34 - Matthew 19:23

’Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven.’ -Matthew 19:23 The variety in the reports of the same incident made by the different evangelists, so far from affording a ground of cavil, has always been a valuable aid in interpretation. Here we have a rich man; in another Gospel a man having goods, or substance; and further, we are told in Mark that it is a man trusting in his wealth who finds it so stupendously difficult to enter the kingdom of heaven. One reports more fully here, another there; one gives prominence to this, another to that feature of the narrative. Our Lord, in repeating his words, almost always varied them; for there is scarcely an idea that does not allow of considerable diversity in the expression; and a hundred translators of the Greek Testament, equally well acquainted with the Greek, and equally acquainted with the English, would utterly fail (without concert) to give two precisely similar versions of the same chapter, though all might be excellent. But the incident which led Jesus to make the remark above cited itself explains the remark. We see what is meant by the rich man. The rich young ruler who came to Christ with so much empressement, eager to be told what he should do to inherit eternal life, was advised to part with his wealth, and take Christ instead. The question is, Where is your faith? What has your confidence? What do you chiefly cling to as the means of blessing? Eternal life is here present in Christ; he that hath the Son hath life; he that hath not the Son, though he had the wealth of the Indies, has not life; faith in Christ is eternal life; for this is eternal life, to know God, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, the sent of God; the Pharisees will not come unto Christ that they may have life, for they seek the honour that cometh from man; they trust in themselves that they are righteous. Surely thou knowest, thou rich and amiable young ruler, that Jesus is he whom God the Father hath sealed by mighty signs and heavenly attestations; wilt thou not come unto him that thou mayest have life? A kind providence has guarded thy life from many hurtful lusts; thou hast resisted the temptations offered by thy great wealth, to live a life of wanton prodigality and self-indulgence; thou hast a certain religiousness of sentiment that leads thee to show all respect to the devout and those whose lives adorn religion. Shielded as thy life has been from the contaminations of gross sin, admired as thou art for thy attractive traits of character, it is a wonder that thou art not more lifted up with the idea of thy own moral superiority. But with all these singular advantages, there is this about thee that thou art conscious of a void within, of an undefined want. Thy wealth does not satisfy thee; thy morality does not make thee happy; something seems still to be wanting; thou art not yet sure of eternal fife. Something in thy heart says, Get this matter settled, cost what it may; if necessary, build a synagogue, a hospital, give largely to the poor, and make sure that a place remains for thee at the everlasting banquet of the just; then shalt thou find in thy wealth and rank, and goodness and amiableness, the enjoyment that they should yield thee. Happily, thou art here presented with an admirable opportunity of settling this matter irrevocably. Here is Jesus, clothed with wisdom and power from high heaven: he will tell thee unerringly what good thing remains for thee yet to do that thou mayest inherit eternal life.

One thing thou lackest. Yes, that is just what I feel, and therefore am I come to thee, casting myself at thy feet, that I may learn what this remaining need may be. Tell me what it is, and I shall hasten to banish for ever the one phantom that troubles my peace. ’There was a merchantman seeking goodly pearls and accumulating them, and at last he gave all away for a diamond "richer than they all." Give all thy earthly treasure to the poor, and come, follow me; eternal life is thine in following me.’

How many there are among "the Christians" of the present age who know Christ simply as the young man proposed to know him, as an adviser, as one to get good counsel from now and then, as one to supplement the goodness and almost-sufficiency of their life, with occasional hints and a friendly blessing; and who would be as shocked and startled as he was by the declaration that Christ will avail them nothing except they forsake all to follow him. They have very much that they trust in, to make life bearable and pleasurable and satisfactory; position, substance, praise, comforts, power, worldly schemes; all, however, not quite satisfying; still there remains a void unfilled in their heart; what can it be? Oh, religion; yes, religion is what we need; this, added to what we have, will make us complete. So they go to church, listen to the music, partake of the sacrament, receive absolution, read occasionally the Sermon on the Mount, pity the poor people who formerly fancied the precepts were to be taken literally, and all is well. If Christ were on the earth, they would go away sorrowful. Now they find some to accommodate the Gospel to their liking.

Without faith it is impossible to please God. No faith, no Christ. Choose now between thy wealth and Christ; let us see where thy faith is; on what thou chiefly reliest; which scale preponderates. Jesus loved him; threw his own incomparable love into the scale; marvellous to relate, it kicks the beam. The young man was grieved at that saying. What, give all to the poor? Become as one of these poor fishermen? Drop out of the position in which a kind providence has placed me? become a mere nobody in the eyes of men? I had not the remotest idea of such a thing when I came to this Teacher. This is altogether too much to ask. So the young man turns his back on him in whom was all the fulness of the Godhead bodily, who had come down from heaven to give life unto the world, and who could say, "I am the way, the truth, and the life." To them who believe he is precious, even all preciousness; in him is blessing a hundred-fold exceeding what they renounce, after the largest deduction for persecutions; and in him is the assurance of glory, honour, and immortality. But to him that believeth not, the good things of this life are more to be relied upon, more to be trusted in. Lord, evermore give us faith in thee, and withhold or resume whatever else thou wilt.