Matthew 19: The Cost of the Kingdom
Table of Contents
- The Three Movements
- Conceptual Flow
- The Kingdom Cost Architecture
- Section Analysis
- Unified Framework
- Diagnostic Summary
- Chapter in One Sentence
- Cross-References
The Three Movements
| Section | Focus | Core Principle |
|---|---|---|
| Marriage & Celibacy (vv. 1-12) | Covenant permanence | Creation design overrides cultural convenience |
| Children & Ruler (vv. 13-22) | Kingdom entry | Receive like child vs. clutch like owner |
| Riches & Rewards (vv. 23-30) | Cost & return | Impossible for man, possible with God; leave all, gain more |
Conceptual Flow
MATTHEW 19 STRUCTURE
│
├─ vv. 1-12 MARRIAGE & DIVORCE → Creation Design
│ ├─► Pharisees test: "Any reason to divorce?"
│ ├─► Jesus: "Haven't you read?"
│ │ └─► Creator made male/female
│ │ Two become one flesh
│ │ What God joined, don't separate
│ ├─► "Why did Moses command divorce?"
│ │ └─► Moses PERMITTED (not commanded)
│ │ Because of hard hearts
│ │ Not from beginning
│ ├─► Exception: sexual immorality
│ ├─► Disciples: "Better not to marry!"
│ └─► Jesus: "Not everyone can accept this"
│ Three types of eunuchs
│ Some choose celibacy for kingdom
│
├─ vv. 13-15 LITTLE CHILDREN → Kingdom Model
│ ├─► People bring children for blessing
│ ├─► Disciples rebuke them
│ ├─► Jesus: "Let children come"
│ └─► Kingdom belongs to SUCH AS THESE
│ (Links to 18:1-5)
│
├─ vv. 16-22 RICH YOUNG RULER → The One Thing
│ ├─► "What good must I DO?"
│ │ └─► Wrong framing: works-based
│ ├─► Jesus: "Only One good, keep commandments"
│ ├─► "Which ones?" → Jesus lists
│ ├─► "All these I've kept, what do I LACK?"
│ ├─► Jesus: "If perfect, SELL ALL, give to poor"
│ │ └─► "Then come, follow me"
│ └─► Went away SAD
│ Great wealth = great barrier
│
├─ vv. 23-26 RICHES & SALVATION → The Impossibility
│ ├─► "Hard for rich to enter kingdom"
│ ├─► "Easier: camel through needle's eye"
│ ├─► Disciples ASTONISHED
│ │ └─► "Who then can be saved?"
│ └─► "With man impossible"
│ "With GOD all things possible"
│
└─ vv. 27-30 REWARDS FOR DISCIPLES → The Exchange
├─► Peter: "We've left everything!"
│ └─► "What's in it for us?"
├─► Jesus: At renewal
│ └─► Twelve thrones
│ Judging twelve tribes
├─► Everyone who left:
│ ├─ Houses, family, fields
│ └─► Receives 100x + eternal life
└─► But: FIRST will be LAST
LAST will be FIRSTThe Kingdom Cost Architecture
CHAPTER 18 ENDS:
│
└─► FORGIVENESS (18:21-35)
│
└─► Forgive infinitely
Because forgiven infinitely
│
└─► CHAPTER 19 OPENS:
│
└─► DIVORCE QUESTION
│
└─► What CAN'T I give up?
│
├─ Marriage? (vv. 1-12)
├─ Control? (vv. 13-15)
└─► Wealth? (vv. 16-30)
│
└─► COST OF KINGDOM:
│
Everything you're holding onto
THE THREAD:
│
└─► What will you RELEASE for the kingdom?
│
├─ vv. 1-12: Release RIGHT to divorce
│ └─► Covenant > convenience
│
├─ vv. 13-15: Release CONTROL over access
│ └─► Children welcomed, not blocked
│
├─ vv. 16-22: Release POSSESSIONS
│ └─► Wealth can't buy kingdom
│
└─► vv. 27-30: Release EVERYTHING
│
└─► But receive 100x back
│
└─► Kingdom economics:
│
└─► Give up all → Gain more
First → Last
Last → FirstSection Analysis
1. Marriage & Divorce (vv. 1-12) — CREATION DESIGN VS. HARDENED HEARTS
THE SETTING (vv. 1-2)
│
└─► "When Jesus had finished saying these things,
he left Galilee and went into the region of Judea
to the other side of the Jordan"
│
└─► Geographical shift:
│
├─ Galilee → Judea (south)
├─ "Other side of Jordan" = Perea
│ └─► Herod Antipas' territory
│ │
│ └─► SIGNIFICANT: This is where
│ John the Baptist confronted Herod
│ About unlawful marriage (14:3-4)
│ And was beheaded
│
└─► "Large crowds followed"
"He healed them there"
│
└─► Ministry continues
Healing validates teaching
THE TEST (v. 3)
│
└─► "Some Pharisees came to him to TEST him.
