Matthew 19
Jesus left Galilee, where He had spent the most of His life on earth, to go to Jerusalem, about sixty miles south in Judea. His disciples were with Him and no doubt they walked, and were several days on the journey. The people who lived on the way had heard of Jesus, and brought the sick for Him to heal.
Some brought their little children for Him to speak words of blessing to them, but the disciples thought they should not trouble Him. Jesus saw they were sending them away, and He said,
“Suffer (let) little children, and forbid them not to come unto Me.”
He put His hands on their heads, and yoke in blessing for them, and took the very little ones in His arms. It is happy for us now to think how ready Jesus was to have the children come to Him, and showed His love for them (See also Mark 10:13-1613And they brought young children to him, that he should touch them: and his disciples rebuked those that brought them. 14But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. 15Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein. 16And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them. (Mark 10:13‑16)).
There was one young man who came to ask Jesus a question: he knew that his life on earth would not last always, and he asked what he could do to have life that would not end,—eternal life.
Jesus told the young man that if he would “enter into life,” to keep the laws God had told Moses for Israel. The young man belonged to that nation and knew those laws, and he asked which law he must keep. Jesus named the laws which told how the people should treat each other, the sum of those being,
“Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.”
The young man said, “All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?”
Jesus answered him that if be would be perfect, to go and sell his property and give to the poor, and come and follow Him.
Do you think he did as Jesus said? No, he turned away from Jesus. He was very rich and did’ not want to share his things with others, although he said he had always kept the law, to love his neighbor as himself.
Jesus’ answers should have proved to the young man that he had not kept the laws of God, and that he had spoken falsely when he said that he had. That is what the law, given to Moses, teaches us all: we do not keep its perfect way. But to believe and follow Jesus is to have life eternal, which the young man would surely have found if he had believed Jesus, instead he chose his wealth, which was a sad choice.
After the young man had gone away, Jesus told His disciples that it was hard for a rich man to enter God’s kingdom. He said,
“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.”
No doubt the Lord Jesus meant a common sewing needle. With men this way impossible. So it was impossible for a rich man, naturally, to leave his wealth; God only could show him it was better to believe and follow Jesus.
Whatever I may have and trust in, besides Christ, makes it impossible, but with God (and may we bless Him for it), all things are possible, no matter what the difficulties may be. All difficulties give God the opportunity to overcome everything that would hinder us to enter into the kingdom by His own power and grace.
ML 08/01/1943