"Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! 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." v.25
Words to heed on our quest for the "American Way of Life". Wealth tends to breed self-sufficiency and a false sense of security, leading those who have it to imagine they do not need Christ. My husband and I were just talking about this the other day. With the year anniversary of Michael Jackson's death, we were talking about other "kings": King of Rock n Roll died at 42, King of Country, Hank Williams, Princess of the people, Princess Diana, Queen of the bomb-shells, Marilyn Monroe, Queen of MGM musicals, Judy Garland, and numerous others that died young. These people were rich and famous but lived very short, tortured lives, leaning on money and fame rather than Christ. Outside of Elvis, I'm pretty sure none of the rest got to enter the kingdom of heaven; the earth was their reward.
However, Jesus did say, "With people it is impossible, but not with god; for all things are possible with God." v.27
I learned from my commentary, "The Jews believed that with alms a man purchased salvation, so the more wealth one had, the more alms he could give, the more sacrifices and offerings he could offer, thus purchasing redemption." Wow, what a prison! There are religions today that pose as Christian, like Jehovah Witnesses, Mormon, that believe the same way.
The passage just before this one talks about divorce and how if you leave your spouse - except for infidelity on his part - and remarry, you commit adultery. - Well, I'm sunk! LOL - It was just one more example that it is impossible for us to be without sin, and our salvation lies only in a relationship with Christ and not of ourselves. "With people it is impossible, but not with God;"...our hope, my hope is in Him.
Starting in v. 35 we see James and John asking to sit at the right and left side of Jesus in Glory. Jesus challenges them, "You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized? They said to Him, We are able." And Jesus said to them, " The cup that I drink you shall drink; and you shall be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized. But to sit on My right or on My left, this is not Mine to give, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared." v.38-40
In other words, Jesus is talking about His torture, His death; and indeed, James and John did in fact endure suffering, torture and death. But these things would have to be for the Love of Jesus and of God because they would not be able to earn the honors they were seeking. "Honors in the kingdom are bestowed not on the basis of selfish ambition, but of divine sovereign will." MacArthur.
In actuality, the whole of salvation in strictly an act of divine sovereign will. No pulling up of your own boot straps.
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