Does God Expect Us to Leave Our Family to Follow Him Like Apostle Did

James J. Tissot, particular of 'Jesus Discourses with His Disciples' (1886-94), gouache on grey wove paper, Brooklyn Museum, New York.

"²⁴  Jesus looked at him and said, 'How difficult information technology is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God! ²⁵  Indeed, information technology is easier for a camel to go through the centre of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.' ²⁶  Those who heard this asked, 'Who and then tin can exist saved?' ²⁷ Jesus replied, 'What is impossible with men is possible with God.'

²⁸  Peter said to him, 'Nosotros have left all we had to follow yous!' ²⁹  'I tell you the truth,' Jesus said to them, 'no ane who has left dwelling or wife or brothers or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God ³⁰  will neglect to receive many times equally much in this historic period and, in the historic period to come up, eternal life.'

³¹  Jesus took the Twelve aside and told them, 'We are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written past the prophets about the Son of Man will exist fulfilled. ³²  He volition be handed over to the Gentiles. They volition mock him, insult him, spit on him, flog him and kill him. ³³  On the third day he will rise once again.' ³⁴  The disciples did not empathise any of this. Its meaning was hidden from them, and they did not know what he was talking about." (Luke 18:24-34, NIV)

The very wealthy young ruler has heard Jesus' direction to him: "Sell everything you accept and give to the poor.... Then come, follow me."

Marker's Gospel records: "At this the man'southward face fell. He went away sad, considering he had peachy wealth" (Mark 10:22). The man is moving abroad now, and Jesus, who Mark says "loved him," is watching him equally he goes.

I can hear a sigh, a sorrow, in Jesus' vox as he reflects on the come across. "How hard information technology is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!" (eighteen:24).

Camel Going Through the Heart of a Needle (Luke 18:25)

I'one thousand going to take Jesus' sayings out of society for a moment, considering to understand what he is proverb in poesy 24, nosotros demand to understand his figure of speech communication in poesy 25:

"Indeed, it is easier for a camel to become through the eye of a needle than for a rich homo to enter the kingdom of God." (18:25)

Camels were a curiosity to Israelites. Farmers didn't utilise them -- the donkey was their creature of pick. But camels were used past traders whose caravans would travel through Galilee on their way to Jerusalem and the trading centers of Arab republic of egypt. All the same, the camel was the largest animal they regularly saw in Palestine. I can imagine Israelites looking up at these towering beasts as the caravans made their way through town.

The middle of a sewing needle was a tiny opening. If you lot've ever tried to thread a needle, and then you know simply how tiny it is. In some rabbinical writings nosotros run across a similar phrase: "Draw an elephant through the eye of a needle."⁷⁸⁷ Both this proverb and Jesus' saying share the aforementioned contrast between the huge beast and the proverbially small-scale eye of a needle. The signal of both these figures of oral communication is impossibility; they are proverbs of impossibility. We know this considering Jesus uses the give-and-take "impossibility" (Greek adynatos) in poesy 27.

The Gate of Jerusalem Myth

For hundreds of years there accept been diverse explanations floating around to soften Jesus' teaching of "impossibility" to some kind of "you tin do it if you actually attempt" approach. One of these pseudo-explanations imagines a gate through the wall of Jerusalem called "the needle'south center," so minor that a laden camel couldn't go through unless it were to be unloaded and kneel down. Preachers and tour guides beloved the story. It is very picturesque. Merely it has admittedly no support in fact. It also distorts what Jesus is trying to say from "impossible for man" to "possible by human." Annotation that the disciples' reaction was surprise at the impossibility of salvation for the rich.

I accept researched this considerably and found nada that provides whatever support any for the "gate in the wall" theory. All my sources -- from older commentators such equally Matthew Henry (1710), to respected scholars in the International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (1974), to my newest scholarly commentaries on Matthew, Mark, and Luke -- all of them, discredit the story equally unsupported, if they mention it at all.⁷⁸⁸

How Hard for the Rich to Enter the Kingdom (Luke 18:24-27)

"Jesus looked at him and said, 'How difficult it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God! Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich human being to enter the kingdom of God.'
"Those who heard this asked, 'Who so can be saved?'
Jesus replied, 'What is impossible with men is possible with God.'" (18:24-27)

Riches and prosperity were commonly seen as a sign of God's blessing. Recollect Job? When he was wealthy his friends saw him equally righteous. But when he had a turn of fortune and lost his family, his wealth, and his health, his friends concluded -- wrongly -- that he must have sinned.

For this reason Jesus' hearers questioned, as if to say, "If the rich tin't be saved, and so tin anyone?"

Jesus teaches the impossibility of conservancy through one'southward ain claim. The word "hard" in eighteen:24 is Greek dyskolos, "pertaining to that which is difficult to fulfill or practise, difficult, difficult."⁷⁸⁹ Just entering the Kingdom (18:25) -- used synonymously with "being saved (18:26) -- is more than difficult. Jesus gives a common parable of impossibility. And then concludes, "What is impossible with men is possible with God" (eighteen:27).

The rich trust in their wealth to open up doors for them. But the net value of their estates in heaven is Nada. Only if they become as footling children will they enter the Kingdom -- humble, trusting.

Yous've probably heard the story about how to capture a monkey. You lot attach a chain to a cage with narrow bars -- just wide enough for the monkey's hand to slip through. In the cage y'all identify a piece of food. The monkey reaches through the bars and grasps the food, simply his fist is likewise big to slip back through the bars -- and he is determined non to let become of the nutrient he is holding. He is now captive, and can be led around past the concatenation on the cage.

I've never tested this out with a real monkey, but it illustrates how our grasping desire to concur onto our wealth tin enslave united states and render us prisoners to our possessions. Only when nosotros release them can we be free. The rich young ruler could accept become costless. But unwilling to allow go, he remains a captive.

Conservancy is impossible for men to attain past their own efforts. Only God does the impossible in rescuing us, cleansing us, making united states holy, and changing our hearts. How hard it is for the rich to enter the Kingdom -- impossible, in fact. Only possible through God.

Leaving All We Have (Luke 18:28)

"Peter said to him, 'We have left all we had to follow you!' (18:28)

Peter, often the spokesman for the group, sees the rich young ruler who is unwilling to give up everything to follow Jesus. The man has been unable. But impetuous Peter says, "We've left everything! We've washed what this rich homo has been unable to do." Matthew's Gospel adds the implied question, "What and so will in that location be for us?" (Matthew nineteen:27b).

I don't think Peter's question arises from greed. Peter has just heard Jesus offer the rich young ruler "treasure in heaven." I recall Peter is really asking, "If the rich young ruler can exchange all of his fabled wealth for treasure in heaven that allows him to inherit eternal life, what will we receive since we haven't given up anywhere nearly equally much."

Peter says, however, "We have left all we had." They accept no more to give only their all. Yes, Peter may have nonetheless owned a boat rented out to other fisherman. And his wife probably withal lives in the family home in Capernaum. Peter doesn't irrevocably distribute all his money to the poor. Just Peter and his friends exercise give up everything they accept of value to follow -- the condolement of their homes and wives and children, their status in the community, a place to sleep at night, relative security compared to the death-threats of Jesus' growing listing of enemies. Peter and his friends have given up everything they had to give in lodge to follow Jesus -- everything that has dimensions of infinite and time.

I wonder if we can neglect requite up less than our all to serve Jesus and still be counted every bit disciples? Every bit we considered in the previous lesson, to enter the Kingdom will have all we have and more than. The Kingdom with its hope of conservancy is like the Pearl of Great Price for which the merchant exchanges everything he has (Matthew thirteen:45-46). The Kingdom with its promise of salvation is similar Subconscious Treasure for which a man sells all he has and purchases the field in which treasure is buried (Matthew thirteen:44).

Jesus has specifically told his disciples, "Any of you who does not give upward everything he has cannot be my disciple" (xiv:33). This isn't just a requirement of the rich young ruler, information technology is required of all us disciples.

Rewards of Following (Luke 18:29-xxx)

Jesus answers Peter'due south question simply and fully:

"'I tell you the truth,' Jesus said to them, 'no ane who has left home or married woman or brothers or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God volition fail to receive many times every bit much in this historic period and, in the age to come up, eternal life.'" (xviii:29-30)

He doesn't say that somehow the rich immature ruler will receive more in the Kingdom. Jesus lists the various kinds of sacrifices his disciples have made for the sake of the Kingdom -- leaving homes, wives, brothers, parents, and children -- and promises that they volition receive many times as much in this historic period, that is, in this present life.

Mark and Matthew are fifty-fifty more specific: 100 times every bit much. In other words -- super abundantly, far more than they have given upward! But Mark reminds u.s. that these temporal rewards have a complement -- "and with them, persecutions" (Mark 10:30).

