Inconceivable, but not Impossible

Vizzinni kept using that word which basically described his observation of that which seemed nearly impossible. Today, we’ll be looking at a couple of different scenarios that seemed inconceivable to those listening or engaged in the conversation. The reason for this could be the simple reason that humanity has the notion that we must be able to understand or explain things to our satisfaction. If it appears to be outside of our understanding, or difficult for us to explain, then it must be impossible.

Luke 18:18–34 NASB95

A ruler questioned Him, saying, “Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone. “You know the commandments, ‘Do not commit adultery, Do not murder, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother.’ ” And he said, “All these things I have kept from my youth.” When Jesus heard this, He said to him, “One thing you still lack; sell all that you possess and distribute it to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” But when he had heard these things, he became very sad, for he was extremely rich. And Jesus looked at him and said, “How hard it is for those who are wealthy to enter the kingdom of God! “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.” They who heard it said, “Then who can be saved?” But He said, “The things that are impossible with people are possible with God.” Peter said, “Behold, we have left our own homes and followed You.” And He said to them, “Truly I say to you, there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, who will not receive many times as much at this time and in the age to come, eternal life.” Then He took the twelve aside and said to them, “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and all things which are written through the prophets about the Son of Man will be accomplished. “For He will be handed over to the Gentiles, and will be mocked and mistreated and spit upon, and after they have scourged Him, they will kill Him; and the third day He will rise again.” But the disciples understood none of these things, and the meaning of this statement was hidden from them, and they did not comprehend the things that were said.

Luke 18:18-

What may be inconceivable to humanity, is not impossible with God.

Question and Answer - 18:18-23

We are introduced to someone listed as a ruler. (We know that he wasn’t a yardstick.) So, who was he exactly? If we look at Matthew and Mark, as well, we are able to surmise that he was also rich and young. Some suggest that his position of a ruler was most likely that of being in charge of a synagogue. There are a couple of things I want to point out that we don’t want to miss.

First, is the exchange over the salutation given to Jesus. Good teacher may have been a way of offering a gracious affirmation of Jesus. This young ruler had come to a phenomenal teacher who might just have an answer to a very profound theological question. However, Jesus’s response is one more instance in which Jesus validates the fact that He is God. Jesus may have been asking the young ruler if he understood the significance of the greeting that was given. Or quite simply, it may be that Jesus wanted this ruler to understand that there is indeed nobody who is good except God.

Secondly, don’t overlook the meaning in what the ruler asked Jesus. What shall I do? Based upon what we will see in the following verses, it seems that he was looking for a list which he could accomplish so as to earn eternal life. Interestingly, a genuine inheritance is not based upon what a person does. A real inheritance is based upon the relationship one has to the other person. Yet, we see the focus on works, since the ruler wants to know what else he must do in order to gain eternal life. What was the one thing that would push him over the top, guaranteeing eternal life?

As we look at the same scene in , we read that that he ran up to [Jesus] and knelt before Him. So, lest we push him aside completely, we see that it seems he was earnestly seeking an answer to the question, though he may not have expected that the answer had nothing to do with works.

Jesus then goes on to list a few of the commandments, to which this individual responded that he had indeed kept them. We might wonder why Jesus would even give this list if salvation is based upon God’s grace. I believe that this ruler had probably kept these commandments, as to the letter of the law. Yet, we know that the teachings of the Pharisees was that even if a person lusted, if they didn’t commit the actual adultery, it was okay. Jesus is using the popular means of teaching in which the student hopefully discovers the truth through deductive, logical thinking. However, after seeing that the ruler isn’t getting it, Jesus comments that there was one thing you still lack; sell all that you possess and distribute it to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.

There are those who might read this and suggest that Jesus is saying that a person can be saved by selling all they have and becoming poor by this world’s standards. That would be a grave mistake to believe that! For we see that in verse 23, this fellow became very sad, for he was extremely rich. In addition, there is nothing in the Law that suggests that this is necessary. But we know that Jesus knows the very heart of a person. It is entirely possible, based upon what we will read in verse 23, that Jesus knew this rich, young ruler loved his wealth.

