Bible Study Question(s) on Matthew 19:23-27

[Pizza]

First, read the passage:

Matthew 19:23-27
New King James Version (NKJV)

23 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “Assuredly, I say to you that it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24 And again I say to you, 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.”

25 When His disciples heard it, they were greatly astonished, saying, “Who then can be saved?”

26 But Jesus looked at them and said to them, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

--------------------------------------------

Ok, this one gets me. I've heard v24 being used out of context to claim that the rich can't enter heaven. I know that is NOT the point, but I have issues with what it all DOES mean. I see it as a verse that points out that we simply can't know what God will do with, or how He will judge, others.

In v26, when he answers the question "Who then can be saved?" He answers "With men (and in a mind of a man??) this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." It SOUNDS to me like we DO NOT know as much as we THINK we know. (In particular, we can't predict as well as we like to THINK we can, who is to be saved and who isn't.)

What do others see here?

 

[iLOVE]

Jesus was talking to the Jewish man and woman under the old covenant who had to keep all 600 plus laws including the big 10. The thief at the cross settled how things were about to change under the new covenant of "GRACE".

 

[His_nee (Jeff)]

First, read the passage:
Matthew 19:23-27
New King James Version (NKJV)
23 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “Assuredly, I say to you that it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24 And again I say to you, 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.”
25 When His disciples heard it, they were greatly astonished, saying, “Who then can be saved?”
26 But Jesus looked at them and said to them, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
Ok, this one gets me. I've heard v24 being used out of context to claim that the rich can't enter heaven. I know that is NOT the point, but I have issues with what it all DOES mean. I see it as a verse that points out that we simply can't know what God will do with, or how He will judge, others.
In v26, when he answers the question "Who then can be saved?" He answers "With men (and in a mind of a man??) this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." It SOUNDS to me like we DO NOT know as much as we THINK we know. (In particular, we can't predict as well as we like to THINK we can, who is to be saved and who isn't.)
What do others see here?

God tells His people exactly HOW He will judge them, and others. The rich, the poor, the middle, none of them have a chance to be saved if they trust in the flesh or in themselves to accomplish this. That is why the disciples were so surprised at what Jesus Himself said - they didn't see how anyone could be saved if what Jesus said was true.

So, Jesus explained. (they still had to have their minds opened(more)(in Grace) later, as revealed in their lives and in Scripture.).
He told them that if they thought they had it made, or if they trusted in themselves or any other man to 'save' them, then they had already failed. (As Yhwh says in other places, "whoever trusts in man(flesh/mankind) I(the Creator Yhwh Elohim, curse)" (that's one way to get cursed, just trust in mankind!)) ....
i.e. with men it is impossible (to be saved).
but

Jesus told His disciples "If you trust God to accomplish this, then it is as good as done. (already accomplished)."

Simple and true, and always messed up by mankind apart from God's Grace in Yeshua.

p.s. the truth is rejected by those whom Scripture says will/do reject the truth. it is revealed to "babes" ....

 

[Gary]

In v26, when he answers the question "Who then can be saved?" He answers "With men (and in a mind of a man??) this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." It SOUNDS to me like we DO NOT know as much as we THINK we know. (In particular, we can't predict as well as we like to THINK we can, who is to be saved and who isn't.)

What do others see here?

Here's what I see.

1 Samuel 16
7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”



“With men this is impossible,.................for man looks at the outward appearance

but with God all things are possible.”.....................but the Lord looks at the heart.”

.

 

[brother Paul]

Because all have sinned, God owes no person anything...salvation is by grace (totally in His prerogative to save who He decides to save) through faith (in His sovereign design He has required a response from man)...and as Gary just pointed out, its all about the heart...

