At the time that Jesus made this statement (Luke 18:25) the city of Jerusalem had many gates, all of which were closed at sundown. One small gate, however, was accessible to late-arriving merchants. Because it was so small, it was necessary to unload the camels (remove all riches, and material things from their backs), and make them crawl through the gate on their knees. The entry process would have been very difficult for the camel. Jesus used this picture to illustrate the difficulty a rich person would have in giving up his all to follow Christ.
The thought is not that all of the Lord’s people should be penniless. But that followers must be so fully consecrated to God that they are willing to consecrate and sacrifice all of their possessions to be used in the His service.
Jesus taught us serving God had the greatest value; it was like laying away treasures in heaven. Matthew 6:19-21, “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth… but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven…for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
“Then Jesus said to his disciples. If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then He will reward each person according to what he has done” Matthew 16:24-27 (NIV).
Additional Resource:
Christian Questions Podcast
Episode #1318: “What Did Jesus Really Think of the Pharisees? (Part I)”
How Jesus exposed the deep hypocrisy of the scribes and Pharisees
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CQ Rewind Show Notes
