could meet Jesus.

It was not an easy life going from town to town, dealing with the clamoring crowds, and constant slander and tricks of those who wanted to destroy Jesus. Camping is fun, but even those who love it most are glad to be back in their own bed with the comforts of home. Nobody likes to be hounded all the time. Unlike the rich young ruler, they had given up a lot. Was it worth it?

T. S. Elliott said, “I had far rather walk, as I do, in daily terror of eternity, than feel that this was only a children’s game in which all the contestants would get equally worthless prizes in the end.”

Regeneration results in a new heaven, new earth (hence ESV’s “new world”) where righteousness has taken up residence (vs. 28). The Son of Man will sit on His glorious throne (Daniel 7) judgment at the end of the age when all the kingdoms of this world give way to the kingdom of the Son of Man. You . . . will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel—judging refers to more than just judicial branch, but to all that is involved with reigning in a kingdom. 

We know that if we suffer with him we shall reign with Him. It is not entirely clear what time period Jesus is referring to—the judging and reigning seem to describe the millennium, but “the new world” or “regeneration” is the eternal state that comes after that.

How exactly it all fits together will become clear when it happens, but here is the point Jesus is making. It will be more than worth it. Even if you give up everything, you gain far more. Jesus plus nothing equals everything (Tchividjian). Everything minus Jesus equals nothing. Jesus continues, because the worth of the eternal kingdom is not just for the twelve apostles (12). Parallel accounts note that we receive a hundredfold even in this life. Houses . . . lands bracket what Jesus lists. Material possessions—want to talk things? This was what the rich young ruler could not bring himself to give up. Ever thought about all the things God provides for you now, even when you’re not going after them? Is it not true that wherever you go in all the earth, there are believers whose home is open to you because you are a member of God’s family?

What is more painful for people to suffer is the broken relationships that can result from following Jesus—brothers, sisters, father, mother, children—losing family hurts more than losing any material object. Christians suffering has much to do with the rejection, abuse, contempt, ostracism, persecution they receive from those who reject Jesus and His followers. Will such suffering be worth it? 

What about what will be yours in the regeneration?

Your body will be immortal and incorruptible. You will be more able to enjoy physical pleasures than ever before.

Your mind will finally be at its full capacity as designed by the Creator, unencumbered by the curse.

Your home will be the heavenly city, new heaven, new earth—rivers, trees, gardens, gold, jewels, good food, God’s presence where there are pleasures forever. Eden regained and improved.

Your familiar friends will be believers from every nation, kindred, tongue, the apostles, the prophets, the fathers, the angels, God the Father, Son, and Spirit.

C. S. Lewis said, “All your life an unattainable ecstasy has hovered just beyond the grasp of your consciousness. The day is coming when you will wake to find, beyond all hope, that you have attained it, or else, that it was within your reach and you have lost it forever.”

He continued, “There have been times when I think we do not desire heaven but more often I find myself wondering whether in our heart of hearts, we have ever desired anything else.”

III. Humbling Caution (30)

Jesus is going to give a parable in the next chapter to illustrate what He means, but what is He saying, and why does He say it here?

Peter’s statement—we have left everything, and his question—what will we have for it?—carries an implied contrast between him, his fellow disciples and the rich young ruler. There is a tinge of superiority in the tone of it. There was a sort of worldly spirit of rank and class. That attitude can be deadly.

If salvation is impossible for man but made possible for man, if our reward goes far beyond what we deserve or could imagine, then our being followers of Jesus cannot make us feel superior. It ought to make us humble and grateful. We are infinitely blessed. But not by our doing—salvation is impossible with man and our rewards are far beyond what we could ever deserve.

Whoever joins Jesus by faith, whether in the beginning, as did the apostles, or as a child, or as an adult, or in the last moments of this life, or the last hours of this period of human history—whoever belongs to Jesus enjoys an impossible salvation and gains astonishing reward. How humbling! How incredible! What a good God!

The Christians who seem to be the great ones—the ones who changed the tide of civilizations, who founded local churches and denominations, who opened up continents for the gospel, those whose service was public and well-known—they may in fact be among the least of God’s servants. Their faith may be some of the weakest. God uses nobodies. Not many noble, not many powerful, not many wise by this world’s standards. He gets glory by using what is low and despised, so no one will boast in His presence.

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