They asked, 'Is it lawful for a man to divorce
his wife for ANY AND EVERY REASON?'"
│
└─► πειράζοντες (peirazontes) — "testing, tempting"
│
└─► Not sincere question
TRAP
│
└─► Why a trap?
│
├─ POLITICAL: Herod Antipas divorced wife
│ for Herodias (brother's wife)
│ John the Baptist condemned it → killed
│ │
│ └─► Get Jesus to condemn → same fate?
│
└─► THEOLOGICAL: Two rabbinic schools
│
├─ School of SHAMMAI:
│ └─► Divorce ONLY for adultery
│ Strict interpretation of Deut 24:1
│ "Something indecent" = sexual sin
│
└─► School of HILLEL:
└─► Divorce for ANY reason
"Something indecent" = ANYTHING
│
└─► Burned dinner? Divorce.
Spoke to another man? Divorce.
Found someone prettier? Divorce.
│
└─► "Any and every reason"
= Hillel's position
THE QUESTION'S ASSUMPTION:
│
└─► "Is it LAWFUL?" (ἔξεστιν)
│
└─► Permission-seeking
│
└─► Assumes: Divorce is sometimes permitted
Question: How broad is the permission?
│
└─► Jesus will REFRAME entirelyJesus’ Response — Back to Creation (vv. 4-6):
THE COUNTER-QUESTION (v. 4)
│
└─► "'Haven't you READ,' he replied,
'that at the beginning the Creator
made them MALE and FEMALE?'"
│
└─► "Haven't you read?" (οὐκ ἀνέγνωτε)
│
└─► Sharp rebuke to Pharisees
│
└─► "You experts in Scripture...
haven't you READ?"
│
└─► Points to GENESIS, not Deuteronomy
│
└─► They want to debate Moses' exception
Jesus goes to God's DESIGN
│
└─► Gen 1:27: "Male and female he created them"
│
└─► Two sexes
Complementary
For union
THE DESIGN STATED (v. 5)
│
└─► "and said, 'For this reason a man will
LEAVE his father and mother
and be UNITED to his wife,
and the two will become ONE FLESH'?"
│
└─► Quoting Gen 2:24
│
└─► Three movements:
│
├─ LEAVE (καταλείψει)
│ └─► Separation from origin family
│ New primary loyalty
│ Marriage > parents
│
├─ UNITE (κολληθήσεται)
│ └─► "Cleave, be glued to"
│ Permanent attachment
│ Not temporary arrangement
│
└─► ONE FLESH (σὰρξ μία)
│
└─► Not just physical union
│
└─► Complete merger:
│
├─ Two become one unit
├─ Identity fusion
├─ Covenant oneness
└─► Indivisible bond
THE CONCLUSION (v. 6)
│
└─► "So they are NO LONGER TWO, but ONE flesh.
Therefore what GOD has joined together,
let no one SEPARATE"
│
└─► οὐκέτι εἰσὶν δύο ἀλλὰ σὰρξ μία
"No longer are they two but flesh one"
│
└─► Math: 1 + 1 = 1 (not 2)
│
└─► Marriage creates new entity
│
└─► "What GOD has joined" (ὁ θεὸς συνέζευξεν)
│
└─► God is the JOINER
Not just human contract
DIVINE action
│
└─► "Let no one SEPARATE" (μὴ χωριζέτω)
│
└─► χωρίζω — "to divide, put apart"
│
└─► Divorce = SEPARATING
what God JOINED
│
└─► Working AGAINST God
THE PRINCIPLE:
│
└─► CREATION DESIGN > CULTURAL PRACTICE
│
├─ God's original intent: permanent union
│
└─► Human exceptions: concessions to sin
│
└─► Jesus restores original standardThe Moses Question (vv. 7-9):
THE PHARISEES' CHALLENGE (v. 7)
│
└─► "'Why then,' they asked,
'did Moses COMMAND that a man give his wife
a certificate of divorce and send her away?'"
│
└─► They cite Deut 24:1-4
│
└─► BUT notice their framing:
│
└─► "Moses COMMANDED" (ἐνετείλατο)
│
└─► They present it as COMMAND
As if Moses REQUIRED divorce
│
└─► Misrepresentation
JESUS' CORRECTION (v. 8)
│
└─► "Jesus replied, 'Moses PERMITTED you
to divorce your wives because
your hearts were HARD.
