Welcome And Passage Setup

Mark 0:03

Hello everyone, this is Mark Davis, and I want to welcome you to the Gospel Explorations Podcast, where we gather together each week to take time to explore God's Word to learn how we ought to live in this present age. I'm glad you've chosen to spend some time with us today. Let's jump into today's episode. Welcome back, friends, to the Gospel Explorations Podcast. We're glad that you've joined us for episode number 80, and take time to explore not only what the scripture says, but also how it should shape the way that we live. In our last episode together, we looked at the rich young ruler who came to Jesus asking what good things he needed to do to inherit eternal life. We reminded ourselves that outwardly he looked like the kind of person who had everything going for him. He was young, wealthy, moral, respected, and spiritually interested. But when Jesus came and exposed the one thing he was unwilling to surrender, the scriptures tell us that he walked away sorrowful. And on the heels of that encounter, we come to the passage we're going to look at today in verses 23 through 30 of Matthew chapter 19. Because now Jesus is turning to his disciples and explaining why wealth can become such a serious spiritual obstacle. And then Peter asks a question that if we're honest sounds pretty familiar. He basically says, Hey, we've given up a lot to follow you. So what are we going to get out of this? And Jesus' answer is both encouraging and corrective. But he also reminds us that his kingdom does not operate according to the value system of this world. So let's get started in Matthew chapter 19 and verse 23.

Why Wealth Can Trap The Heart

Mark 1:54

Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, that a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven. And again I say unto you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of an eel than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved? But Jesus beheld them and said unto them, With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible. The statement that follows immediately after the rich young ruler walks away is Verily I say unto you that a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven. Jesus does not soften it here. He clearly teaches that wealth can make entering the kingdom of heaven difficult. Now he does not say that money itself is evil. He does not say that every wealthy person is lost. He doesn't even say that being poor automatically makes someone righteous. The issue is what riches do to the heart. Because wealth has a way of making us feel secure. It can make us feel independent. It can even create the illusion that we are in control. And one of the most dangerous spiritual attitudes that a person can develop is the feeling I don't really need anything. By the way, that was the problem with the Church of Laodicea in Revelation 3. They said, I am rich, I'm increased with goods and have need of nothing. But spiritually, they were desperately needy. And riches can do that to us. They can make this present life feel so comfortable that we stop longing for the kingdom to come. They make us trust in what we can see instead of the God that we cannot see. They can make us think of dependence as weakness when dependence is actually at the very heart of faith. And so to make his point even stronger, Jesus says in verse 24 that it's easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle. Now, Jesus is giving them an intentionally impossible picture. The largest common animal they could regularly see was a camel. And now the picture is trying to push that camel through the tiny opening of a sewing needle. It's absurd. It's impossible. And that's the point. Sometimes people have tried to soften this saying by suggesting that the eye of the needle referred to some narrow gate in Jerusalem through which a camel could pass if it knelt down. But the force of Jesus' statement is much stronger than that. He is describing something humanly impossible. And the disciples understand it exactly that way. Because when the disciples heard it, they were told they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved? The disciples lived in a culture where wealth was often viewed as evidence of God's favor. If someone was rich, respected, and morally upright, many would naturally assume that this person is close to God. And the rich young ruler definitely appeared to fit that description perfectly. If he had difficulty entering the kingdom, the disciples wondered, who then can be saved?

Camel And Needle Impossible Salvation

Mark 5:08

And that question brings us to one of the most important statements in this entire passage. Jesus looks at them and says, With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible. There's the gospel. Salvation is impossible with man. It cannot be achieved by morality, it cannot be purchased by wealth, it cannot be inherited through some social standing, it cannot be earned through religious effort, it cannot be accomplished by human goodness. Because with men, this is impossible. This applies to the rich, to the poor, to the religious, to the irreligious. It applies to every one of us. If salvation depends upon us making ourselves acceptable to God, we have no hope. But Jesus doesn't stop there. He says with God all things are possible. You see, salvation is God's work. That's why a rich person can be saved. It's why a poor person can be saved. It's why Zacchaeus could be saved. It's why Joseph of Arimathea could follow Jesus. It's why Barnabas could use his resources for the kingdom. The issue is not possessing wealth. The issue is whether wealth possesses us. God's grace can free a person from trusting in riches and teach them to trust in Christ.

