Mark 10:23-25

Passage

Jesus then turned and looked to the disciples. He taught them that it is difficult for a wealthy person to enter the kingdom of God.  The disciples were perplexed, so Jesus continued to teach them.  Jesus calls the disciples children, and then teaches them that 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.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

Jesus talks here about the Kingdom of God.  Many people read these verses and hear, “It is difficult for a wealthy person to go to heaven.”  That isn’t what Jesus is saying.  Yes, it is a natural consequence of what Jesus is saying.  But we must be careful to not equate the Kingdom of God with heaven.  When Jesus came in ministry, John the Baptizer introduced Him to the crowds by saying, “The Kingdom of God has drawn near.”  Certainly, John the Baptizer is not talking that heaven has come here.  Rather, the phrase “Kingdom of God” is a way of speaking about God breaking into our life and effectively changing how we live.  The Kingdom of God, if you will, is more of a synonym for the discipleship process than it is for heaven – although that isn’t a perfect comparison, either.  The Kingdom of God is the process of learning and practicing God’s ways intentionally rather than living according to the world.  Thus, what Jesus is actually saying to His disciples in this passage is that people with wealth will find it far more difficult to abide by God’s ways that people who have nothing.  I think that’s a very true statement.

How does this idea of the Kingdom of God help clarify this passage?  Where do you feel you fit into this passage?  If you were to find out that even the homeless in America are still in the top 20% of the wealthiest people in the world, does that change where you feel that you fit in this passage?

Second Thought:

Jesus teaches the disciples about wealth.  Notice that He does not say, “It is impossible for anyone who is rich to enter into the Kingdom of God.”  Rather, Jesus says that it is difficult.  Wealthy people can be humble and submit to God.  Wealthy people can turn their lives over to God’s control.  The problem is, there are far more distractions and things that get in the way.  It is certainly not impossible, but it is difficult.  {For the record, I would clarify this by saying it is never easy.  Regardless of wealth, submission to God is not easily achieved.}

Why are money, property, and possessions often obstacles between us and God?  Does it make sense that the larger the obstacle, the harder it is to work around it?

Third Thought:

Jesus calls His disciples children.  This is actually not an insult at all.  Jesus uses the familiar term, teknon (τέκνον).  The word teknon was used to speak about one’s descendants.  It was a word that spoke about heritage and genealogy, not age and maturity.  A mentor often called his disciples by the word teknon.  This word would actually demonstrate to the disciples that although they are struggling to understand the difficult things that Jesus is teaching, they are still “in the family.”  The word teknon is an inclusive word, not a pejorative word.

In what sense might it feel good for a spiritual mentor to include you in their “family?”  Would this be something you crave?  Why might this be important to understand and process?

Passage for Tomorrow: Mark 10:26-31