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 when Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful, he said, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God! For it is easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God”, and in chapter eighteen and verse twenty-six of his book Luke wrote how Jesus' disciples ask Him, “who then can be saved?” where we read:
And they that heard it said, Who then can be saved?
The verse reads, “And they that heard it said, ...” Luke began with the words, “and they” or “and Jesus' disciples” “that heard it” which means “who were given the faculty for hearing, perceived, understood and discerned what Jesus proclaimed” “said” or “uttered, declared, proclaimed and asked” the following question. Luke shared how Jesus' disciples “heard” what Jesus said about how “hardly” shall the rich enter into heaven as He likened it to the ease of a “camel” passing through a “needle's eye”.
The verse continues, “... Who then can be saved?” Luke added the words, “who then” or “what person whether male or female therefore, wherefore and these things being so” “can be saved” which means “is able, has power whether by virtue of their own ability and resources, state of mind or favorable circumstances to be rescued, delivered and kept safe and sound from danger and destruction”? Luke shared how the disciples of Jesus wondered what person by any means was able to be “rescued and delivered” from destruction.
When we think through Luke's words in this verse, we learn how Jesus' disciples began to think it was impossible for anyone to be “saved” because Jesus said it is difficult for people with “riches” to enter into the Kingdom of God. Jesus will respond to their wondering in our next verse, but suffice it for now for us to know that “salvation” of mankind was made possible by Jesus going to the cross to die in the place of every person. Now all they must do is to believe and trust in Him as their personal “Savior and Lord” and they shall be “saved”. Paul the apostle wrote, “if you shall confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall believe in your heart that God has raised him from the dead, you shall be saved. For with the heart man believes unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” (See Romans 10:9-10), and those who are wise will follow Paul's words and allow God to do what people cannot do for themselves.
Next time Luke shares how Jesus says, “the things which are impossible with men are possible with 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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