Peter Asks What We Get Back

Mark 6:38

Look with me as we read verses twenty seven through thirty. Then answered Peter and said unto him, Behold, we have forsaken all and followed thee. What shall we have therefore? And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, that ye which have followed me in the regeneration when the Son of Man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, including the twelve tribes of Israel, and every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life. But many that are first shall be last, and the last shall be first. Notice here Peter does what Peter so often does. Peter says what everyone else is thinking. In verse 27, Peter said to him, Hey, we've forsaken all and followed you. What shall we have there for in return? You have to appreciate Peter's honesty here. The rich young ruler couldn't give up his possessions. So Peter looks around and says, Jesus, we did. We left our nets, we left our livelihoods, we left our homes, and we followed you. So what do we get? You know, there is something understandable about the question, but there's also something revealing in it as well. Peter is still thinking transactionally. We gave this, so what will you give us? And if we're not careful, we can approach discipleship the same way. I've served God, I've sacrificed, I've been faithful, so what am I owed? But grace doesn't work like a business transaction. We don't put God into our debt. And yet Jesus doesn't shame Peter for his question. Instead, he gives him an extraordinary promise. He says to them, You have followed me. The disciples had given up much, and Jesus promised that their sacrifice would not be forgotten. There is a future coming where Christ will sit upon his throne of glory, and these men who looked unimpressive in the world's eyes would be given remarkable honor in his kingdom. Think about that contrast. At that moment they were wandering around with an itinerant preacher. They didn't have wealth or political power, they had no impressive positions. Most of the world would have ignored them completely. And Jesus says to them, Your story isn't finished. There is a kingdom coming, a throne coming, a glory coming, and faithfulness that looks small now will not look small forever. Jesus broadens the promise beyond the twelve, and he says everyone, not just apostles or missionaries or pastors, but everyone who sacrifices for the kingdom of Christ is seen by Christ. There are believers who have lost relationships because they followed Jesus. There are people who have given up opportunities because obedience mattered to them more than advancement. There are missionaries who have left familiar homes and communities. Believers who have surrendered careers and comfort, possessions, plans, and dreams because they believed Christ was worth more. And Jesus says none of it is forgotten. God will be a debtor to no one. You cannot outgive him. You cannot outsacrifice something for Christ and discover in eternity that following him was a bad bargain. You cannot sacrifice something for Christ and discover in eternity that following him was a bad bargain. Jesus says here that they shall receive a hundredfold. He isn't promising a literal hundred houses for every house that you leave. He's not saying that if you leave one relationship, God will hand you a hundred replacement relationships in precisely the same form. The reward may not be material. Often it's much better than that. He gives peace and joy, contentment, spiritual family, purpose, fellowship with Christ, eternal treasure. And Jesus ultimately says, You shall inherit everlasting life. You see, this is the treasure that no earthly sacrifice could ever outweigh. We sometimes talk about what following Jesus cost, and discipleship absolutely costs something. Jesus has never hidden that reality. But we should also talk about what not following Jesus cost. The rich young ruler kept his possessions, but he walked away from Christ. Peter left his nets, but he gained Jesus. Which one really lost more? And this is why Peter's question deserves yet another look. What shall we have there for? We can easily think about what we've surrendered for Christ. But how often do we stop and think about what we've received? We've received forgiveness, adoption, peace with God, the indwelling Holy Spirit, a new identity, a spiritual family. We have a purpose and a hope. We have the promise of resurrection, eternal life in Christ Himself. You see, whatever we give up for Jesus is infinitely smaller than what we gain. And that's why following Christ isn't ultimately a story of loss. It's a story of finding the treasure that makes everything else look small.

First And Last Kingdom Scoreboard

Mark 12:10

And Jesus closes with a warning in verse number 30. But many that are first shall be last, and the last shall be first. This turns our normal way of evaluating people upside down. We often look at visibility while God looks at faithfulness. We see success and God sees obedience. We look at position while God looks at the heart. We look at crowds, and God may look at the quiet believer who faithfully prays. We look at the person on the platform and God may greatly reward the person that no one ever saw. You see, in the kingdom the rankings are different. And Jesus says there will be surprises. Some who seem to be first will be last. Some who appear insignificant now will be honored greatly. And that should both humble us and encourage us. Maybe you've served faithfully and very few people have noticed. God does, He notices. Maybe you've sacrificed something significant for obedience and nobody understands what it costs you. God understands. Maybe you're doing kingdom work that never receives applause. Don't forget that God sees. God's kingdom does not operate on public recognition. Jesus does not forget faithfulness simply because the world never celebrates it. And sometimes the person receiving the greatest eternal reward may be someone whose name very few people even knew on earth. And that's why comparison is so dangerous. We don't know how God will ultimately assess the work of his servants. Our responsibility isn't to become first, it's to become faithful. So the rich young ruler asks, What do I lack? Peter asks, What shall we have? But maybe Christ is teaching us to ask even a better question Is Christ enough? If following Jesus costs comfort, is he enough? If it costs status, is Christ enough? If it cost us money, is he enough? If obedience makes us look foolish to others, is he enough? If we never receive the recognition that we had hoped for, is Christ enough? Because the Christian life isn't ultimately about using Jesus to get something better, Jesus is the better treasure.

Final Challenges And Next Steps

Mark 14:37

So as we finish today, I want to challenge you to remember two statements that Jesus makes in this passage. First, with men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible. Friend, you cannot save yourself, but God can save completely. And the second phrase is this one many that are first shall be last, and the last shall be first. Be careful that you don't evaluate your life by the world's scoreboard. Faithfulness to Jesus is never wasted. Sacrifice for Christ is never forgotten. And nothing you surrender for Him will ever outweigh what you receive in Him. I did want to say thanks for joining me today on the Gospel Explorations podcast. Take some time this week to read Matthew 19, 23 through 30. Ask yourself where maybe you're tempted to trust in what you possess rather than the God who provides it. And as always, don't forget to check the show notes for reflection and study questions that will help you continue exploring this passage. Until next time, friends, grace and peace. Thanks for listening. I hope that you've been both encouraged and challenged today. If you want to connect with us further, please be sure to check us out on the web at gospelexplorations.com. We look forward to having you join us again next time.