But it was NOT THIS WAY from the beginning'"
│
└─► Key distinctions:
│
├─ "PERMITTED" (ἐπέτρεψεν) not "commanded"
│ │
│ └─► Huge difference:
│ │
│ ├─ Command = God's will
│ │
│ └─► Permission = concession to sin
│ │
│ └─► Like speed limits after reckless driving
│ Not endorsement, damage control
│
├─ "Because hearts were HARD" (σκληροκαρδίαν)
│ │
│ └─► σκληρός (hard) + καρδία (heart)
│ │
│ └─► Not God's ideal
│ Human failure required regulation
│ │
│ └─► Without divorce law:
│ ├─ Abandoned wives had no protection
│ ├─ No documentation of status
│ └─► Certificate gave legal standing
│ To remarry, live independently
│
└─► "NOT THIS WAY from beginning"
│
└─► οὐκ γέγονεν οὕτως (not has it been so)
│
└─► Perfect tense: has never been God's design
│
└─► Eden had NO divorce
│
└─► Sin introduced hardness
Hardness required concession
But original design = permanent
THE CLARIFICATION (v. 9)
│
└─► "I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife,
EXCEPT FOR SEXUAL IMMORALITY,
and marries another woman commits ADULTERY"
│
└─► μὴ ἐπὶ πορνείᾳ — "except for fornication"
│
└─► THE EXCEPTION CLAUSE:
│
├─ πορνεία (porneia)
│ │
│ └─► Broad term for sexual sin:
│ │
│ ├─ Adultery (extramarital sex)
│ ├─ Fornication (premarital sex)
│ ├─ Prostitution
│ ├─ Incest
│ └─► Sexual betrayal of covenant
│
└─► MEANING:
│
├─ Sexual immorality = covenant breach
│ └─► One flesh violated by another union
│
└─► In THIS case: divorce permitted
│
└─► But even here: NOT commanded
│
└─► Hosea: took back adulterous wife
Forgiveness still possible
Permission ≠ requirement
"COMMITS ADULTERY"
│
└─► μοιχᾶται (moichatai)
│
└─► If divorce WITHOUT valid reason:
│
└─► Remarriage = adultery
│
└─► Because first marriage still valid
in God's eyes
│
└─► Paper divorce ≠ spiritual divorce
│
└─► Mark 10:11-12 adds:
"Against her" (against first wife)
And if SHE divorces and remarries
THE SHAMMAI VS. HILLEL VERDICT:
│
└─► Jesus sides with... NEITHER exactly
│
├─ Closer to Shammai (only for sexual sin)
│
└─► But goes BEYOND both:
│
└─► Not: "When can I divorce?"
IS: "Marriage is permanent by design"
│
└─► Exception exists
But it's exception, not loopholeThe Disciples’ Reaction (vv. 10-12):
THE DISCIPLES' RESPONSE (v. 10)
│
└─► "The disciples said to him,
'If this is the SITUATION between husband and wife,
it is BETTER NOT TO MARRY'"
│
└─► αἰτία (aitia) — "cause, case, situation"
│
└─► Disciples shocked:
│
└─► "If divorce is THIS restricted..."
│
└─► "Better to stay single!"
│
└─► They recognized:
│
├─ This is HARD standard
│ └─► Lifelong commitment
│ No easy escape
│
└─► Maybe celibacy is safer?
│
└─► Ironic: Rabbis said
marriage was COMMANDED
(Gen 1:28 "be fruitful")
│
Celibacy was suspect
│
└─► But disciples: "Maybe not!"
JESUS' TEACHING ON CELIBACY (vv. 11-12)
│
└─► "Jesus replied, 'Not everyone can ACCEPT this word,
but only those to whom it has been GIVEN'"
│
└─► "This word" (τὸν λόγον τοῦτον)
│
└─► Refers to what?
│
├─ OPTION 1: "Better not to marry"
│ └─► Celibacy is gift, not everyone has it
│
└─► OPTION 2: The hard teaching on divorce
└─► Only Spirit-empowered can live it
│
└─► Either way:
"GIVEN" (δέδοται) — divine gift
│
└─► Marriage OR celibacy = calling
THE THREE EUNUCHS (v. 12)
│
└─► "For there are eunuchs who were born that way"
│
└─► Physical condition from birth
Unable to procreate
│
└─► No choice in matter
│
├─► "and there are eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by others"
│ │
│ └─► Castration (often for royal service)
│ Ancient practice for court officials
│ │
│ └─► No choice in matter
│
└─► "and there are those who choose to live like eunuchs
FOR THE SAKE OF THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN"
│
└─► VOLUNTARY celibacy
│
└─► διὰ τὴν βασιλείαν τῶν οὐρανῶν
"For the sake of the kingdom"
│
└─► Not: celibacy is holier
IS: some called to undivided focus
│
└─► 1 Cor 7:32-35: "Unmarried concerned
about Lord's affairs...
undivided devotion"
│
└─► Paul's own situation
(1 Cor 7:7-8)
"THE ONE WHO CAN ACCEPT THIS SHOULD ACCEPT IT"
│
└─► ὁ δυνάμενος χωρεῖν χωρείτω
"The one able to receive, let him receive"
│
└─► Not command, invitation
│
└─► If you have the gift: use it
If not: marry, but marry FOR LIFE
│
└─► Both are valid kingdom callings2. Little Children (vv. 13-15) — KINGDOM RECEPTION
THE SCENE (v. 13)
│
└─► "Then people brought LITTLE CHILDREN to Jesus
for him to place his HANDS on them and PRAY for them.