 

[His_nee (Jeff)]

First, read the passage:
Matthew 19:23-27
New King James Version (NKJV)
23 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “Assuredly, I say to you that it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24 And again I say to you, 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.”
25 When His disciples heard it, they were greatly astonished, saying, “Who then can be saved?”
26 But Jesus looked at them and said to them, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.
Ok, this one gets me. I've heard v24 being used out of context to claim that the rich can't enter heaven. I know that is NOT the point, but I have issues with what it all DOES mean. I see it as a verse that points out that we simply can't know what God will do with, or how He will judge, others.
In v26, when he answers the question "Who then can be saved?" He answers "With men (and in a mind of a man??) this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." It SOUNDS to me like we DO NOT know as much as we THINK we know. (In particular, we can't predict as well as we like to THINK we can, who is to be saved and who isn't.)

What do others see here?

Remember, Jesus directly told the rich young man what to do to move towards the goal of eternal life. (not what to think or to believe or to have faith)
If the rich young man had done what Jesus told him to do, he could have been numbered with the other disciples at that time, doing , not thinking, exactly as Jesus told him to do (and as the other disciples said in various places that they did do).

 

[Deborah13]

Here's what I see.

1 Samuel 16
7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”



“With men this is impossible,.................for man looks at the outward appearance

but with God all things are possible.”.....................but the Lord looks at the heart.”

.

I think Gary has it the closest to what I think it is saying.

I recall what Jesus said about the poor woman.

Mar 12:42 And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing.
Mar 12:43 And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury:
Mar 12:44 For all they did cast in of their abundance [those who had much]; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living. [my view of who 'they' were]

I equate that to giving the Lord all of heart, soul, and mind.

 

[His_nee (Jeff)]

He often said to His disciples "wherever your treasure is, that's where your heart is." i.e. if they stored up(saved) money on earth, their heart was there. if they stored up riches in heaven, then their heart was there.

 

[brother Paul]

Remember, Jesus directly told the rich young man what to do to move towards the goal of eternal life. (not what to think or to believe or to have faith)
If the rich young man had done what Jesus told him to do, he could have been numbered with the other disciples at that time, doing , not thinking, exactly as Jesus told him to do (and as the other disciples said in various places that they did do).

Yes under the Old Covenant (which they were under for Christ had not yet been crucified and raised) it was all about IF you do this I will do this, but IF you do that I will do that...but read on in Luke 17:10 where it said "and after you have DONE all that I have commanded you, say to yourself, you are an unworthy servant, having only dome your duty"...

 

[His_nee (Jeff)]

right. the point is that many walk away sad, like the rich young man, because they won't give up whatever God tells them to give up, whether their money or drinking or gambling or sex outside His instructions or power(political)/prestige/fame,
or as other disciples did, because Jesus' words gets too hard for them to accept.

John 6:63 It is the Spirit Who gives life [He is the Life-giver]; the flesh conveys no benefit whatever [there is no profit in it]. The words (truths) that I have been speaking to you are spirit and life.
64 But [still] some of you fail to believe and trust and have faith. For Jesus knew from the first who did not believe and had no faith and who would betray Him and be false to Him.
65 And He said, This is why I told you that no one can come to Me unless it is granted him [unless he is enabled to do so] by the Father.
66 After this, many of His disciples drew back (returned to their old associations) and no longer accompanied Him.
67 Jesus said to the Twelve, Will you also go away? [And do you too desire to leave Me?]
68 Simon Peter answered, Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words (the message) of eternal life.
69 And we have learned to believe and trust, and [more] we have come to know [surely] that You are the Holy One of God, the Christ (the Anointed One), the Son of the living God.
70 Jesus answered them, Did I not choose you, the Twelve? And [yet] one of you is a devil (of the evil one and a false accuser).
71 He was speaking of Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, for he was about to betray Him, [although] he was one of the Twelve.

 

[Tony Hyman]

I trully believe God gives each believer "blessings" some He entrusts with "material wealth" because they can handle themselves without
abusing that trust and power which wealth carries with the job.Other servants he also blesses with talents to Glorify Him just as equally as part of the Body Of Christ.Its when these God given talents become "fleshy" with contaminated human traits outside of the example set by Christ
that it becomes a problem for any person who puts those blessings above The Word John 1(1).Being rich is only one of the talents amongst many
One thing is for sure I dont believe it is Christ's intention is to make the poorer rich by making the rich poorer on this earth .Not appreciating and being unsatisfied with God's blessings no matter what they are is just as sinful, look at Esau, Hebrews 12:16 -17.So one must look at the audience Christ is
addressing here.I don't think it has anything to do with good old fashioned hard work and ambition which some might conveniently utilise to further their lazy ends by freeloading and spunging on the kindness of hardworking believers.

 

[His_nee (Jeff)]

In reading through Scripture, you will find if you look that the believers did see the rich made poorer, and the poor made richer, in the community of ekklesia. This was in fact 'common' and 'natural' and not by rules nor by obligation per se, but simply because the New Life demands it or rather simply ( and simpler) results in it. (and all in line with Scripture.).

 

[Sinthesis]

Remember that this was pre-Christianity. As such, the rich, the winners under the Jewish/Roman system, were more likely to be invested in the status quo, thus less likely to give up what was working for them in order to follow Christ.

 

[His_nee (Jeff)]

less likely or not, God is no respecter of persons (status etc) , so everyone is given the same opportunity to have their sins forgiven and to follow Jesus. multitudes of rich and poor alike don't ever follow Him, and like some of the disciples who started to, some or many give up when it "gets to hard". Jesus let them go - He didn't go after them to try to convince them to keep following Him.

 

[agua.]

Here's what I see.

1 Samuel 16
7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”



“With men this is impossible,.................for man looks at the outward appearance

but with God all things are possible.”.....................but the Lord looks at the heart.”

.

Luk 16:13-15 KJV No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. (14) And the Pharisees also, who were covetous, heard all these things: and they derided him. (15) And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.

 

[for_his_glory]

The rich man is under bondage of sin, but the camel knows no sin. A rich man (or anyone for that matter) can not buy his way into heaven. It is only by the free gift of grace that we surrender all to God that gives us a place in His kingdom as we are obedient to His calling.

 

[Deborah13]

I trully believe God gives each believer "blessings" some He entrusts with "material wealth" because they can handle themselves without
abusing that trust and power which wealth carries with the job.Other servants he also blesses with talents to Glorify Him just as equally as part of the Body Of Christ.Its when these God given talents become "fleshy" with contaminated human traits outside of the example set by Christ
that it becomes a problem for any person who puts those blessings above The Word John 1(1).Being rich is only one of the talents amongst many
One thing is for sure I dont believe it is Christ's intention is to make the poorer rich by making the rich poorer on this earth .Not appreciating and being unsatisfied with God's blessings no matter what they are is just as sinful, look at Esau, Hebrews 12:16 -17.So one must look at the audience Christ is
addressing here.I don't think it has anything to do with good old fashioned hard work and ambition which some might conveniently utilise to further their lazy ends by freeloading and spunging on the kindness of hardworking believers.

Your post caused me to think of something again that has been in my thoughts lately in other blessings besides money.
In the case of money I agree with you about God giving money to those who will use it according to His will and we recognize this blessing. But what about being poor. Many of us think God keeps someone poor because they can't handle being rich or because it keeps them dependent on God. But some of the time there may be more to it.
When the unbeliever sees a person who is poor and yet is a happy person, joyful in the Lord they may say to themselves, why are they so happy? They should be miserable, what have they got that I don't have?

 

[for_his_glory]

Humbleness, humility and integrity has no monetary value. When we can learn what these three words mean then we are a wealthy person in the Lord.

 

[Eugene]

Dear Brother Pizza, What do I see? Self effort, righteousness, and law versus grace. The rich young man asks:
Mat 19:16 . . Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?
Mat 19:18 He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness,
Mat 19:19 Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

Self effort always requires meeting the requirements of the law; that ministration of death that can never give life. The young man’s answer? Mat 19:20 . . All these things have I kept from my youth up. What a deceived person. His riches would not release him to enter complete adherence to the law; there’s always something lacking Rom 3:23, and this is exactly what Jesus was saying.

Who can be saved? All that call upon the name of the Lord. Act 2:21, and the thief on the cross is the perfect example of that.
Rom 10:14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard?