And Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How difficult it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!” And the disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said to them again, “Children, how difficult it is to enter the kingdom of God! 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.” And they were exceedingly astonished, and said to him, “Then who can be saved?” Jesus looked at them and said, “With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God.” Peter began to say to him, “See, we have left everything and followed you.” Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”
Comment: Jesus twice made the same statement to His Disciples. I presume that He made the statement twice for emphasis! I claim to be one of His Disciples so I’d better listen! Jesus went on to give what seems superficially to be a stupid example! Are you supposed to dissolve the camel in sulphuric acid and squirt the liquified animal through the eye of a needle with a water pistol!!! No! Apparently there was a small gate near the big gate of the city wall in Damascus through which, with difficulty, you could a camel into the city! Maybe the disciples didn’t know about this small gate in Damascus and hence said, “Then who can be saved?” Peter, that initially ‘foot in the mouth’ man immediately became in a ‘what about me’ frame of mind. Or maybe that is not what Peter meant. The camels had to be unloaded to get through the ‘eye of a needle gate’ so Peter said that Jesus’ disciples had already unloaded everything to follow Him, so how would they be as far as getting into heaven was concerned! Jesus answered Peter but didn’t answer his question. He simply said that no one followed Him and lost out! You will say, correctly, that I didn’t read the end of the sentence. How important that ending is! ….and in the age to come eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last first.” Am I likely to be first or last? My entering is the really important thing but the underlined portion stresses humility!
Proverbs 27: 23&24 – Know well the condition of your flocks, and give attention to your herds, for riches do not last forever; and does a crown endure to all generations?
Prayer: Help me to keep my life balanced in Your scales not false ones, O Father.
As I read it! 