Luke 18:18-30

content/bible_journal/luke_18:18-30.md

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+title = "Luke 18:18–30
+date = "2023-01-14
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+
+### [Read the passage.](https://biblia.com/bible/esv/Lk18.18-30
+
+This time we get an example of someone who trusted in his own righteousness.
+Jesus had just said, "Whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child
+shall not enter it," (_v. 17_) and then this rich, upper-crust guy comes up and
+says, "Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" (_v. 18_) Weren't
+you listening, guy? Jesus also calls him out for saying, "Good Teacher", which
+the ruler was just using to try to flatter Jesus, perhaps in order to get a
+good answer.
+
+Despite this, Jesus answers his question. He lists five of the Ten
+Commandments, and the ruler says he has kept them since he was a boy. So, Jesus
+tells him there's just one more thing: give away all of your stuff, and then
+follow Jesus. As the man liked being rich and having a lot of things, this made
+him very sad. So Jesus points out how difficult it is for the rich to enter the
+kingdom of God, more difficult than getting a camel through the eye of a
+needle.
+
+I have heard that some people try to say that Jesus is referring to a
+well-known pass or gate that was very narrow, so rich merchants trying to bring
+heavily-laden camels through it would scrape the sides and generally needed to
+go around a longer way. And supposedly such a place was called the Eye of a
+Needle. Such people are entirely missing the point of the saying, and if it
+were true, it makes the following verses make no sense.
+
+The people who were there had the common, mistaken notion that material
+blessing equates to spiritual blessing. If you were rich, the theory goes, then
+God had blessed you with wealth and would continue to bless you after you died
+and bring you into His kingdom. The people also knew you can't fit a camel into
+a needle's eye, so they wondered if the rich aren't getting in, what hope do
+the rest of us have? Jesus replies, "What is impossible with men is possible
+with GOd." (_v. 27_) So if "eye of a needle" refers to a narrow place, why
+would Jesus assert that it is impossible for men to get into God's kingdom?
+Remember the lesson of the children, and of the Pharisee and tax collector. We
+can't bring ourselves to God's kingdom. He has to invite us in, of His own
+initiative and power. Nothing we have or don't have can help.
+
+Peter pipes up and points out that a bunch of them did leave a lot behind in
+order to follow Jesus, as He asked the ruler to do. It sounds like he's
+implying the question, "So, does that mean we're in the kingdom, like You
+said?" Jesus's answer tells us that God rewards those who sacrifice in order to
+advance His kingdom. Which is not the same as sacrificing in order to get
+blessings, including eternal life. Check your motivations and priorities.
+
+* * *
+
+Let us love You above all our possessions.