Is this a literal hope or a figurative i? The persecutions are literal plenty! I recall the promise is figurative, that Jesus is referring to precious relationships in the family of God that recoup for the natural family relationships we may need to give up so we can choose to follow Jesus. In some Muslim countries today, when a person becomes a Christian his family considers him to be dead -- and some feel duty-bound to help him towards death. The bonds of beloved of Christians are our reward. How much we Christians must fulfill Jesus' maxim,

"By this all men volition know that you are my disciples, if you honey one another" (John 13:35)!

But in that location is a sense in which Jesus' promise is literal, besides. In Marking'due south Gospel Jesus includes "lands." The cliché is actually true! We tin can't out-give God. Whatsoever nosotros give him he returns many-fold, in this life and in eternity.

Jesus' Third Prediction of His Death (Luke eighteen:31-34)

At start glance the 3rd prediction of Jesus' death may seem unconnected to Jesus' education that precedes it regarding giving up everything:

"Jesus took the Twelve aside and told them, 'We are going upwardly to Jerusalem, and everything that is written past the prophets about the Son of Man will be fulfilled. He volition exist handed over to the Gentiles. They will mock him, insult him, spit on him, flog him and kill him. On the third day he will rising again.'
The disciples did not empathize any of this. Its meaning was hidden from them, and they did not know what he was talking about." (18:31-34)

Certainly, this is a different topic. But in another fashion information technology concludes this department by Jesus sharing with his disciples how very much he is willing to requite up for their sakes. It isn't just nosotros who are asked to give. Jesus gave his all to follow the Father's will and to give the states eternal life, the greatest treasure of all. Jesus' disciples can't comprehend this -- it makes no sense to them at all. Just after it takes identify, they recall that he had said information technology. His death is no fluke, his resurrection is no afterthought. It is role of God'due south plan.

Lessons for Disciples

What are we disciples to learn from this week'south lesson?

1. The reality that our possessions can make it impossible to inherit eternal life.
2. That we must give up everything we have to follow Jesus. Following is not just a religious phrase, it volition toll us everything we have.
3. God makes salvation possible, though achieving salvation is impossible to us. Conservancy is the gift of God.
4. God will reward us in this life for whatever sacrifices we are called on to make. We cannot outgive God. He volition as well reward us in the historic period to come with eternal life. Sacrifices have both a temporal and eternal reward.

Through Jesus, God, as well, gives that which is most precious to him. Jesus is willing to give his all. This talk of giving is not one-sided, but is integral to the very nature of the Gospel itself.

Prayer

Heavenly Male parent, I can be so cheap and stingy towards you. I see in myself a tendency to desire to give only what you require -- and that only grudgingly -- not all of myself freely to yous. Forgive me. Teach me how to give of myself without complaint. And teach me to be able to receive the abundant blessings y'all want to requite me both hither and in heaven. Thanks for your own unmeasured gift of Jesus Christ the Lord. In His proper name, I pray. Amen.

Key Poesy

"Peter said to him, 'We have left all we had to follow yous!'
'I tell you the truth,' Jesus said to them, "no one who has left dwelling or wife or brothers or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God will fail to receive many times as much in this historic period and, in the historic period to come, eternal life.'" (Luke 18:28-thirty)

Questions

Click on the link beneath to discuss on the forum one or more of the questions that follow -- your pick.
http://www.joyfulheart.com/forums/topic/1997-81-leaving-all/

1. Why is impossible for rich people to enter the Kingdom of God? Is it really incommunicable? Is Jesus speaking in hyperbole in order to make a signal? Why or why not? (xviii:24-27)
2. How is Peter'due south question in 18:28 similar to Jesus' direction in 18:22? In what sense must disciple give up everything to follow Jesus? How literally should we take this?
3. Are the rewards Jesus promises in 18:29-30 literal or figurative?
4. How practice Jesus' sacrifices to follow the Male parent's will parallel our own sacrifices to follow Jesus? What are the points of comparison? What are the points of contrast? (18:31-34)

Endnotes

Abbreviations and References

[787] Marshall, Luke, p. 687 cites Ber. 55b; BM 38b; Strack and Billerback I, 828, dating from the tertiary century AD.

[788] See Otto Michael, TDNT iii:592-594. Marshall, Luke, p. 687.

[789] Dyskolos, BDAG 265.

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