Now, Mark 10:17-22 is an account of what might be labeled in your Bible as “The Rich Young Ruler” [NASB], or something similar. I encourage you to read this account (and maybe also Luke’s recording of it: Luke 18:18-23) as background for today’s article, so that we can move on to what happened next…
After this rich young ruler left, Jesus made a comment that also introduced a lesson for His disciples.
Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!”
The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said again, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! 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.”
The disciples were even more amazed, and said to each other, “Who then can be saved?”
Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.”
Mark 10:23-27 NIV
https://bible.com/bible/111/mrk.10.23-27.NIV
Note how, “The disciples were amazed at his words.” (see verse 24). And, when Jesus repeated the point with further emphasis, “The disciples were even more amazed…” (see verse 26). You may have heard this before (maybe even from me), but in the apostles’ culture, it is my understanding that wealth was considered a sign of God’s blessing. So, by that logic, if it was that difficult for someone who was rich “to enter the kingdom of God” (see verse 23), those who lived by more humble means (including some of the disciples, I suppose) might have gotten really worried about their own standing with Him.
I suspect that there is still some of that today, although I can personally become too cynical in the other direction and imagine that the super-wealthy didn’t get their money by following God’s principles. In reality, God sometimes does bless those who love and obey Him (including with wealth), while other people obtain earthly riches through less scrupulous means.
Now, we might stop there and assume that Jesus’ point was that the wealthier you are, the harder it is to enter God’s kingdom. That may very well be true, since money does fight for priority in our lives and Jesus did speak about not being able to serve two masters (see Matthew 6:24, Luke 16:13). However, I’m not sure that’s the point we actually find here. Jesus said in verse 27 that this thing that is impossible for people is possible for God. And, regardless of our income or savings, let’s be honest: it would be impossible to enter the kingdom of God on our own, because of our sins. There was no way for any sinner, rich or poor, to be reconciled to a perfect, holy God on our own. It was impossible. Only God could make a way for this to happen, which was accomplished through Jesus Christ (God the Son).
So, rather than debating about whether certain rich people love Jesus as much as we do (or how they got their money in the first place), or who can get into Heaven more easily, let’s consider that – for each of us – our own salvation was impossible to achieve by ourselves. Instead, though, we can be so, so grateful that God accomplished our “impossible”, out of His great love for us. That is worth receiving from God and thanking Him for every day after that.
From Sunday School lesson prepared for November 9, 2025
References:
- Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
- Scripture quotations taken from the NASB. Copyright by The Lockman Foundation.
- The College Press NIV Commentary – Mark, by Allen Black. © 1995 College Press Publishing Co.
Those Who Sin Differently 