Matthew 19: The Only Hope in the Endless Commandments, the Possibility of God's Grace - A Persuasion by the Editor of Matthew

Matthew 19: The Only Hope in the Endless Commandments, the Possibility of God's Grace - A Persuasion by the Editor of Matthew

16 Someone came to Jesus and asked, "Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?"

17 Jesus replied, "Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, keep the commandments."

20 The young man said to him, "All these I have kept. What do I still lack?"

21 Jesus answered, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."

22 When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth.

23 Then Jesus said to his disciples, "Truly I tell you, it is hard for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven.

24 Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God."

25 When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, "Who then can be saved?"

26 Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."

27 Peter answered him, "We have left everything to follow you! What then will there be for us?"

28 Jesus said to them, "Truly I tell you, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

29 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life.

30 But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first."

If it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God, what becomes of those born rich? Had the editor of Matthew merely intended to mock the wealthy, Matthew would not have made it into the Bible. Surely, the Word of God, the Bible, must carry both specificity and universality. What, then, does "rich" signify? On the surface, it refers to wealth, but according to the context of this passage, it also pertains to adherence to the commandments. The secondary meaning makes Jesus' words clearer. When the questioner couldn't let go of his possessions, Jesus looked upon him with compassion (verses 23-34). The disciples lament that not only must they abandon various commandments but even wealth itself to secure a ticket to the kingdom of heaven (verse 25). Whether it's the person who asked about eternal life or the disciples, it's a case of being only slightly different. Jesus carefully observes their ontological limits and speaks of a breakthrough unknown to them, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible" (verse 26). Jesus gently and warmly regards the impossibility of adhering to commandments, especially the disregard of wealth, while presenting the possibility of God.

However, Peter, still not fully grasping it, asks for compensation for having given up possessions in failure where the questioner did not. Jesus reassures Peter of the reward but prompts him to think again. Do you really believe you can buy life through deeds? Have you bought life by giving up houses, siblings, parents, children, or even lands? Jesus acknowledges the initial thought of buying life through deeds but also acknowledges the impossibility of such thoughts (verse 30). It's a reality where the first thought often results in the last outcome. It's rare to find someone better than the questioner, but even they must accept the possibility of failure at some point.

The editor of Matthew acknowledges that salvation cannot be obtained through deeds and instead persuades the reader to rely on God's grace, the possibility of His capability. There is much to give up. The things to be abandoned do not end with friends, neighbors, siblings, parents, or children. The one who asked about eternal life fell because of wealth. Peter, though having given up possessions, ended up denying and betraying Jesus when faced with his own life. Commandments are endless, and the possibility of God's grace is the only hope in the endless commandments.