24 And when Jesus saw that he became very sorrowful, He said, “How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God! 25 For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” 26 And those who heard it said, “Who then can be saved?” 27 But He said, “The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.” 28 Then Peter said, “See, we have left all and followed You.” 29 So He said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or parents or brothers or wife or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, 30 who shall not receive many times more in this present time, and in the age to come eternal life.”
Jesus now turned from addressing the rich young ruler’s issues to His disciples.
18:24
And when Jesus saw that he became very sorrowful, He said, “How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!
Jesus responded that riches hinder a person from becoming a believer. The affluent have a harder time relying on God than on themselves.
18:25
For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”
Jesus used hyperbolic language in this verse. Wealth is a great hindrance to a person becoming a believer. Camels were the largest animals in Palestine at the time of Christ. They were unable to pass through a surgeon’s needle; it was impossible. Salvation is not a matter of human achievement. The point is the impossibility of people acquiring salvation by their own efforts.
18:26
And those who heard it said, “Who then can be saved?”
The disciples responded by asking how a person could be saved. Jesus’ explanation to the ruler was the reverse of common opinion about how to go to heaven. If the rich, with all their advantages, could not be saved, who could?
18:27
But He said, “The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.”
Jesus’ point was that God can reach those with great wealth, for with Him nothing is impossible. What is impossible with men is possible with God. God can break the possession wealth has on a soul. Salvation is always an issue of grace or what God provides. Man is completely dependent on God for salvation.
18:28
Then Peter said, “See, we have left all and followed You.”
Peter’s response to the rich ruler’s question was that he and the other disciples had left all to follow Jesus.
18:29
So He said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or parents or brothers or wife or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God,
God is under no obligation to anyone because of their sacrifices. He always gives more than what we think He is because of His grace. God does not bless grudgingly.
18:30
who shall not receive many times more in this present time, and in the age to come eternal life.”
The emphatic double negative emphasizes reward for following Jesus. What we give to God, He returns many times over.
PRINCIPLE:
The counterexample to salvation by works is acceptance of God’s provision for salvation.
APPLICATION:
In contrast to the ruler, the disciples were to function as a counterexample to him. Relying on God’s provisions by grace results in eternal life. It is not possible to rely on wealth to become a believer. A person must rely on the finished work of Christ on the cross alone for salvation.
