With God All Things Are Possible

As Jesus was setting out on his journey, a man ran up and knelt before him, and asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. You know the commandments: ‘Do not kill, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.’” And he said to him, “Teacher, all these I have observed from my youth.” And Jesus looking upon him loved him, and said to him, “You lack one thing; go, sell what you have, and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” At that saying his countenance fell, and he went away sorrowful; for he had great possessions. 

And Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it will be for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!” And the disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said to them again, “Children, how hard it is for those who trust in riches to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” And they were exceedingly astonished, and said to him, “Then who can be saved?” Jesus looked at them and said, “With men it is impossible, but not with God; for all things are possible with God.” Peter began to say to him, “Lo, we have left everything and followed you.” Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life. But many that are first will be last, and the last first.”

Mark 10:17-30 (RSVCE)

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The Problem of Trusting in Riches

Why is it so hard for “those who trust in riches” to enter the kingdom of God? The additional text in Mark 10:24, “those who trust in riches,” found in some manuscripts, helps explain the obstacle wealth poses on the road to freedom in Christ. The Greek verb used for “trust,” peithó, is the root of pistis, “faith.” Those who “trust in riches” place their faith and confidence in earthly gold, silver, property, and possessions for happiness and security in this life.

The disciples’ amazement betrays their cultural expectations in a religious milieu that honored prosperous, law-abiding Jews. Wealth and success proved God’s blessing and approval. The rich young man who ran up and knelt before Jesus had all the trappings of a covenant son of God, especially in his observance of the commandments. But Jesus, looking at him with love, unearthed his heart’s treasure with one invitation: “Go, sell what you have, and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” Disheartened at Jesus’ saying, the man left grieving, unable to let go of his possessions.

With Humans It Is Impossible

“It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God,” Jesus tells his disciples. “Then who can be saved?” they ask in disbelief, recognizing that few can renounce their possessions in this life. “With humans it is impossible, but not with God; for all things are possible with God.” Jesus answers. The lives of biblical heroes and saints from all walks of life demonstrate God’s fidelity toward those who trust in him.

Abraham’s Trust in God

Covenant history reveals that earthly possessions in themselves do not prevent faith in God. Abraham, whom the Lord blessed abundantly with livestock, silver, and gold (Genesis 13:2), clung to God in faith above all other loves. When Abraham was tested, he offered up his only son Isaac, proving his faith (pistis) through the crucible of sacrifice (Hebrew 11:17). Unlike the rich young man, Abraham trusted God and won treasure in heaven.

With God All Things Are Possible

Suppose Peter, Andrew, James, and John had responded like the rich young man and clung to their nets and boats? 

Peter began to say to him, “Lo, we have left everything and followed you.” 

Mark 10:28

Jesus promises Peter and his companions a hundredfold blessing for renouncing everything for his sake and for the gospel. God, with whom all things are possible, makes the rich poor in spirit and the poor rich in Christ.

Traditional Chinese Translation

《在神凡事都能》
那麼誰能得救呢？
在人是不能、
但是在神凡事都能。