Jesus on the road to Jerusalem
Matthew 19:1,2, 16-30
19 When Jesus had finished saying these things, he left Galilee and went to the region of Judea beyond the Jordan. 2 Large crowds followed him, and he cured them there….
16 Then someone came to him and said, ‘Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?’ 17 And he said to him, ‘Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. If you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments.’ 18 He said to him, ‘Which ones?’ And Jesus said, ‘You shall not murder; You shall not commit adultery; You shall not steal; You shall not bear false witness; 19 Honour your father and mother; also, You shall love your neighbour as yourself.’ 20 The young man said to him, ‘I have kept all these; what do I still lack?’ 21 Jesus said to him, ‘If you wish to be perfect, go, sell your possessions, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.’ 22 When the young man heard this word, he went away grieving, for he had many possessions.
23 Then Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Truly I tell you, it will be hard for a rich person to 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 someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.’ 25 When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astounded and said, ‘Then who can be saved?’ 26 But Jesus looked at them and said, ‘For mortals it is impossible, but for God all things are possible.’
27 Then Peter said in reply, ‘Look, we have left everything and followed you. What then will we have?’ 28 Jesus said to them, ‘Truly I tell you, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man is seated on the throne of his glory, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields, for my name’s sake, will receive a hundredfold, and will inherit eternal life. 30 But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.
We have jumped forward a chapter and a half – notice Jesus has left the relative safety of Galilee (in the north) and has moved south to Judea on the opposite side of the Jordan River from Jerusalem. Closer to Jerusalem but still distant enough to be somewhat safe. It is a long text, but the whole helps us understand the flow.
Someone asks Jesus a question (vs. 16) -- gradually details about the person come out. In vs. 20 we are told the person is a “young man”, and then in vs. 22 they had significant financial resources “he had many possessions”. The man claims to have followed the Ten Commandments, Jesus does challenge that assertion. But when Jesus asks him to sell his possessions and give the proceeds to the poor the young man is not able to do that. Jesus’ call to discipleship is too much for him (see Matthew 8:18-22 for another moment when the call to follow was too much for a would-be follower.) Jesus does not want his followers surprised when the way gets difficult, and the demands of discipleship rise.
Jesus’ words about how hard it is for those who have financial means to get into heaven catch the disciples by surprise. Are not those with financial means the people who have been blessed by God? Isn’t their wealth a sign of God’s blessing? Jesus challenges that view, suggesting that financial resources are a hindrance to trusting God.
Peter quickly suggests that the disciples have given up much to follow Jesus, to which Jesus replies that those people who give up things in this life for the sake of Jesus’ name – because of loyalty to Jesus – will find themselves blessed in the life to come. To solidify this spiritual insight Jesus says, “many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.” Those who look like they are the winners in this world may discover that they are not the winners in the world to come, and those who in this life look like they are last because they have given up things and status to follow Jesus, will discover that they are in fact first in the kingdom of heaven. Money and the acquisition of things are not the way to measure importance in the kingdom of heaven, the kingdom of God.
PRAYER:
O Lord, we have many things, and we find it hard to give those things up in order to follow you. This Lent teach us the joy and beauty of giving up things for your sake, for your purposes, for your kingdom. In Jesus’ name. Amen.