Keep Your Eye on the Real Prize - Matthew 17-19

 Matthew 19:23-28 (ESV)

23 And Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly, I say to you, only with difficulty will a rich person 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 greatly astonished, saying, “Who then can be saved?” 26 But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” 27 Then Peter said in reply, “See, we have left everything and followed you. What then will we have?” 28 Jesus said to them, “Truly, I say to you, in the new world, when the Son of Man will sit on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

Keep Your Eye On the Real Prize

In our society it is very easy to get our eyes fixated on something other than eternal glories.   In the above passage, Jesus is telling His disciples this very thing.   Early in the chapter a rich young ruler had come to Jesus to ask about what the greatest commandment was.  After Jesus gives him some “staple” commands to obey, the young may, with a sense of pride, states he has kept all those from his youth.  Instead of rebuking him for that pride, Jesus simply gives him one more command. Knowing his heart, Jesus tells him to sell all that he has and give it to the poor.    The young man goes away “sorrowful,” because he had much goods.    This is where Jesus makes the above statement.  He wanted His disciples to know four things:

1. It is very easy, in this world, to get caught up in the riches of this world.  The world has much to offer to provide creature comforts IN THIS WORLD.   But that is the only good they offer. 

2. It is difficult and almost impossible for those who have these creature comforts, in this world, to see the glory of God and the power of God.   They are blinded by these riches. (Riches don’t have to be material.  They can be anything that prevents us from seeing God.)

3. Jesus wanted them to see that although it was difficult, the power of God has the ability to make even those who are rich, cast away their riches to see God’s glory.  He states that “nothing is impossible” with God.   

4. If they keep their eye on the ball (eternity), the will see riches above and beyond all that the world can offer them.   They will sit on thrones, have power and judge the world.   

Jesus knew that the world will try to capture our eye.  But, He is also able to overcome the world, through faith.   We can keep our eye on eternal things.   He will enable us to do so.  We can not do it ourselves.  It is impossible.   But, with God’s immeasurable strength, nothing is impossible.  He can give us the eyes we need to see the riches that matter.  

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