But the disciples REBUKED them"
│
└─► παιδία (paidia) — very young children
│
└─► Different from νεανίσκος (young man) in v. 20
These are SMALL children
│
└─► Parents bringing for blessing
│
└─► Common practice:
Seek rabbi's blessing
Touch, prayer = transmission of blessing
│
└─► "Place hands" = formal blessing act
│
└─► DISCIPLES' RESPONSE:
│
└─► "Rebuked" (ἐπετίμησαν)
│
└─► Same word used for:
│
├─ Rebuking demons (17:18)
├─ Rebuking Peter (16:22)
└─► Strong negative response
│
└─► Why rebuke?
│
├─ Children = unimportant (cultural view)
├─ Jesus is busy with IMPORTANT people
├─ Pharisees just tested him
└─► "Don't bother the Teacher"
│
└─► Gatekeeping
Control access
│
IRONY: Just after ch 18:
"Welcome such children"
Disciples already forgot
JESUS' CORRECTION (vv. 14-15)
│
└─► "Jesus said, 'Let the little children COME to me,
and do NOT HINDER them,
for the kingdom of heaven BELONGS to such as these'"
│
└─► ἄφετε (aphete) — "permit, allow, let go"
│
└─► Imperative: command
│
└─► "STOP hindering"
Present tense = stop ongoing action
│
└─► κωλύω (kōlyō) — "to hinder, prevent"
│
└─► Don't be obstacles
Don't block access
│
└─► Echoes 18:6: don't cause stumbling
"KINGDOM BELONGS TO SUCH AS THESE"
│
└─► τῶν γὰρ τοιούτων ἐστὶν ἡ βασιλεία
│
└─► Not: only children enter
IS: those WHO ARE LIKE children
│
└─► What quality?
│
└─► (See 18:1-5)
│
├─ Dependence
├─ Humility
├─ Trust
└─► Reception (not achievement)
│
└─► Mark 10:15 adds:
"Whoever does not RECEIVE
the kingdom like a child
will never enter it"
│
└─► Children RECEIVE
Rich young ruler: "What must I DO?"
│
└─► Contrast: DO vs. RECEIVE
THE BLESSING (v. 15)
│
└─► "When he had placed his hands on them,
he went on from there"
│
└─► Jesus does what parents asked
│
└─► Blesses the children
│
└─► Then moves on
To encounter with rich young ruler
│
└─► JUXTAPOSITION:
│
├─ Children: humble, receive
│
└─► Rich man: proud, achieve
│
└─► Who enters kingdom?3. Rich Young Ruler (vv. 16-22) — THE ONE THING LACKING
THE APPROACH (v. 16)
│
└─► "Just then a man came up to Jesus and asked,
'Teacher, what GOOD THING must I DO
to GET eternal life?'"
│
└─► Cross-references add details:
│
├─ Mark 10:17: "Ran up... knelt before him"
│ └─► Eager, respectful
│
├─ Luke 18:18: "A certain RULER"
│ └─► Some authority (synagogue? civic?)
│
└─► v. 20: "Young man" (νεανίσκος)
v. 22: "Great wealth"
│
└─► Hence: "Rich Young Ruler"
│
└─► THE QUESTION:
│
└─► "What GOOD must I DO?"
│
└─► τί ἀγαθὸν ποιήσω
│
└─► Assumptions embedded:
│
├─ "GOOD thing" — some special act
│ └─► Beyond normal obedience
│ Some extra work
│
├─ "Must I DO" — works-based thinking
│ └─► Eternal life = achieved
│ Not received
│
└─► "GET" (σχῶ) — obtain, possess
│
└─► Like acquiring property
Transaction mentality
│
└─► "What do I PAY?"
JESUS' COUNTER (v. 17)
│
└─► "'Why do you ask me about what is GOOD?'
Jesus replied. 'There is only ONE who is good.
If you want to enter life, KEEP the commandments'"
│
└─► Two parts:
│
├─ "Only ONE good" (εἷς ἐστιν ὁ ἀγαθός)
│ │
│ └─► Points to GOD
│ │
│ └─► Mark 10:18: "Why call ME good?
│ No one good except God alone"
│ │
│ └─► Jesus probing:
│ "Do you know who you're talking to?"
│ │
│ └─► If only God is good
│ And Jesus is good
│ Then Jesus is...?
│
└─► "KEEP the commandments"
│
└─► τὰς ἐντολὰς τήρησον
│
└─► Seems straightforward
│
└─► But it's a TRAP (in love)
│
└─► Will expose the problem
THE FOLLOW-UP (v. 18)
│
└─► "'WHICH ones?' he inquired"
│
└─► ποίας (poias) — "which kind, which ones"
│
└─► Interesting question:
│
└─► 613 commandments in Torah
│
└─► "Which are the ESSENTIAL ones?"
