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The Treasures of Earth and the Treasures of Heaven (Matthew 19:23-30)

First Baptist Church https://fbcbartow.org

“The Treasures of Earth and the Treasures of Heaven”

(Matthew 19:23-30)

Series: God’s Fulfilled Promise [on screen]

Rev. Matthew C. McCraw, EdD

First Baptist Church, Bartow, Florida

April 5, 2020

The Passage

Matthew 19:23-30

23 Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly I tell you, it will be hard for a rich person 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 a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.”

25 When the disciples heard this, they were utterly astonished and asked, “Then who can be saved?”

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

27 Then Peter responded to him, “See, we have left everything and followed you. So what will there be for us?”

28 Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, in 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 children or fields because of my name will receive a hundred times more and will inherit eternal life. 30 But many who are first will be last, and the last first.

Introductory Comments:

Has there ever been something that you’ve seen done that you thought was impossible? (pause for reflection) Perhaps you reflect upon the fact that you are watching a church service on a screen and you would have thought this was impossible just a few decades ago. Perhaps you witnessed your spouse being on time for an event, and you thought that would never happen. Perhaps you can remember when a man landed on the moon. What was once unfathomable was all of a sudden possible. 

In today’s passage, Jesus is going to speak to the disciples about something that to them seemed impossible. However, Jesus will teach them that with God all things are possible. 

Before we dive into today’s passage let’s go to God in prayer. Join me now in prayer, whether you are in your living room, at your dining room table, or wherever you are. Let’s pray. 

(prayer)

Remembering last week’s passage is crucial to understanding this week’s sermon. We learned last week about the wealthy young man who wanted to know how he could be good. Jesus did one better and told the man how he could be perfect. He told him to give up everything in order to follow Him. We learn that the man went away sorrowful because he was unwilling to give up his riches to follow Jesus. 


Well, today’s passage picks up where last week’s left off. 

If you haven’t already, find your way to Matthew 19:23-30. 

For now, let’s read verses 23-24.

In light of the story of the wealthy young man, Jesus shares this. Look at verses 23-24: 

23 Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly I tell you, it will be hard for a rich person 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 a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.”

These two verses lead us to the first truth that we will discover in this passage:

I. The heavenly challenge (vv. 23-24) [on screen]

After this wealthy young man walked away from Jesus because he didn’t want to give up his possessions, Jesus says, “Truly I tell you, it will be hard for a rich person 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 a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.”

Now, first, we have to acknowledge that Jesus does not have anything against people with money. A lot of faithful followers of God in the Bible were very wealthy. That’s not the point. 

What Jesus is saying is in reference to the wealthy young man who just walked away from following Him. 

Jesus is pointing to the fact that just like the wealthy young man from the previous passage, many of us who have possessions tend to hold onto those possessions and they keep us from devoting ourselves to Jesus. 

Listen, church, if we put anything before Jesus it will be hard for us to enter the kingdom of heaven. Jesus wants all of our devotion and He doesn’t want anything between us and Him. 

Indeed, Jesus says that it would be easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God. 

Some have said that Jesus was referring to a gate that entered Jerusalem called “The Eye of the Needle.” Well, I don’t believe that’s what Jesus was talking about at all. You see, a camel was the biggest animal in the land of the hearers of Jesus. The eye of a needle was the smallest opening one could imagine. Jesus is saying that this thing is extremely difficult, indeed impossible. 

Jesus would come back to this idea of the task being impossible in just a moment. For now, Jesus wants us to know how difficult it is for someone who possesses much to come into the kingdom of God because the temptation to place what we have ahead of Jesus is so great. 

So, we have this challenge. This heavenly challenge. It is challenging for us to get into the kingdom of heaven. 


Well, what do we do? The disciples wondered this as well, which takes us to our next point:

II. The heavenly question (vv. 25-26) [on screen]

You see, the Jewish people, for the most part, believed that wealth was a sign of God’s favor upon someone.

Of course, we know that this is not necessarily the case. Just because someone is wealthy doesn’t mean that God is pleased with that person. Likewise, just because someone is not wealthy does not mean that God is not pleased with that person. However, this is what some ancient Jewish people thought. So, if someone whom God favors cannot get into heaven, who can?

The disciples want to know what’s going on, so they ask this heavenly question and Jesus delivers a heavenly answer. Look at verses 25-26:

25 When the disciples heard this, they were utterly astonished and asked, “Then who can be saved?”

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

The disciples thought that if the rich didn’t have a chance then none of us have a chance. Well, that’s part of the point. 

You see, while there are particular challenges of loyalty that come along with having great wealth, the truth of the matter is there are challenges of loyalty for everyone on this planet. 

All of us battle with sins and temptations that compete with our affections that should be devoted exclusively to Jesus Christ. 

All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God! It is impossible for mankind to do anything good enough to get into the kingdom of God. 

But thank God for the second half of verse 26, “ . . . with God all things are possible.”

With God, it is possible for a rich man to set aside his devotion to his possessions and instead devote himself to God and living for God’s glory. With God, it is possible for a person controlled by pride and self-worship to turn to a life of humility and worship of the one true God. With God, it is possible for a person given over to lust and sexual sin to devote themselves to God and a life of purity. With God, it is possible for a church devoted to inward focus and inward living to turn instead to God’s Word and God’s mission and be devoted to outward focus and godly living. 