This ruler was like many today. Many want to experience salvation on our own terms. We’d like to believe that we can figure out what ought to count for us and what should count against us. Even though this ruler had probably kept the Law, that could not save him. Likewise, just because a person chooses poverty and gives away all they have, will not provide salvation. The focus doesn’t have to be money. Jesus could check with any one of us and see what it is that has risen in our heart’s priorities and elevated itself above God. We must give up whatever that may be in order to follow Jesus. It might be wealth; it might be family; it might be status; it might be a career. The question could be asked of anyone, are you willing to do things God’s way? Are you willing to completely and unreservedly submit to the lordship of Jesus Christ in all areas?

So, as we look at verse 23, we understand that this ruler was willing to do whatever fit into his thinking so as to inherit eternal life. He had chosen wealth over God. The price was too much for this rich young ruler.

As we move on, we’ll see Jesus become even more confusing to the disciples and those listening. We’ve heard the question and the answer. Now, we’re going to look at the answer and gather more information through the explanation.

Answer and Explanation - 18:24-30

Jesus’ statement in verse 24 has been frequently misunderstood and misapplied. Nowhere in this comment is Jesus suggesting that rich people will not have the same opportunity to get into heaven as those who are poor. The difficulty is found in the thinking often seen in those who have great wealth. In the Jewish culture, it was commonly assumed that if one was wealthy, then God was blessing that person. What Jesus is stating is that if a person puts their faith in their money and riches, then their faith is obviously not in God. We have a myriad of individuals throughout the Old Testament who were incredibly wealthy, including Abraham. His faith was in God’s promises, not in his wealth. We know throughout the Bible that when a person has a focus on becoming wealthy or begins to count on their riches, then God’s Word is crowded out of the heart, thus causing one to forget God, which leads to an easing into, and a falling into temptation and sinning.

However, unrighteousness is the lot of the poor just as much as the rich. The difference is that the temptations of trusting in being poor are not as great as that of trusting in being rich. One commentator suggested that this is the poverty of riches.

That helps us to understand a bit more as to why Jesus makes such an incredibly absurd word picture in verse 24. I recognize there are some scholars that try to “enlighten” us with other possibilities. One is that the word for camel is very similar to the word for rope. I don’t hold to that because the majority of the best Greek manuscripts very clearly state camel.

There is another suggestion that has made a lot of traction over the years which states that the eye of a needle is the name for a very narrow gate in the walls at Jerusalem. They explain that it would be possible for the camel to get through by kneeling down and scooting through in order to pass through. I also don’t buy into that, if you haven’t guessed yet. For me, that would imply that with enough manipulation and work, a person could scrape through and barely make it into heaven. Obviously, that would lend itself to works salvation. In addition, I cannot find any historical evidence that such a gate was ever in any of the walls around Jerusalem. By the way, where is common sense? Why would anyone working with a camel not simply go to a gate that one could easily go through?

Whereas, if one thinks of an eye of a needle and a literal camel, consider the absurdity of this. Even David Copperfield, that incredible illusionist, could not make this happen. Obviously, it would be inconceivable. That is why we see in verse 26, the question being asked Then who can be saved? This question would never have been asked if we could squeeze through on our own efforts.

Thus, in order to inherit eternal life, it must be based upon God’s supernatural grace and mercy. That is what we understand from verse 27. From our perspective, it is impossible; it is inconceivable. Yet, with God, it is entirely possible. By the way, when we speak about nothing being impossible with God, please remember the context is all about salvation.

That is wha

Peter speaks up in verse 28. Maybe he was trying to see if they were going to be in heaven. After all, they had certainly given it all up and followed Jesus, which is what Jesus stated to the ruler in verse 22.

Jesus’ response is quite interesting in verse 29. The focus seems to be that if a person truly follows after Christ, not trying to hold onto any of the earthly stuff, they will receive their reward according to God’s plan. It is not the stuff, it is eternal life. R.C. Sproul explains: Anyone who, out of a spirit of real devotion and commitment to the kingdom of God, has made a significant sacrifice, will receive the certain blessing of God, both in this world and in the world to come.

Anyone who, out of a spirit of real devotion and commitment to the kingdom of God, has made a significant sacrifice, will receive the certain blessing of God, both in this world and in the world to come.

