24 And when Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful, he said, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God! 25 For it is easier for a camel to go through a needle’s eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. 26 And they that heard it said, Who then can be saved? 27 And he said, The things which are impossible with men are possible with God. (Luke 18:24-27 KJV)
William Burkitt’s Commentary
Our holy Lord takes occasion from the rich man’s departure from him, to discourse concerning the danger of riches, and the difficulties that attend rich men in their way to heaven.
From whence we may collect and gather,
1. That rich men do certainly meet with more difficulties in their way to heaven than other men; it is difficult to withdraw their affections from riches, to place their supreme love upon God in the midst of their riches, and to depend entirely upon God in a rich condition; for the rich man’s wealth is his strong tower.
2. That yet the fault lies not in riches, but in rich men, who by placing their trust and reposing their confidence in riches, do render their salvation difficult, if not impossible.
3. Our Saviour’s proverbial speech of a camels going through the eye of a needle implies thus much, that it is not only a great difficulty, but an utter impossibility, for such as abound in worldly wealth, and place their confidence therein, to be saved, without an extraordinary grace and assistance from God. It is hard for God to make a rich man happy, because he thinks himself happy without God.
4. That as difficult and impossible as this may seem to men, yet nothing is impossible with God; he can change the heart of the rich, by the rich and powerful influences of his Holy Spirit: That which is impossible with men is possible with God.
BURKITT | Lu 18:1-8 | Lu 18:9-17 | Lu 18:18 | Lu 18:19 | Lu 18:20 | Lu 18:21 | Lu 18:22 | Lu 18:23 | Lu 18:24-27 | Lu 18:28 | Lu 18:29-30 | Lu 18:31-34 | Lu 18:35-43 |