The Rich and the Kingdom of God

Introduction

A rich man comes to Jesus desiring eternal life. This young man wanted to do it by human effort. However, Jesus highlights eternal life is not gain by human works but by faith in Him. Salvation seems like an impossible thing but nothing is impossible for God. Those who have faith in Jesus will be rewarded in this lifetime and after.

Mark 10:17–31 NIV

17 As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. “Good teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 18 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. 19 You know the commandments: ‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, you shall not defraud, honor your father and mother.’” 20 “Teacher,” he declared, “all these I have kept since I was a boy.” 21 Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” 22 At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth. 23 Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!” 24 The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said again, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! 25 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.” 26 The disciples were even more amazed, and said to each other, “Who then can be saved?” 27 Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.” 28 Then Peter spoke up, “We have left everything to follow you!” 29 “Truly I tell you,” Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel 30 will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age: homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields—along with persecutions—and in the age to come eternal life. 31 But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”

What does God say?

Jesus and the young rich man

Mark 10:17–22 NIV

17 As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. “Good teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 18 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. 19 You know the commandments: ‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, you shall not defraud, honor your father and mother.’” 20 “Teacher,” he declared, “all these I have kept since I was a boy.” 21 Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” 22 At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth.

Verse 17: “a man” (Mt 19:16 says he is young. Lk 18:18 call him a ruler/official.) “running up to Jesus” show urgency in what he was seeking. “Falling on his knees before him” is likely a sign of reverence and not worship. Calling Jesus “Good” could be a sign of flattery in this situation. However, Jewish thought of that time considered God “good.” What does good mean?

The Theological Dictionary of the New Testament (ἀγαθός)

Applied to persons, it signifies the excellence of the person in his existing position

The Theological Dictionary of the New Testament (C. ἀγαθός in the OT and Judaism.)

This confession expresses the perfectly good being of God which consists in His goodness. By revelation the understanding of existence is so determined that it has its roots in the salvation experienced in history

Common expressions of the LORD is good: 2 Chr 5:13; Ezr 3:11; Neh 9:20; Ps 25:8; Ps 100:5. . . etc. The young ruler main purpose for seeking Christ is inheriting eternal life

Matthew 19:16–17 (NIV)

16 Just then a man came up to Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?”

17 “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.”

Verses 18-19: Jesus’ question and statement about being called “good” and noting no one is “good” except God alone is not an indictment on his nature or deity. It could simply be a question and statement meant to probe the man’s sincerity in asking the question. Jesus highlights the commandments of the Law given in relation to people, first. Jewish belief is by keeping God’s commandments one will receive blessing and salvation from the LORD.

The Theological Dictionary of the New Testament (C. ἀγαθός in the OT and Judaism.)

The resultant ethic is simple. Those who do the will of God as contained in the Law do good, and are therefore good, and will receive blessing and salvation from the Lord (Ps. 34:14 f.; 37:27; 2 Ch. 19:11). The possibility of keeping the Law is presupposed. There is division of opinion whether the help of Yahweh is necessary for this purpose, the OT and the Pharisees thinking that it is but the Sadducees rejecting such necessity

Verses 20: The man now call his “Teacher.” He confess he has followed them since he was a boy. Following the commands since youth would indicate the man is an Israelite and a devoted one.

Verses 21-22: “Looked at him and loved him” is a comment only found in Mark. It means Jesus intently looked at him and loved (agape = self-giving love). Jesus did not want to push the man away but desired to include him. However, Jesus saw he lacked one thing (fell short). He demanded the man give up his lifestyle to follow him. Giving up what he has now for the future perspective of having treasure in heaven. The man face fell (shocked) because he had great wealth

Jesus teaches the disciples

Mark 10:23–31 NIV

23 Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!” 24 The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said again, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! 25 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.” 26 The disciples were even more amazed, and said to each other, “Who then can be saved?” 27 Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.” 28 Then Peter spoke up, “We have left everything to follow you!” 29 “Truly I tell you,” Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel 30 will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age: homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields—along with persecutions—and in the age to come eternal life. 31 But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”

Verses 23-25: Jesus teaches it is hard for the rich to enter the kingdom of God. Disciples were amazed at the saying. Jesus gives a proverbial statement regarding a camel going through the eye of a needle to highlight how hard it is for the rich to enter the Kingdom of God.

Verses 26-31: Disciples being even more amazed wondered “Who then can be saved?” Again, their thought of salvation is rooted in doing the will of God according to the Law are good, and they will be rewarded with blessings and salvation. Jesus looked at them intently to tell them salvation is impossible for man, but not with God; all things are possible with God. Peter speaks up about giving up everything for Jesus. Jesus responds, no one who have given up everything for Him and the Gospel will receive a 100x as much in the PRESENT AGE (note: connected to treasure in heaven). . . along with persecutions—and in the AGE to COME eternal life. “But many who are first will be last and the last first” is a capstone statement to differences between the Kingdom of God and the kingdoms of the world .

How do we respond?

Idea of human goodness (Heb 10:1; Micah 6:8)

Eternal life is not something gained through human effort

It is hard for the rich to enter the kingdom of God due to the possibility of divided loyalty

All things are possible with God

We experience aspects of the Kingdom of God in this age and it fullness in the age to come (Matthew 6:9-10)