"And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life? And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God. Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother. And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth. Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me. And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions. And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto his disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God! And the disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into 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 into the kingdom of God. And they were astonished out of measure, saying among themselves, Who then can be saved? And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible. Then Peter began to say unto him, Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee. And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel's, But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life. But many that are first shall be last; and the last first."
In the beginning of today's quote, Jesus demonstrated that it was virtually impossible for a person of great wealth to gain eternal salvation under the Law of Moses. As Jesus instructed that rich young man mentioned in today's quote, he had, not only obey all the rules of the Law, he had to give his fortune to the poor and follow Jesus in order to remain in good standing with the Law.
After Jesus told His apostles that it would be easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter into heaven under the Law, the apostles asked, "who then can be saved". Jesus, in essence referring to His, soon to be enacted, new law of salvation by grace through faith, then explained that with God all things are possible.
Today, Thank God, since Jesus laid down His life for the sins of the all the world, even the rich can easily obtain eternal life simply by having absolute faith in the life, death, burial, resurrection and ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ and obeying the two "great" commandments that Jesus put into place instead of the old Law; "The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these." (Mark 12:29-31 in part.)
Ephesians 2:8-9, "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast." In this passage of scripture we are assured that the restrictions and demands of the old Law no longer apply, salvation now comes by grace through faith, not the works of the Law.~
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