Jumping the Needle's Eye

Given the statements about the danger of wealth for the disciple, it is not surprising that the disciple needs to surrender his wealth before he can be included as one of the inheritors of the kingdom.

Jesus indicated that one can either store up treasures on earth or treasures in heaven, but not both (Matthew 6:19-21; Luke 12:21) and that to store up treasures in heaven is to inherit the kingdom of God (Luke 12:32-34).

Jesus offered as a principle that whoever gave up everything—their family and livelihood—would receive an abundance of family and livelihood in this life and will inherit the kingdom of God in the age to come.

When the disciples began to follow Jesus, they gave up their occupations and their families and their wealth (Mark 1:16-20; Mark 2:14; Luke 5:27-28). In fact, Jesus says, before one begins to follow Jesus, he must give up his family, and surrender his very life (Luke 14:25-27).

Right after this, he says that the one who wishes to follow him needs to give up all of his possessions (Luke 14:33). Instead, all of Jesus’ disciples needs to not worry about their future needs, but to sell their possessions and give to the poor and then they will have riches in God (Luke 12: 21-34).

As an indication of his inheritance of the kingdom of God, Zaccheus offered as proof his lack of cheating in his occupation and his surrender of half of his wealth to the poor. Jesus accepted this and called him an inheritor of the kingdom (Luke 19:1-10).

Jesus commanded the young man with many possessions to sell everything in order to follow Jesus and to inherit the kingdom (Mark 10:17-22).

Jesus also spoke two parables which indicated that if one was to gain the kingdom of God, he would have to sell everything he had to gain it (Matthew 13:44-46).

In Acts, the disciples in Jerusalem are described as having nothing of their own, but held everything in common, some of them selling their family inheritance in order to give it to the apostles, who gave the proceeds to the poor among them (Acts 2:44-45; 4:32-37).

When the 12 are sent out, they are to take nothing with them, but to have their needs provided for by the towns where they ministered (Matthew 10; Mark; Luke 9).
In John, the one who inherits eternal life is the disciple who loves others, and this love is shown practically through hospitality.

In I John, is shown to be those who surrender their wealth for those in need (John 13:34-35; I John 3:16-18).

Thus, in the teaching of Jesus and in the life of the disciples, the surrender of one’s wealth is a prerequisite of inheriting the kingdom of God.

Mark 10:17-31
As He was setting out on a journey, a man ran up to Him and knelt before Him, and asked Him, "Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?"
And Jesus said to him, "Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone. You know the commandments, 'DO NOT MURDER, DO NOT COMMIT ADULTERY, DO NOT STEAL, DO NOT BEAR FALSE WITNESS, Do not defraud, HONOR YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER.'"
And he said to Him, "Teacher, I have kept all these things from my youth up."
Looking at him, Jesus felt a love for him and said to him, "One thing you lack: go and sell all you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me." But at these words he was saddened, and he went away grieving, for he was one who owned much property.
And Jesus, looking around, said to His disciples, "How hard it will be for those who are wealthy to enter the kingdom of God!"
The disciples were amazed at His words. But Jesus answered again and said to them, "Children, how hard 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 man to enter the kingdom of God."
They were even more astonished and said to Him, "Then who can be saved?"
Looking at them, Jesus said, "With people it is impossible, but not with God; for all things are possible with God."
Peter began to say to Him, "Behold, 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 farms, for My sake and for the gospel's sake, but that he will receive a hundred times as much now in the present age, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and farms, along with persecutions; and in the age to come, eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last, first."

1. The basic question—How does one become an inheritor of the kingdom of God?

2. Jesus’ answer—Obey the commands of the covenant with Israel and to follow Jesus.

3. Prerequisite—Jesus said to sell possessions and give to the poor. This seems to be a prerequisite to following Jesus (i.e. Matthew 13:44-46; Luke 14:33).

4. Difficulty of prerequisite—Jesus tells his disciples how difficult, indeed impossible, it is for the wealthy to inherit the kingdom of God. Why? Because they have so many possessions, they find it difficult to get rid of them in order to follow Jesus.

5. Questions about prerequisite—The disciples had a hard time with this, on two levels. First, they wondered that if the rich had such a difficult time being saved, then perhaps it was too difficult for anyone. Jesus’ response was that it is God who saves and who makes such a prerequisite possible to endure, not man—thus it is possible. Secondly, the disciples wondered if their leaving of their families and possessions is inadequate in light of what Jesus required of the rich man.

6. Prerequisite revisited—Jesus said that anyone who left their families, occupations and wealth would gain the following benefits:

A. A greater family on earth (the community of Jesus—Matthew 12:48-50);

B. A greater wealth on earth (One’s needs met by God and the community of Jesus—Matthew 6 and Matthew 25:31-46); and

C. Eternal life, which is inheritance of the kingdom of God

However, Jesus also indicated that this new life and lifestyle would be accompanied by persecutions.

7. Final Warning: This section ends with Jesus’ common warning—“Many who are last will be first and the first last.” This could mean that if the rich man repents of hoarding his wealth, he will be in the kingdom with greater honor than the disciples.