Mark 10:23-27 23And after looking around Jesus said to his disciples, “How difficult it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!” 24And the disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus answering again said to them, “Children, how difficult it is to enter the kingdom of God! 25It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for the rich to enter the kingdom of God.” 26And they were exceedingly astonished, saying to themselves, “Then who can be saved?” 27Looking at them Jesus said, “With people it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God.”
Jesus surveyed the situation and saw that the disciples were confused about his previous conversation with the rich man. This was another teaching opportunity to help them understand the need for complete faith as disciples. They were still thinking too much like traditional Jews caught up in their traditions and earthly thinking. Jesus was bringing a new way of thinking that got to the heart of the law and showed what true obedience was about. The basic problem with wealth is that it gives a false promise of happiness, peace, and fulfillment, but what it promises cannot bring eternal life. Wealth or the pursuit of material things is not a problem in itself but it can become a diversion from what is most important. Being wealthy does not keep someone from the kingdom but makes it difficult to see, understand, and live like the kingdom.
The disciples could not understand this concept, possibly because they, like most people, were awed by wealthy people. Wealth usually brings power and influence. They were thinking about God’s kingdom from an earthly perspective. David, and later his son Solomon, had great wealth. The disciples may have expected the Messiah to bring the same type of kingdom. Judas is an extreme example of this type of thinking with his concern about the money of the group and his betrayal of Jesus for thirty pieces of silver. The rest of the disciples were not exempt from this temptation either. Jesus understood their thinking and called them Children, indicating their spiritual immaturity. They had a ways to go still.
Jesus’ illustration of the camel and the eye of a needle is hyperbole to make his point vivid. The camel was the largest animal most people ever saw and was common in cities, especially among those with wealth. It blows the imagination to think of such an animal going through the eye of a needle. The point is that wealth becomes a major hurdle for people to enter God’s kingdom because their focus is on earthly matters and not spiritual and eternal matters. The disciples were even more amazed at this. What Jesus said was shaking up and challenging their worldview. Like most people, they put value on having things and were awed at those who seemed to have achieved wealth, power, and position.
But the situation was not impossible. Wealth does not need to be a barrier to God’s kingdom when it is used for God’s glory. There is a lot unstated in verse 27. The verse needs to be interpreted in the context of the last few chapters and the call to follow Jesus to the cross. Whatever a person has, a lot or a little, must be sanctified to God’s use. Wealth itself is not the problem but the heart of the person who has it. Is what we own a barrier keeping us from full commitment to Jesus? Are we following the path to comfort and ease or the path to the cross?
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