Matthew 19:16-30

Matthew 19:16-30 NIV

Just then a man came up to Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?” 
“Why do you ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, keep the commandments.” 
“Which ones?” he inquired. 
Jesus replied, “ ‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, honor your father and mother,’ and ‘love your neighbor as yourself.’ ”
“All these I have kept,” the young man said. “What do I still lack?”
Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth.
Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly I tell you, it is hard for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”
When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, “Who then can be saved?”
Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
Peter answered him, “We have left everything to follow you! What then will there be for us?”
Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first.

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“Why do you ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied.

I love that! There's only one who is good, God alone. Compared to the perfect love of God there is no one who is good. There is no one who can claim righteousness.

The rich young man thinks perhaps he is good enough to gain eternal life. He wants to know what he must do. He approached Jesus and Jesus told him to keep the law of Moses and he would enter life.

This instructs us on how Jesus defined goodness. Goodness is not defined by our ideas, but by God's will and character revealed in the scriptures, specifically the Law of Moses. Oftentimes we may think to ourselves, "I'm a good person", and in general that's true. People are basically good. But compared to God, we are evil. The Law exposes our sinful inclinations when we are told thou shalt not.

Paul wrote,

I would not have known what sin was had it not been for the law. For I would not have known what coveting really was if the law had not said, “You shall not covet.” But sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment, produced in me every kind of coveting.
Romans 7:7-8 NIV

None of us are blameless before God. We're part of a corrupt and fallen world. We fall short of God's glory.

Jesus tells the rich man keeping the Law will give him life. Notice how Jesus lists the commandments.

Jesus replied, “ ‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, honor your father and mother,’ and ‘love your neighbor as yourself.’ ”
Matthew 19:18-19 NIV

What's present are the commands that can be outwardly observed. But what's missing are the commands having to do with devotion to God, like have no other gods, make no idols, don't take the Lord's name in vain, and remember the Sabbath.

The young man says he's kept the Law since he was a boy. He asks what he still lacks. Jesus tells him to sell all his possessions, give it to the poor and follow Him. The man couldn't do it. I don't think I could either. That's the point. Earthly wealth had become an idol, a god which had his heart. His heart was divided between devotion to God and his wealth.

The disciples were amazed for Jesus told them it's easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for the rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. They thought if the rich man, who was obviously blessed by God with wealth, couldn't get into the kingdom, then who could? Jesus told them that it was impossible for humans, but with God all things are possible.

Peter, the outspoken friend of Jesus, exclaimed that they (the apostles) had left everything behind (families, businesses and homes) to follow Him. Jesus promised that they would get 100 times over what they'd sacrificed for Him. They will inherit eternal life.

The church will judge the twelve tribes of Israel, which means the church will govern the kingdom under the lordship of Christ. The twelve tribes represent the whole people of God, the Jews. The early church thought of itself as true Israel.

A person is not a Jew who is one only outwardly, nor is circumcision merely outward and physical. No, a person is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a personʼs praise is not from other people, but from God.
Romans 2:28-29 NIV

The payoff for following Christ and fully committing all one's resources to that end means that one will be entrusted with more, including leadership in the new age. The church is setting the pace for human living and society by practicing love.

I'm not much for afterlife fantasies. Don't get me wrong because I do believe in an afterlife. Following Christ, however, doesn't have to have a payoff like a place of power in the future era, the completion of all things. It will be enough to be welcomed by my God. I have to wonder if Jesus' talk of the future was about the new heaven and earth, or about a time in human history when the gospel has truly transformed this world with love. Those hungry for power will not accomplish this impossible mission. Only the humble servants who are so full of God's love have that capacity. They can give it all away, and know they are the richest of people. For they have already entered into that future through faith. They are the change they want to see. They will be first in the age to come because they began their journey in earnest here and now. They are leading the way through the narrow gate that leads to life.

May we all find our way with God's help to enter through the impossible gate, the eye of the needle into the kingdom of God.