│
└─► Still looking for minimum requirement
"What's the checklist?"
JESUS' LIST (vv. 18b-19)
│
└─► "Jesus replied, 'You shall not murder,
you shall not commit adultery,
you shall not steal,
you shall not give false testimony,
honor your father and mother,'
and 'love your neighbor as yourself'"
│
└─► Notice what Jesus lists:
│
├─ SECOND TABLE of Ten Commandments
│ └─► Commandments 5-10 (toward humans)
│ │
│ ├─ No murder (6th)
│ ├─ No adultery (5th)
│ ├─ No stealing (8th)
│ ├─ No false testimony (9th)
│ └─► Honor parents (5th)
│
└─► Plus: "Love neighbor as yourself"
│
└─► Lev 19:18
Summary of second table
│
└─► MISSING: First table (toward God)
│
├─ No other gods
├─ No idols
├─ No misusing name
└─► Keep Sabbath
│
└─► Why omit?
│
└─► Wait for it...
THE CLAIM (v. 20)
│
└─► "'ALL THESE I have kept,' the young man said.
'What do I still LACK?'"
│
└─► πάντα ταῦτα ἐφύλαξα
"All these I have guarded/kept"
│
└─► Bold claim:
│
└─► "I've kept them ALL"
│
└─► Externally, probably true
│
├─ No murder (hands)
├─ No adultery (body)
├─ No stealing (actions)
└─► No lies (words)
│
BUT:
│
└─► Matt 5:21-28: Jesus already taught
Anger = murder (heart)
Lust = adultery (heart)
│
└─► Has he kept THESE?
│
└─► "What do I still LACK?"
│
└─► τί ἔτι ὑστερῶ
│
└─► He SENSES something missing
│
└─► All the boxes checked
Still feels incomplete
│
└─► Mark 10:21: "Jesus LOOKED at him
and LOVED him"
│
└─► What follows is love, not cruelty
THE DIAGNOSIS (v. 21)
│
└─► "Jesus answered, 'If you want to be PERFECT,
go, SELL your possessions and GIVE to the poor,
and you will have TREASURE in heaven.
Then come, FOLLOW me'"
│
└─► Four commands:
│
├─ SELL (πώλησόν)
│ └─► Your possessions (τὰ ὑπάρχοντά)
│ "The things belonging to you"
│ ALL of them
│
├─ GIVE (δός)
│ └─► To the poor (τοῖς πτωχοῖς)
│ Not just sell and hold cash
│ GIVE away
│
├─ THEN treasure in heaven
│ └─► θησαυρός — "stored wealth"
│ Exchange: earth treasure → heaven treasure
│ │
│ └─► Matt 6:19-21: "Store up treasures in heaven...
│ where your treasure is,
│ there your heart will be also"
│
└─► FOLLOW ME (ἀκολούθει μοι)
│
└─► The real point:
│
└─► Not: poverty is virtue
IS: JESUS is the treasure
│
└─► "FOLLOW ME"
│
└─► The invitation all disciples received
(4:19, 9:9, etc.)
│
└─► This is what he LACKS:
JESUS as Lord
WHY WEALTH?
│
└─► Jesus exposed the IDOL:
│
└─► First table of commandments:
│
└─► "No other gods before me" (1st)
│
└─► His god = wealth
│
└─► Money is his security
Money is his identity
Money is his functional lord
│
└─► Can't serve two masters (6:24)
│
└─► Choose: wealth or Jesus
He can't have both
Because wealth has HIM
"IF YOU WANT TO BE PERFECT"
│
└─► τέλειος (teleios) — "complete, whole, mature"
│
└─► Same word as Matt 5:48:
"Be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect"
│
└─► Not sinless perfection
IS: WHOLENESS, completeness
│
└─► He asked: "What do I LACK?"
Jesus: "Here's what makes you complete:
Let go of everything
Follow me"
THE RESULT (v. 22)
│
└─► "When the young man heard this,
he went away SAD,
because he had GREAT WEALTH"
│
└─► λυπούμενος (lypoumenos) — "grieving, sorrowful"
│
└─► Same root as 18:31: servants "outraged"
Deep emotional response
│
└─► He's SAD because:
│
├─ He knows Jesus is right
├─ He knows what he should do
└─► He can't bring himself to do it
│
└─► Wealth has him
He doesn't have wealth
│
└─► "GREAT wealth" (κτήματα πολλά)
│
└─► "Many possessions"
│
└─► Mark 10:22 adds: "his face fell"
│
└─► The visible grief
│
└─► He walked away
From eternal life
To keep temporal wealth
│
└─► Saddest trade in history
THE CONTRAST:
│
├─ CHILDREN (vv. 13-15):
│ └─► Came with nothing
│ Received blessing
│ Kingdom belongs to them
│
└─► RICH YOUNG RULER (vv. 16-22):
└─► Came with everything
Couldn't receive
Walked away empty
│
└─► Entry requirement:
EMPTY HANDS4. Riches & Salvation (vv. 23-26) — THE IMPOSSIBILITY MADE POSSIBLE
THE PRONOUNCEMENT (v. 23)
│
└─► "Then Jesus said to his disciples,
'Truly I tell you, it is HARD
for someone who is RICH
to enter the kingdom of heaven'"
│
└─► ἀμὴν λέγω ὑμῖν — "Truly I say to you"
│
└─► Solemn introduction
│
└─► δυσκόλως (dyskolōs) — "with difficulty"
│
└─► Not impossible (yet)
But HARD
│
└─► Why hard?
