Browse Bible Study Resources

Daily Devotions

Luke

Luke 
Day 
Day 225

Luke 18:18-30 "IT IS EASIER FOR A CAMEL TO GO THROUGH THE EYE OF A NEEDLE THAN FOR A RICH MAN TO ENTER INTO THE KINGDOM OF GOD" Luke 18:25"

Day 225 – Luke 18

Text: Luke 18:18-30

“IT IS EASIER FOR A CAMEL TO GO THROUGH THE EYE OF A NEEDLE THAN FOR A RICH MAN TO ENTER INTO THE KINGDOM OF GOD” Luke 18:25

What a tremendous impact Jesus must have made on the rich young ruler, and on all who heard Him speak to the rich young ruler. The ruler went away sorrowing. He had too much wealth to give up.

Let us note that he did not attempt to refute the words of Jesus. He knew deep down in his heart that Jesus was right. Wealth may have bought many things in life, like comfort, reputation, a good life etc… but it did not guarantee salvation or the inheritance of eternal life.

The next few words of Jesus must have been really hard to digest. How could a camel go through the eye of a needle? Of course it was impossible.

So it was impossible for a rich man to enter into the Kingdom of Heaven on the argument that he was wealthy. Being blessed with wealth is one thing. To be blessed with an eternal life inheritance is quite another.

“WHO THEN CAN BE SAVED?” Luke 18:26

In every country, the problem of distribution of wealth is disproportionate. The wealthy are always just a small fraction of the vast majority who have just enough to survive. Those who do not have much of the things of this life feel that the rich are so greatly blessed by God with material wealth that surely inheriting eternal life would be a cinch. Surely there would be no difficulty for the rich man to inherit eternal life?

How wrong this assumption is. How glad every rich man must be if he can obtain eternal life. We are reminded of what James wrote in his epistle…

“Let the lowly brother glory in his exaltation,
but the rich in his humiliation,
because as a flower of the field he will pass away.
For no sooner has the sun risen with a burning heat
Than it withers the grass; its flower falls,
And its beautiful appearance perishes.
So the rich man also will fade away in his pursuits.”
James 1:9-11

James speaks of what the rich man must first know and experience before he can come to salvation.

1. The rich has to experience humiliation.

a) He recognizes that he is like the flower of the field that swiftly passes away.
b) The rich man’s wealth and his pursuits also fade away very soon.

2. Few rich people would be willing to admit that their wealth is of little value in the sight of God.

a) There will be a need for a total paradigm shift.
b) Only when he is truly humble before God can he speak of having genuine faith.

“Who then can be saved…?” is a valid question. Is it possible for anybody to be saved at all? The answer lies with God.

“THE THINGS WHICH ARE IMPOSSIBLE WITH MAN ARE POSSIBLE WITH GOD…” Luke 18:27

How does God effect salvation for a person? This is an important question that needs a clear and definite answer. Let’s take a look at what Jesus taught all along.

1. Right from the very start, He preached the necessity to repent from sins (Matthew 4:17)

a) The understanding of salvation begins with our recognition that we have sins, which we need to repent of.
b) If we cannot even admit that we have sins to repent of, but instead we are confident in our self-righteousness, then we would never come to God for His salvation.

2. Jesus did not merely teach a conceptual understanding of salvation. He taught that if a person is truly saved, then he would be prepared to follow Him and be His Disciple.

a) “Conceptual salvation” limits the concept of salvation to mere mental assent.
b) There is no emphasis on the fruit of salvation as proof of true regeneration of the heart. Jesus clearly warned His hearers that many would be disappointed one day when they realized too late, that just saying “Lord, Lord” would not see them being admitted into the Kingdom of God!

3. Salvation is indeed the work of God. He has made it so simple and straightforward.

a) It involves recognition of the true identity of Jesus – that He is indeed the Saviour!
b) It requires confessing Him as Saviour and Lord of our life.
c) It requires following Him as His true disciples.

“SEE, WE HAVE LEFT ALL AND FOLLOWED YOU…” Luke 18:28

Peter responded to the words of Jesus and proclaimed that he and his fellow-disciples had indeed done as He had taught. They had indeed left all and followed Jesus.

Then came the words that the rich young ruler would have loved to hear spoken to him. Jesus said,

“Assuredly, I say to you,
There is no one who has left house
Or parents or brothers or wife or children,
For the sake of the kingdom of God,
Who shall not receive many times more
In this present time, and in the age to come
Eternal life” Luke 18:29-30

The Disciples of Jesus (with the exception of Judas) had proven their faith and love for Jesus. They had given up their all and followed Jesus because they acknowledged Him as Saviour and Lord. To these Jesus promised both earthly blessings and eternal life. May we grow in our appreciation of what it means to have eternal life!