It’s odd when people tell story how the characters within that story might change, but the end result is pretty much the same. Each culture might use a certain stereotypical characters which they can resonate with.
In this week’s Gospel reading (Mark 10: 17-31) we have a story about, well: in Mark, we have a man; in Matthew’s Gospel (Matt 19:16-30) it is a young man; and in Luke’s Gospel (Luke 18:18-30) they are a ruler. Anyway, this person had possessions, lots of them. What it doesn’t stipulate is that they were rich. What that could mean is that this person who had lots of possessions might be …like us. If you are thinking of the stuff in the loft, or the cupboard in that back room, or under the bed, or along the corridor, then this might be for us. I recall a lovely lady who, upon entering their house, you were surrounded by books, hundreds, possibly many hundreds. Stacked along the corridor, hampering your access to the front room where…there were more books. Yes, they were part of her possessions, but in those books there were riches, for the mind.
What we might do in this passage is consider those who we deem to be rich. We might instantly think of those who have their own house with the heated swimming pool and/or a …duck house. We then point the finger towards those who believe to be rich.
We might wish to join the growing clamour about Winter Fuel Allowance with a shout of ‘Tax the Rich’: knowing that we don’t believe ourselves to be rich and therefore, safe from that finger pointing at us.
The man asks a question about eternal life, and immediately we are taken to heavenly clouds where we hope to be with God after we die; whereas eternal life may well not mean that at all. Eternal life here is ζωην αιωνουν (“life eternal”; zoo of the eons). It would be a complete misnomer to see this as ‘life after we die’ but from now onwards, or continued physical life.
There is a point made about the difference between material earthly treasures and heavenly treasures. What we might emphasis to a prospective new employer may well be earthly treasures; so, what might we wish to be included in our own eulogy of our special treasures, honed here on earth?
If we do what Jesus asks we will get 100 fold – bonanza!
We will receive “a hundredfold now in this age—houses, brothers and sisters, mothers and children, and fields, with persecutions“…what, say that last bit again? Yes, we have opted, in the small print, for more persecutions. It’s not a badge of honour, for many others are also persecuted – but why?
Why is that not mentioned in the promotional material for the prosperity gospel???
There is talk of a camel and a vision of a needle. We might think of a small window but even Jerusalem’s Church of the Holy Sepulchre has a door which is called the ‘eye of the needle’. But despite the Church being built in the 4th C, and it may have included a gate where Jesus passed through onto Calvary, the ‘eye of the needle’ was built in the 16th C. It could well have been a typographical error, as one manuscript was copied by hand and so καμηλον which is seen as camel, may also closely resemble rope or cable. Or, more probably, it could be some extended metaphor used by Jesus. We have plenty of times when Jesus would use phrases such as: ‘cut off your hand, millstone around your head’, etc. It is a way of engaging with the listener but a distraction from the response needed from us.
It is interesting that Jesus never finishes off the story
What did the man decide to do? We are told of the outcome if we were to ‘leave everything and follow’. The action by the man, and us, isn’t to say a particular prayer, or do a course and attend a certain church welcome service. Jesus tells the disciples to give to the poor, allow the children – referring to the alienated people in the society then – to be part of society as we do. It’s about relationships. Not finger pointing but do something about the situation.
What we might emphasis to a prospective new employer may well be earthly treasures; so, what might we wish to be included in our own eulogy of our special ‘heavenly’ treasures, we have honed here on earth?
I enjoyed the dialogue
Matthew 19:28-30
New International Version
28 Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, at 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 wife[a] or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life. 30 But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first.
Matthew 5:10 New International Version
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
So this hundred-fold reward is only after death?
Also, is there a hierarchy in the kingdom of God? It says- “But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first”.
I’ve recently learnt how ‘Matthew’ emphasises the Old Testament, trying to link in Moses as Jesus even if he had to modify what actually happens.
The son of man is a phrase from Daniel and does not explicitly imply God. As per Revelation, the 12 Tribes, the 12 kings are all interlinking the past with the perceived future.
The hundred is not a literal figure. I wouldn’t suggest going to a lawyer if your dividend was only 95 or 96 times 😉
You’ve quoted 2 verses from Matthew who wrote his Gospel in 5 parts, to replicate the Torah. It isn’t a seamless book. One set of verses won’t flow directly into the next block.
I think it is saying that persecutions won’t stop with Christ. Look what happened to him…
But if you do stick your head above the parapet expect incoming fire.
That last line about first and the last reinforces the key aspect of serving. Don’t expect The Way to be like society then our now. Turn everything upside down. Serve first.
“That last line about first and the last reinforces the key aspect of serving. Don’t expect The Way to be like our society, ours now. Turn everything upside down. Serve first”.
This explains it well!!
“I think it is said that persecution won’t stop with Christ. Look what happened to him…
But if you do stick your head above the parapet, expect incoming fire”.
So does that mean if you do not stick your head above the parapet, you lose the kingdom of heaven?
It doesn’t say that you won’t find the kin_dom of heaven. God’s love is there for all. Jesus is saying that you may well expect to be persecuted – albeit not to the same extent as the next person – but God’s love is still there. It’s not a deal where you have to do everything to be loved.
It is amazing to think God loves everyone unconditionally. The Messiah series did reveal the same. It’s weird though that many look down on people who do not agree with the religious practices or social norms, perhaps assuming that even God is on their side.
Do you think that, because God loves everyone unconditionally, could be the reason why sometimes good people suffer because of evildoers?