The beloved physician Luke wrote how, “a certain ruler asked him, saying, Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? And Jesus said unto him, Why do you call me good? none is good, save one, that is, God. You know the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honor your father and your mother. And he said, All these have I kept from my youth up. Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lack you one thing: sell all that you have, and distribute unto the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me. And when he heard this, he was very sorrowful: for he was very rich”, and in chapter eighteen and verse twenty-four of his book Luke wrote how Jesus said, “how hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God” where we read:
And when Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful, he said,
How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!
The verse reads, “And when Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful, he said, ...” Luke began with the words, “and when” or “and at the time and moment” “Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful” which means “the Son of God, the Savior of mankind and God incarnate observed, noticed and discerned the sadness and unhappiness of the ruler”, “he said” or “Jesus uttered, declared and proclaimed” the following words. Luke shared how Jesus noticed the “sorrow” within the “rich ruler” and proclaimed the following words.
The verse continues, “... How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!” Luke added the words, “How hardly” or “in what an impracticable and difficult manner” “shall they that have riches” which means “will the people whether male or female who hold, own and possess money and wealth” “enter into the kingdom of God” or “make entrance or come into the royal power, kingship, dominion and rule belonging to the Godhead bodily and trinity which is comprised of God the Father, Christ the Son and the Holy Spirit”. Luke shared how Jesus said it was very difficult for people who are “wealthy” to “enter” into “God's Kingdom”.
When we meditate upon Luke's words in this verse, we learn through the “rich ruler's” “sorrow” and Jesus' words about the “difficulty” for people who have “money and wealth” to “enter” into the “Kingdom of God”. People who have “money and wealth” tend to “depend” upon their resources rather than relying upon God. In other words, in their “money” they trust. The unfortunate part to that belief is that “money and wealth” is temporary at best because all “earthly riches” remain on earth when a person dies. God is most interested in the “eternal life” of people, and He sent His Son Jesus into the world to “save” them from their sins so they may live with Him forever. Those who yield their lives to Him as their personal “Savior and Lord” will inherit everlasting and eternal life that shall never fade away.
Next time Luke shares how Jesus says, “it is easier for a camel to go through a needles eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book
“Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the
marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the
Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms
Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County"
in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com
; http://www.barnesandnobles.com
; download to e-books, and find it locally at
www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
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