R. C. Sproul, A Walk with God: An Exposition of Luke (Great Britain: Christian Focus Publications, 1999), 342.

Now this explanation may have been somewhat encouraging, if not a little bit confusing. However, the next few verses of explanation causes even more confusion for the disciples.

Explanation and Confusion - 18:31-34

Here, Jesus is dealing specifically with the twelve. Earlier in Luke, we recall that Jesus was resolute, set, determined to go to Jerusalem to complete His mission for which His Father had sent Him. He is reminding them once again that this is why He was here. What the prophets had written were going to come to fruition and nothing would stop it from happening. What specifically will this be?

The disciples may have reasoned that they were heading to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover. However, they were not considering that this would be the very last Passover to be celebrated with a four-legged sacrificial lamb. For this trip, Jesus would be the perfect Lamb of God, providing all that was necessary for salvation for all who would believe.

Jesus will be handed over to the Gentiles, and will be mocked and mistreated and spit upon, and after they have scourged Him, they will kill Him; and the third day He will rise again. Talk about a thorough summary! However, this must happen in order for eternal life to be available to all who will believe. This is one more time in Luke in which Jesus speaks forthrightly about His upcoming suffering.

What Jesus is sharing makes it clear that He was not caught off guard. This was all part of God’s eternal plan, set up before the world came into being. This upcoming suffering and death was the reason He came in the flesh to this earth. This was spoken of all the way back to ; repeated again by example in ; typified in ; explained more thoroughly in . gives a more thorough description of the crucifixion. , though avoided by most Jewish rabbis paints a very thorough and clear picture of the crucifixion and all that surrounded it. Just about anywhere one turns in the Bible, one sees Jesus. None of what is about to happen should have been a surprise to anyone.

The resurrection of Jesus is also promised in the Bible before it happened. makes it clear that death is not the end. again provides more information. Jesus himself predicted it in and John 12.

And in verse 34, we see that the disciples were clueless. It wasn’t because they were ignorant. It wasn’t even as if they had never heard about it. Frankly, this didn’t make sense to them that as the Messiah, that He would suffer, or be given over to the Gentiles. They probably had their own ideas as to how this would all develop. More importantly, is that this verse clearly states that God had chosen not to allow them to understand what Jesus was saying. However, Luke, inspired by the Holy Spirit, as he had gathered all this information from first-hand witnesses, wrote this down here in order to let all who would read this book to know that Jesus knew it was going to happen. He had predicted that it would happen before it happened. He quoted the prophets multiple times who had stated the same thing. This was indeed inconceivable to them, but was not impossible for God.

Summary

Inconceivable; Yes. Impossible; No.

For example, when we speak of being good, we must understand that it is inconceivable that there would be anyone who has enough goodness to inherit eternal life. Yet, in Christ, we have been given His goodness.

Simply believing the message regarding salvation does not provide eternal life. One must also understand our own sinfulness and accept the absolute authority of Jesus for eternal life to be a possibility and reality.

Interestingly, this ruler appeared to be ripe for the harvest. However, the heart and mind were not prepared to surrender to the Lordship of Jesus Christ in all areas.

This ruler was like many today. Many want to experience salvation on their own terms. People would like to believe that they can figure out what ought to count for them and what should not count against them. Even though this ruler had probably kept the Law, that could not save him. Likewise, just because a person chooses poverty and gives away all they have, that will not provide salvation. The focus doesn’t have to be money. Jesus could check with any one of us and see what it is that has risen in our heart’s priorities and elevated itself above God. We must give up whatever that may be in order to follow Jesus. It might be wealth; it might be family; it might be status; it might be a career. The question could be asked of anyone, are you willing to do things God’s way? Are you willing to completely and unreservedly submit to the lordship of Jesus Christ in all areas?

We cannot earn our salvation. It is all by God’s grace and mercy which we accept in faith that we can inherit eternal life. And if we are truly born again, we will be willing, though maybe not always immediately, to do whatever God calls us to do. We give up whatever it may be that we want to hold tightly. We give Him total control of all areas of our lives, surrendering and submitting to Him at all times.

Too much to ask, you may think. That doesn’t seem fair or possible with whatever situation you find yourself, you mutter to yourself. Let me remind you of this simple Biblical truth: