Knowing The Word in Matthew 19:23-30

Jesus Teaches About Wealth

23 And Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly, I say to you, only with difficulty will a rich person enter the kingdom of heaven. 24 Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” [Jesus has a great sense of humor regarding the largest animal and a small hole. If the kingdom of heaven requires the total renunciation of personal rights and possessions, then wealth is a handicap.] 25 When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished, saying, “Who then can be saved?” 26 But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” [Salvation by its very nature and meaning is the work of God and not of man.] 27 Then Peter said in reply, “See, we have left everything and followed you. What then will we have?” [An inappropriate question or not?] 28 Jesus said to them, “Truly, I say to you, in the new world [the new heavens and new earth, the rebirth; see Titus 3:5 for the same word translated differently], when the Son of Man will sit on his glorious throne [enthroned as king], you who have followed me [the true Israel] will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. [See Daniel 7, especially verses 18, 22 and 27.] 29 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for my name's sake, will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life. [A disciple’s losses, like Job’s, will be handsomely restored.] 30 But many who are first will be last, and the last first. [This slogan vividly expresses the turning upside down of the world’s values by Jesus. It may also be a warning to Peter not to imagine that his sacrifice has earned him a greater reward.]