Luke 18:24-30
So, What’s In It For Me?
“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.”
Before we begin to take a look at today’s Scripture, let me inform you that we find the same teaching of our Lord Jesus Christ listed in the Gospels of Matthew and Mark. So, let’s also see what they put down on paper, shall we?
Mark 10: 23 – 31, “23 Then Jesus looked around and said to His disciples, “How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!” 24 And the disciples were astonished at His words. But Jesus answered again and said to them, “Children, how hard it is for those who trust in riches to enter the kingdom of God! 25 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 they were greatly astonished, saying among themselves, “Who then can be saved?” 27 But Jesus looked at them and said, “With men it is impossible, but not with God; for with God all things are possible.” 28 Then Peter began to say to Him, “See, we have left all and followed You.” 29 So Jesus answered and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My sake and the gospel’s, 30 who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time—houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions—and in the age to come, eternal life. 31 But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”
Matthew 19:23-30, “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.” 27 Then Peter answered and said to Him, “See, we have left all and followed You. Therefore what shall we have?” 28 So Jesus said to them, “Assuredly I say to you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My name’s sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life. 30 But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”
So, having taken a look at all three versions what have you noticed that is different? Well, you have to remember that the apostles Matthew and Peter were present [ Mark records Peter’s testimony ] when our Lord gave this teaching and their listing of the Lord’s sermon list more information. Luke many years after Matthew and Mark had written their Gospels went back and interviewed eyewitnesses and wrote his Gospel. You will note that Matthew who was the first to record all his memory’s of our Lord’s actions gives us more facts that Mark for he adds the remark of ‘28 So Jesus said to them, “Assuredly I say to you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.’
Here we see recorded the Lord’s remarks to the 12 apostles. It is very interesting to me that Judas was there in the Lord’s presence when He had given this amazing comment. Yet, there was a root of evil taking form in his heart that would cause him to forget the awesome promise that the Lord Adoni Yeshua had in store for those who walked the three and a half years with him.
Before I go on I would like to ask for your prayers. For my heart is broken. I had this beautiful young godly twenty two year old secretary, who like Judas forsook what God had in store for her in the future in order to seek instantly her desires. At eighteen she became involved with a guy that sent up many red flags to her father and to me. Even though she was told that the guy who won her heart was going to be bad news in the future she ignored the warnings and proceeded to do what her heart told her. After remaining pure and thinking that this guy would marry her, he broke off their relationship with the words that he found someone else who would meet his sexual requests.
Needless to say, she was devastated. Then wrong choice after wrong choice was made by her. She quit her ministry and job here at church and took on a position as a receptionist at a ‘head hunter’ business. There were two partners who owned the business. One of the owners went home and told his drug addict son that they have a new pretty secretary working for him. So, to make a look story short, the seed of choosing the world’s way having entered into her heart, my lovely sister in Christ is now an out of control druggie sex slave for this spoiled rich guy’s kid. Please pray that the Lord rescue her like Abraham rescued Lot and pull her out of this den of vipers. Thanks, I trust you will pray for her. Her name is Michelle.
Thanks for letting me pour my heart out to you on Michelle and her parent’s behalf. Let’s take a look at today’s study.
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!
Please remember that our Lord had just had an interaction with the ‘Rich Young Ruler’ who went away without leaving all to come and follow the Son of God. Heavy of heart for the rich young man our Lord Jesus wanted the lesson that they had seen in His dealings with him to come home to all the disciples. He wanted them to see that when it came to response to Him the rich were at a definite disadvantage for they had too much to lose. In order to come under the Kingdom of God total obedience was required, and riches made that difficult when there was a world in need. That as why there would be few who could cope with riches and discipleship at the same time. For being under the Authority and Rule of God meant living as God required, and riches tended to make men live as their lusts required.
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.”
Why were the disciples amazed? Because they had still not learned the lesson that what was important in the world was not important to God. They probably thought that riches enabled men to give generously, gave them position in the synagogue and made them more capable of doing well. It gave them a decided advantage. That was because in spite of all that our Lord Jesus had taught them they still thought that eternal life could be earned. They failed to see that when men did the things that we have described their hearts were often not right.
Peter remembers that the Lord called them all ‘Children.’ A tender word. Then He went on to stress that entry under the Kingdom of God was difficult for all, never mind the rich. It was not easy for anyone. That was why so few entered. And that for the rich it was virtually impossible. It was like trying to get a camel through the eye of a needle. Rich men found it hard to become like little children, bringing nothing with them and being always ready to receive freely. They relied on their own riches and enjoyed the pleasures that resulted, regularly only paying lip service to God and His purposes. They had little real sense of need and thought they could buy God’s acceptance, either by a multiplicity of sacrifices, or by gifts. They rather needed desperately to consider whether their hearts were truly right towards God.
The thought of a camel going through the eye of a needle was ludicrous, but it well illustrated the point of impossibility.
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.”
