Does God Hate the Rich?
Jesus said:
“Truly, I say to you, only with difficulty will a rich person enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, 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.”
—Matthew 19:23-24 (ESV)
Is There No Heaven For the Wealthy?
The disciples responded:
“They were greatly astonished, saying, ‘Who then can be saved?‘”
—Matthew 19:25 (ESV)
The Surprising Answer
If only with difficulty can a rich person enter the kingdom of God, that begs at least two questions: first, how much money makes someone rich? Second, what does it mean to “enter the kingdom of God?”
Regarding money, Jesus gives no specific dollar amount, though certainly a rich person in the first century would not feel rich compared to middle-class America today. He likely is aimed at the rich man’s heart desire, where love for money rules over his love for God (Matt 6:24). Perhaps more troubling, though, is the second question:
Why would Jesus tell the man the only good deed he is lacking is to sell everything to the poor and then go and follow him? Doesn’t this contradict Jesus’ saying elsewhere?
“This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.” —John 6:29 (ESV)
Is entering God’s kingdom accomplished by believing (faith alone), or by selling your possessions?
Or is there a different way to understand what it means to “enter the kingdom of God” entirely?
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Suffering: God’s Way to Victory
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Train to Reign; Preparing to Be King
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