│
├─ Wealth provides security
│ └─► Hard to trust God when self-sufficient
│
├─ Wealth provides status
│ └─► Hard to humble as child
│
├─ Wealth provides options
│ └─► Hard to depend on one Lord
│
└─► Wealth provides comfort
└─► Hard to take up cross
THE HYPERBOLE (v. 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'"
│
└─► Most famous illustration:
│
└─► κάμηλος (kamēlos) — "camel"
│
└─► Largest animal in Palestine
│
└─► τρύπημα ῥαφίδος (trypēma rhaphidos)
"Hole of a needle"
│
└─► Smallest opening
│
└─► Largest through smallest
= IMPOSSIBLE
│
└─► FALSE INTERPRETATIONS:
│
├─ "Small gate theory"
│ └─► Medieval invention: small gate in Jerusalem
│ called "Needle's Eye" that camels could
│ squeeze through if unloaded
│ │
│ └─► NO evidence this gate existed
│ Invented to soften Jesus' words
│
└─► "Rope theory"
└─► κάμηλος vs κάμιλος (thick rope)
Some scribes changed to "rope"
│
└─► Still impossible
And probably not original
│
└─► JESUS MEANT:
│
└─► Hyperbole: deliberate exaggeration
│
└─► Point: IMPOSSIBLE for humans
│
└─► v. 26 confirms this reading
THE DISCIPLES' SHOCK (v. 25)
│
└─► "When the disciples heard this,
they were GREATLY ASTONISHED and asked,
'Who then CAN be saved?'"
│
└─► ἐξεπλήσσοντο σφόδρα
"Exceedingly struck out of their minds"
│
└─► EXTREME astonishment
│
└─► Why so shocked?
│
└─► Cultural assumption:
│
└─► Wealth = God's blessing
│
└─► Deut 28: Obey → prosper
│
└─► Rich = righteous
Rich = blessed
Rich = favored by God
│
└─► If THEY can't be saved...
│
└─► "Who then CAN be saved?"
τίς ἄρα δύναται σωθῆναι
│
└─► If best candidates fail
All are doomed
THE ANSWER (v. 26)
│
└─► "Jesus looked at them and said,
'With MAN this is IMPOSSIBLE,
but with GOD ALL THINGS are possible'"
│
└─► Two statements:
│
├─ "With MAN impossible" (παρὰ ἀνθρώποις τοῦτο ἀδύνατόν ἐστιν)
│ │
│ └─► Confirms: not just "hard"
│ IMPOSSIBLE
│ │
│ └─► No human can save themselves
│ Rich or poor
│ │
│ └─► Eph 2:8-9: "By grace... not of yourselves
│ ... not of works"
│
└─► "With GOD all things possible" (παρὰ δὲ θεῷ πάντα δυνατά)
│
└─► The ONLY hope
│
└─► God can do what man cannot:
│
├─ Give new heart (Ezek 36:26)
├─ Open blind eyes (Acts 16:14)
├─ Draw to Christ (John 6:44)
└─► Save the unsavable
│
└─► Even the rich
│
└─► Zacchaeus: rich → saved (Luke 19)
Joseph of Arimathea: rich → disciple
│
└─► But only by God's work
Not human achievement
THE PRINCIPLE:
│
└─► Salvation is IMPOSSIBLE for humans
│
└─► Rich or poor
│
├─ Rich: trust wealth
│
└─► Poor: trust self differently
│
└─► All need GOD to save
│
└─► "With God all things possible"
│
└─► Gen 18:14: "Is anything too hard for the LORD?"
Jer 32:17: "Nothing too hard for you"
│
└─► God specializes in impossible5. Rewards for Followers (vv. 27-30) — THE HUNDREDFOLD RETURN
PETER'S QUESTION (v. 27)
│
└─► "Peter answered him,
'We have LEFT EVERYTHING to follow you!
What then will there be FOR US?'"
│
└─► Peter's calculation:
│
├─ "We left everything"
│ │
│ └─► ἀφήκαμεν πάντα
│ │
│ └─► True statement:
│ │
│ ├─ Left boats (4:20)
│ ├─ Left nets (4:20)
│ ├─ Left father (4:22)
│ ├─ Left tax booth (9:9)
│ └─► Left livelihoods
│ │
│ └─► Real sacrifice
│
└─► "What will there be for us?"
│
└─► τί ἄρα ἔσται ἡμῖν
│
└─► Contrast with rich young ruler:
│
├─ HE wouldn't leave
│
└─► WE DID leave
│
└─► "What's our reward?"
│
└─► Not wrong question
Jesus will answer
THE ESCHATOLOGICAL PROMISE (v. 28)
│
└─► "Jesus said to them,
'Truly I tell you, at the RENEWAL of all things,
when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne,
you who have followed me will also sit on TWELVE THRONES,
JUDGING the twelve tribes of Israel'"
│
└─► παλιγγενεσία (palingenesia)
│
└─► πάλιν (again) + γένεσις (birth, origin)
│
└─► "Rebirth, regeneration, renewal"
│
└─► Used only twice in NT:
│
├─ Here: cosmic renewal
│ └─► New creation
│ Rev 21:1: "New heaven and new earth"
│
└─► Titus 3:5: personal regeneration
└─► "Washing of rebirth"
│
└─► "When Son of Man sits on glorious throne"
│
└─► Dan 7:13-14: Son of Man receives kingdom
│
└─► Second Coming
Kingdom consummated
│
└─► "TWELVE THRONES judging twelve tribes"
│
└─► κρίνοντες (krinontes) — "judging, ruling"
│
└─► Apostles given authority
│
└─► 1 Cor 6:2-3: "Saints will judge the world...
judge angels"
│
└─► Luke 22:29-30: "I confer on you a kingdom...
eat and drink at my table
and sit on thrones
judging the twelve tribes"
│
└─► SPECIFIC to the Twelve
(Judas replaced by Matthias, Acts 1)
THE GENERAL PROMISE (v. 29)
│
└─► "'And everyone who has LEFT
houses or brothers or sisters
or father or mother or wife or children or fields
FOR MY SAKE
will receive a HUNDRED TIMES as much
and will inherit ETERNAL LIFE'"
│
└─► πᾶς ὅστις ἀφῆκεν — "everyone who has left"
│
└─► Not just the Twelve
EVERYONE who follows
│
└─► What they might leave:
│
├─ Houses (property)
├─ Brothers, sisters (family)
├─ Father, mother (parents)
├─ Wife (spouse) — [some MSS omit]
├─ Children (descendants)
└─► Fields (livelihood)
│
└─► Comprehensive list
Everything that holds people back
│
└─► "FOR MY SAKE" (ἕνεκεν τοῦ ὀνόματός μου)
│
└─► "For the sake of my name"
│
└─► Motivation matters:
│
├─ Not: abandoning family (irresponsible)
│
└─► IS: When following Jesus requires sacrifice
Choose Jesus over comfort
│
└─► "HUNDRED TIMES as much" (ἑκατονταπλασίονα)
│
└─► 100x return
│
└─► Mark 10:30 adds: "in this present age...
and in the age to come"
│
└─► Both now AND later:
│
├─ NOW: New family (church)
│ └─► "Brothers, sisters, mothers, children"
│ (Mark 10:30)
│ │
│ └─► Leave one family
│ Gain thousands in Christ
│
└─► LATER: Eternal inheritance
│
└─► Rev 21-22: New creation
Everything restored, amplified
│
└─► "ETERNAL LIFE" (ζωὴν αἰώνιον)
│
└─► What rich young ruler wanted (v. 16)
│
└─► Available to all who:
│
└─► Leave all, follow Jesus
│
└─► Receive (like children)
Not achieve (like ruler)
THE WARNING (v. 30)
│
└─► "'But many who are FIRST will be LAST,
and many who are LAST will be FIRST'"
│
└─► πρῶτοι... ἔσχατοι
│
└─► Kingdom reversal:
│
├─ Rich young ruler: FIRST (wealth, status, morality)
│ └─► Will be LAST (outside kingdom)
│
├─ Children: LAST (no status, no power)
│ └─► Will be FIRST (kingdom belongs to them)
│
└─► Disciples: Left everything (looked foolish)
└─► Will be FIRST (thrones, hundredfold)
│
└─► Introduces parable of ch 20:
│
└─► Workers hired at different hours
All paid same wage
First complain
│
└─► "The last will be first,
and the first will be last" (20:16)
│
└─► Frame around chapter 20
THE ECONOMICS:
│
└─► GIVE UP → RECEIVE
│ │
├─ Temporary wealth ├─ Eternal treasure
├─ Earthly family ├─ Spiritual family (100x)
├─ Worldly status ├─ Kingdom thrones
└─► Human security └─► Divine provision
│ │
└─► "First" └─► Truly first
(in world's eyes) (in kingdom reality)Unified Framework
MATTHEW 19 ARCHITECTURE:
│
├─ MARRIAGE (vv. 1-12)
│ └─► Creation design for covenant
│ │
│ ├─ One flesh = indivisible
│ ├─ Moses permitted (concession)
│ ├─ Exception: sexual immorality
│ └─► Some called to celibacy for kingdom
│
├─ CHILDREN (vv. 13-15)
│ └─► Model for kingdom entry
│ │
│ ├─ Disciples block, Jesus welcomes
│ └─► Kingdom belongs to such as these
│ (Receive, don't achieve)
│
├─ RICH RULER (vv. 16-22)
│ └─► The idol exposed
│ │
│ ├─ "What good must I DO?"