With God, all things are possible! There is nothing outside the sovereign power of God Almighty!

The pastor of old, Matthew Henry, said, “When men are at a loss, God is not, for his power is infinite and irresistible.”

What is impossible with man is possible with God. 

By the work of God, it is possible for us to not only get to heaven but to be greatly blessed. 


That takes us to our final point:

III. The heavenly blessing (vv. 27-30) [on screen]

Peter was probably thinking, “Jesus, we aren’t like the wealthy young man. We have been willing to leave all behind in order to follow you. What about us?”

Well, let’s see what takes place. As Peter normally does, he speaks up.

Look at verses 27-30. 

27 Then Peter responded to him, “See, we have left everything and followed you. So what will there be for us?”

28 Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, in 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 children or fields because of my name will receive a hundred times more and will inherit eternal life. 30 But many who are first will be last, and the last first.

I have to think that this answer that Jesus gives to Peter is probably more than he expected. 

First of all, Jesus says that He will renew all things. This is a beautiful promise that everything will one day be made new and good. Jesus will make all things new. 

Jesus goes further to say that the apostles will help govern the tribes of Israel. They will rule with Jesus. How cool is that for the apostles? Peter is surely reassured by these words from Jesus. 


Well, we might think, what about us? What’s the reward for us if we forsake the things of the world and follow after Jesus?

Well, first and foremost, the greatest reward is Jesus Himself!

Second, Jesus says in verse 29, “And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields because of my name will receive a hundred times more and will inherit eternal life.”

Everything that we give up to follow Jesus is well worth it. What’s more, everything we give up to follow Jesus will be repaid to us a hundred times more!

If I asked most of you to give me a hundred dollars a day for ten days straight most of you would not want to make that sacrifice (that’s a thousand dollars, by the way). You’d miss that money. However, if I promised you that after those ten days that thousand dollars would be multiplied a hundred times, most of you would be willing to make that sacrifice. Sacrificing a hundred dollars a day for ten days is well worth the reward of a hundred thousand dollars. Most of you would find a way to make that sacrifice and you’d be glad to do it. 

Listen, church, every sacrifice you make to follow Jesus is worth it and every sacrifice you make to follow Jesus will be repaid a hundred times when Jesus makes all things new. 

Finally, Jesus concludes this passage with the words, “But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”

That is to say, many who sacrifice for Jesus may be looked down upon by the world. They may end up being poor, or meek, or viewed as foolish for how they use their resources. However, although they may be viewed as last in the eyes of the world, they will be viewed as first in the eyes of God. Their sacrifice for and faithfulness to Jesus will not only not be forgotten, it will also be rewarded. 

Likewise, all those who came first in the eyes of the world, if they don’t invest in heavenly rewards, they will come last when God makes all things new. 

Peter wanted to know that their sacrifice was not forgotten. He wanted to know that their sacrifice was worth it. Jesus assured them that great glory and blessings await those who follow Jesus. 

We can receive temporary blessings now, or we can experience heavenly blessings for eternity with Jesus. Choose wisely, church. Invest in heavenly blessings. 

Concluding Thoughts:

Apart from the work of God in our lives, it’s not only difficult for us to get to heaven, it’s impossible. It doesn’t matter if we are rich or poor, it doesn’t matter what color our skin is, it doesn’t matter where we are from, our political party doesn’t matter, without Jesus there is no possibility of eternal life. 

That takes us to our bottom line:

Bottom Line: Invaluable impossibilities are possible with God.  [on screen]

(repeat)

We ought to be eternally grateful and unconditionally devoted to God because of what He has done to make eternal life and heavenly blessings possible for us. 

Jesus changes everything. It is worth sacrificing everything to follow Jesus. Look to Jesus, church, and don’t look back. 

Challenge yourself to live out this passage this week in the following ways: 

Weekly Challenge: [on screen]

1. Prioritize your earthly treasures. [on screen]

Don’t get your priorities out of line, like the wealthy young man who turned away from following Jesus. 

Make decisions this week to be humble, generous, and sacrificial for the things of God. 

Don’t let anything in your life take the devotion that belongs to Jesus. 

2. Invest in your heavenly treasures[on screen]

Make investments into the treasures that are promised for you in heaven. 

Show love to others, sacrifice for the cause of Christ, commit your life to serving Jesus, forsake the ways of the world. Invest in heavenly treasures. 

3. Seek the greatest treasure[on screen]

Jesus is the greatest treasure. If you have Jesus you have everything.

However, God will reward us with even more treasures if we devote ourselves to the greatest treasure, Jesus. 

Closing:

Have you found Jesus? Are you following Jesus? Are you devoted to Jesus?

(Gospel presentation)

(closing prayer)

Benediction:

If you have any sort of spiritual decision that you would like to make, you can contact me or any of our staff and we would be glad to talk to you anytime.

COPYRIGHT DISCLAIMER: The text contained in this sermon is solely owned by its author. The reproduction, or distribution of this message, or any portion of it, should include the author’s name. The author intends to provide free resources in order to inspire believers and to assist preachers and teachers in Kingdom work.