Matthew 19:16-30
Only God can free sinners from false treasure and bring them into the life Jesus gives.
16 Behold, one came to him and said, “Good teacher, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?”
17 He said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good but one, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.”
18 He said to him, “Which ones?” Jesus said, “ ‘You shall not murder.’ ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ ‘You shall not steal.’ ‘You shall not offer false testimony.’
19 ‘Honor your father and your mother.’ And, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ ”
20 The young man said to him, “All these things I have observed from my youth. What do I still lack?”
21 Jesus said to him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have, and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.”
22 But when the young man heard the saying, he went away sad, for he was one who had great possessions.
23 Jesus said to his disciples, “Most certainly I say to you, a rich man will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven with difficulty.
24 Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through a needle’s eye, than for a rich man to enter into God’s Kingdom.”
25 When the disciples heard it, they were exceedingly astonished, saying, “Who then can be saved?”
26 Looking at them, Jesus said, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
27 Then Peter answered, “Behold, we have left everything, and followed you. What then will we have?”
28 Jesus said to them, “Most certainly I tell you that you who have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of Man will sit on the throne of his glory, you also will sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
29 Everyone who has left houses, or brothers, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name’s sake, will receive one hundred times, and will inherit eternal life.
30 But many will be last who are first; and first who are last.
Only God can free sinners from false treasure and bring them into the life Jesus gives.
Matthew shows Jesus exposing the insufficiency of moral confidence and wealth by calling a rich man to treasure in heaven and teaching that salvation is impossible for human beings but possible with God.
In the first-century setting, wealth was often interpreted as a sign of blessing, status, and security. The disciples' astonishment shows that Jesus' warning about the difficulty of rich people entering the kingdom overturns common assumptions about advantage before God. The command to sell possessions and give to the poor would have struck directly at social identity, inherited security, and public honor.
Marriage from Creation, Children Received, Riches Renounced, and the Reward of Following Christ
Jesus restores creation design, receives the lowly, exposes the idol of wealth, declares salvation impossible apart from God, and promises eternal reward to those who leave all to follow him.