Our Holy King Jesus recognized that they were beginning dimly to see the truth, that attaining salvation is impossible to men, and He then went on to make clear that in fact the only reason that men could be saved was that nothing is impossible when God is there. That God is able to do anything, even save men. This stresses the miraculous nature of the work of converting of men and women. In the end, He was saying, salvation is the gift of God, and only made possible by the work of God on them and within them. It is the greatest miracle of all. Thus He emphasized that anything is possible when God steps in. It is not a theoretical or philosophical statement, it is a deeply personal statement. We could translate, ‘All things are possible when God Is there.’
Basic then to all of our Lord Jesus’ words here is that men cannot save themselves by their actions. This rich young man had given Him a marvelous opportunity to bring this lesson home. In men’s eyes there was no one closer to being acceptable to God than this eager young man, desirous of being good, and rich without being spoiled, seemingly ready to do ‘anything’. He seemed almost the perfect model for acceptability. But The Lord Jesus had seen deeper and had revealed exactly what was lacking. He was not ready to put God first in his life. His eagerness was with reservations, and that could not make him acceptable to God. What he must therefore do was look to God to do the ‘impossible’ in his life, and in his case that involved following God’s Holy Son The Lord Jesus, as indeed in one way or another it does for us all. We cannot ever come for salvation and say that we will not follow Him.
28 Then Peter said, “See, we have left all and followed You.”
The thought of who could be saved, and that salvation is impossible to men, must have been disturbing to these men who had followed The Lord Jesus. After all, was that not why they were following Him in the first place? It could only make them wonder about their own position. And Peter spoke for them all when he asked this question. Where did they stand? After all, they had done what the young man would not do. They had left all and followed Him.
Peter’s question can seem almost to be greedy, as though he was asking what rewards they would get. However, we think that because of the nature of our Lord Jesus’ reply rather because of Peter’s question and expectation. Peter was not asking what rewards they would get. In the light of the previous comments about riches it would hardly be in his mind as a question to put to our Master Lord Jesus at that time. What he was concerned about was whether, considering their position, God would work the impossible on them, giving them the eternal life that the young man had been seeking. It was a reasonable question and in the circumstances to be expected.
It was our King of Kings and Lord of Lords Jesus Himself Who seemingly expanded His reply by saying that not only were they sure to receive eternal life in the world to come if they truly followed Him, but also that they would receive many benefits in this life, even though not in the way that men in general sought them. There would be unexpected rewards resulting from Christian fellowship and sharing. What would be involved for them meanwhile, both positively and negatively, would be sacrifice, God’s provision, persecution and finally eternal life. We must not blame Peter because our Lord Jesus graciously offered more than he asked.
You might try to argue then why did our Lord wind up commenting about the apostles having the rewards of judges in God’s Kingdom. To Peter’s question our Lord Jesus did not just say that they need not be concerned because their salvation was assured by the grace of God. Rather He sought to give them the grand vision which would help to sustain them in days to come. He replied, “Truly I tell you, that you who have followed me, in the regeneration, when the Son of Man will sit on the throne of His glory, you also will sit on twelve thrones judging (administering and directing and acting as guide to) the twelve tribes of Israel.” He repeated the last part of this at the Last Supper in chapter 22 of the Gospel of Luke verse 30.
This reply was an absolute assurance of their salvation and of eternal life because they had truly responded to Him and followed Him (whereby Judas was excluded). But it was more than that, it was a guarantee of the future. It was a guarantee of final triumph in the face of what was to come. Man might do his worst but God would finally bring about the regeneration, and then ‘you who have followed me’ would be there in positions of authority fulfilling a new function as disciples and Apostles.
Returning to Luke we find that his emphasis is that those who follow The Lord Jesus will not finally lose by it and will finally receive eternal life.
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.”
The Lord Jesus here covered two aspects of things, this world and the next. As some travelled the world in His name they would share many houses which they could for a time call home, they would find many brothers and sisters and mothers (but not ‘many fathers’ - they had one Father, even God), and they would often benefit from land as necessary in His service. But the solemn note was then added, ‘with persecution’. Life was not promised to be rosy, only fulfilling. And finally the greatest promise of all, ‘in the world to come eternal life’. This does not have in mind any kingdom age. It looks to the everlasting glory with God in eternity.
We read in Mark an additional comment of our Lord, “31 But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”
Finally our Lord Jesus ended by warning them against presumption, and no doubt Judas was especially in mind. Whether this means first in status and priority, or first in time, the same applies. It was possible to lose the benefit that was theirs. They could finish up last. Each must ensure his continuation in faithful service if he was to receive the prize as the apostle Paul wrote in the book of 1 Corinthians 9, “27 But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.”
This remark of our Lord applied not only to the disciples but to ‘many’. And in a sense the discouraging thing is that many who were first will be last. It was not to be seen as theoretical but as fact. Many would lose what they had at first gained. But it was also an encouragement. Those who were last need not despair, for they too could finish up first. It is never too late to begin to serve God faithfully.
Some would relate those ‘that are first’ to the leaders of the people, or to the Pharisees, or to rich and important men in contrast with the common people and the poor. But in this immediate context this seems doubtful. What He has in mind here is for them not to lose what they have already gained.
Now as we get ready to leave I ask you this question, “Are you ready to give all to follow the Lord Jesus?’ Be honest with yourselves. This isn’t just an exercise your eternal life depends on how you believe.
