On How One Can Enter the Kingdom of Heaven

Reflection on the Gospel of the Tuesday In The Nineteenth Week In Ordinary Time

Matthew 19:23-30

This statement of Jesus is very difficult to understand in its complete sense, because of the words used and the illustration of the camel and the eye of a needle, that Jesus uses. But we have to look at the background in which Matthew places this statement of Jesus.

Jesus says these lines in response to a Rich Young Man who has just visited him

• The Young Man was a devout Jew.
• living his life in accordance with the Law.
• Yet he was inquiring with Jesus the way to Eternal Life.
• This helps us understand his sincerity in wanting to please God.
  • Against this we have the opposite example of the Pharisees and scribes
  • who lived their lives in accordance with the legal requirements of the law
  • but their hearts were far away
• Jesus points to him, that he requires to give up his wealth and follow him
  • to which the rich man goes away dejected
  • This young man had made the gathering of wealth the priority in his life
  • He did not wish to push it aside and
  • Let God take the first place in his life
• It is not that God despises wealth
  • he wishes to show us that wealth and riches have an ability to blind us
  • blind us to the truth
  • thus we end up getting rolled up in slime even more.

Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”

• A camel was an animal used by traders and was often overladen with goods.
• Jesus is drawing similarity between a rich person and a traders camel.
  • When the Main Big Gate of a city was closed
  • the smaller side gate was used to enter the city.
  • At such times it was easy for the trader to unburden his camel
  • and move his goods and camel into the city through the narrow side gate.
• But a Rich Person, already blinded by his riches
  • cannot see the practicality of removing the obstacles in his life that prevent him from entering.
  • He rather stay outside of the protection of the city gates and face the dangers therein.
  • he may even loose his life in the bargain.
• Pride and false self-esteem that the love of wealth brings in, eventually destroys a person

“Who then can be saved?”

• The disciples understand what Jesus is teaching them
• but they ask Jesus
  • in this world
  • which revolves around wealth and money
  • how can one not chase money
  • This is a question even those today reflect upon many a times.
• Jesus answers in light of his teaching in Matthew 6
  • for humanity to find a balance and proper way to respond to God and Money is difficult
  • This can only be brought about by God’s Spirit in our lives
  • Matthew 6:33 says – Seek First God’s Kingdom, and he will help you with everything else.
  • If we don’t take God at his word, and don’t pursue him
  • we will not be able to see how he provides for us, each day, each moment.