│ ├─ Kept commandments (external)
│ ├─ "Sell all, follow me"
│ └─► Went away sad (wealth owned him)
│
├─ SALVATION (vv. 23-26)
│ └─► Impossible for man
│ │
│ ├─ Camel through needle's eye
│ ├─ Disciples: "Who can be saved?"
│ └─► With God: all things possible
│
└─► REWARDS (vv. 27-30)
└─► Hundredfold return
│
├─ Twelve thrones for apostles
├─ 100x for all who leave
├─ Eternal life
└─► First/last reversalTHE SINGLE THREAD:
│
└─► WHAT WILL YOU RELEASE FOR THE KINGDOM?
│
├─ Marriage rights? (vv. 1-12)
│ └─► Hold marriage as permanent covenant
│ Or some release marriage for celibate service
│
├─ Control/Status? (vv. 13-15)
│ └─► Release need to block, control access
│ Become like powerless child
│
├─ Possessions? (vv. 16-22)
│ └─► Release grip on wealth
│ Follow Jesus empty-handed
│
└─► Everything? (vv. 27-30)
│
└─► Leave houses, family, fields
FOR JESUS' SAKE
│
└─► Receive 100x back + eternal life
│
└─► Kingdom economics:
│
└─► Lose all → Gain more
Die → Live
Last → FirstDiagnostic Summary
MARRIAGE QUESTION:
│
└─► What grounds for divorce?
│
├─ PHARISEES: "Any reason" (Hillel) or stricter (Shammai)?
│
└─► JESUS: Wrong question
│
└─► God's design = permanent
│
├─ Moses: concession to hard hearts
├─ Exception: sexual immorality
└─► Goal: return to creation intent
ENTRY QUESTION:
│
└─► How do you enter the kingdom?
│
├─ CHILDREN: Receive (empty-handed)
│ └─► Kingdom belongs to such
│
└─► RICH RULER: Achieve (full-handed)
└─► Walked away empty
SALVATION QUESTION:
│
└─► Who can be saved?
│
├─ WITH MAN: Impossible
│ └─► Rich or poor, all fail
│
└─► WITH GOD: All things possible
└─► Only hope = divine intervention
REWARD QUESTION:
│
└─► What do disciples get?
│
├─ LEFT: Everything temporal
│
└─► RECEIVE: 100x + eternal life
│
└─► First/last reversal
World's losers = kingdom's winnersChapter in One Sentence
The kingdom costs everything you’re clinging to—marriage autonomy, adult control, financial security—but those who release their grip receive a hundred times more, because with God the impossible becomes possible.
Cross-References
| Verse | Reference | Connection |
|---|---|---|
| 19:4 | Gen 1:27 | Male and female created |
| 19:5 | Gen 2:24 | Leave, cleave, one flesh |
| 19:6 | Mark 10:9 | What God joined, don’t separate |
| 19:7 | Deut 24:1-4 | Certificate of divorce |
| 19:9 | Matt 5:32 | Divorce causes adultery (Sermon) |
| 19:12 | 1 Cor 7:7-8 | Paul’s gift of celibacy |
| 19:12 | 1 Cor 7:32-35 | Unmarried = undivided devotion |
| 19:14 | Matt 18:3 | Must become like children |
| 19:14 | Mark 10:15 | Receive kingdom like child |
| 19:17 | Mark 10:18 | Only God is good |
| 19:18-19 | Exod 20:12-16 | Ten Commandments (second table) |
| 19:19 | Lev 19:18 | Love neighbor as self |
| 19:21 | Matt 6:19-21 | Treasure in heaven |
| 19:21 | Luke 12:33 | Sell possessions, give alms |
| 19:23 | 1 Tim 6:9-10 | Love of money = root of evil |
| 19:24 | Mark 10:25 | Camel/needle (parallel) |
| 19:26 | Gen 18:14 | Is anything too hard for LORD? |
| 19:26 | Jer 32:17 | Nothing too hard for God |
| 19:26 | Luke 1:37 | Nothing impossible with God |
| 19:28 | Dan 7:13-14 | Son of Man receives kingdom |
| 19:28 | Rev 3:21 | Sit with Christ on throne |
| 19:28 | 1 Cor 6:2-3 | Saints will judge world/angels |
| 19:29 | Mark 10:29-30 | Hundredfold now + eternal life |
| 19:30 | Matt 20:16 | First/last (parable conclusion) |
| 19:30 | Luke 13:30 | First/last reversal |