The Pulpit Commentary — Matthew — Volume 2 — Section 267

Vere. 23-30.-Possessions and life. "Behold, om came" to Jesus (aee ver, 16). Multitude.a of poor persons had followed him from the beginning; at length "one" rich man came, and, sad to say, this on" retired sorrowful and unsaved. So turning to his disciples, the Lord said, "Verily I say unto you," etc. Learn- ' l. THAT THE SALVATION OF A RICH MAN IS A SPECIAL MIRACLE OF MEBOY, 1. ThaJ, it is outside the range of 01·dinary probability is evinced in the :case of the ruler. (1) His circumstances were exceptionably favourable. Observe: (a) The seriousness of his inquiry after eternal lifo. (b) The respectfulness of his approach tc Christ. (c) The excellence of bis moral character. (d) The affection with which our Lord regarded him. (e) The sorrowful struggle of spirit with which he departed. (2) Yet for all this be was overcome by the influence of his "great possessions." (3) The silence respecting him afterwards renders it probable that, in gaining the world, he lost his soul. 2. That it is outside the range of ordinary probability is declared by Ohrist. (1) "It is hard," etc. (ver. 23). And this is emphasized by e. "verily." (2) The assertion is strengthened by what follows (ver. 24). "I incline to the opinion that e.t the time the Redeemer spake this parable, he was with his disciples in one of the public khans, there being no other resting-place for them ; and there, seeing the people mending their camel-saddles, for which purpose they use e. long needle like e. straight packing-needle, he pointed to them and said as it were, 'These camels can as soon pass through the eye of those needles as n rich man can enter into the kingdom or God'" (Gadsby). Note: The way to heaven is fitly comps.red tc a needle's eye, which it is hard to hit; and a rich man to a camel-a beast of burden. For he has his riches from others, spends them for others, leaves them to others, and is himself the e.arrier. (3) What our Lord adds does not soften his earlier words (see ver. 26):; for it makes the salvation of the rich e.n utmost effort of omnipotence. 3. The salvation of the rich is imperilled by the deceitfulness of riches. (1) It is not riches themselves, but the sordid love of them, that our Lord condemns (cf. Mark x. 24). So, in the bad sense, e. man is rich in proportion to his attachment to worldly possessions. A rich man, according to this definition, cannot be saved. (2) But those who have riches naturally love them and trnst them (cf. eh. vi. 21; Col. iii. 5). They tend to increase pride, covetousness, and self-indulgence. They purchase flattery and exclude faithful reprovers. They prejudice the mind against the humbling truths and self-denying pre- cepts of Christ. They increase the number and force of the obstacles which must ba broken through ( cf. P& :xl..ix. 6, 7; Iii. 7; 1 Tim. vi. 17). (3) Yet how few see that to be rich is a misfortune I Even when Christ intimated this, his own disciples were "astonished exceedingly" (ver. 25); and he had to "look upon them," penetrating their feeling of astonishment and perplexity, to convince them that such feelings as theirs were the peril of the rich; for they were deceived into the notion that riches gave singul.e.r advant.a.ges towards salvation. 4. Still with God the salvation of the rich is possib/.e. (1) It needs more than human power to wean the heart of man from worldly things. No perfection of science can enable him to discern spiritual things; these are above the natural man. God alone can destroy the Jove of the world in us. (2) Omnipotence is displayed in grace as well as in nature. God can effectually plead the cause of the rich in the presence of the poor, by pleading the cause of the poor in the presence of the rich (see ver. 21). (3) The possibility is evinced in the examples of Nicodemus, Joseph of A.rimathma, Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod's steward, and many more. Man fails when he begins with himself; succeeds, when he begins with God. 11. THAT FOB WHATEVER WE SACBIFIC1E IN THE SERVICE OF CHRIST WE SHALL Dl!I WONDERFULLY BEWABDED. 1. In this present life. (1) Peter said, "Lo, we have left all, and followed thee." The disciples had but little; yet it we.s their e.11 (cf. Mark xii. ½3, 44). (2) Peter speaks of their giving up all (ver. 27); Jesus sp?aks of their following him (ver. 28). "To obey is better than tc sacrifice." Obedience includes sacrifice. "The philosopher forsakes all without following Christ; most Christiani follow Christ without forsaking all; to do both is apostolic perfection" (Bengel). en, xrx.1-30.] THE GOSPEL ACCOf:.DING TO BT. MATTHEW. 271