Coming to Jesus

Setting and Overview
Following Jesus’ teaching on marriage and divorce, two additional events lead to teaching regarding the Kingdom. In the first, children are brought to Jesus to bless, and in the second, a rich young man asks Jesus about eternal life. In both, Jesus focuses not just on those who are coming to him, but also on the disciples, who in each case demonstrate that there is still much more that they need to understand and follow. Both sections also remain relevant for us today as they remind us that the attitudes toward which those in the Kingdom are called are far different from those praised in the world.

Exposition
In verse 13, we see children being brought to Jesus for the purpose of being blessed, which was a relatively common Jewish practice for a rabbi, and tied back to Old Testament ideas of passing on generational blessings (Genesis 48:14, Numbers 27:18.) Although their motives are unclear, the disciples are displeased with this (likely because they either thought that Jesus did not have time or because they felt that the conveying of such blessings to children was premature) and try to prevent it. Jesus corrects his disciples and welcomes the children while also using their humility as an example (Matthew 18:1-4.)
In contrast to the little children, a rich young ruler is the next to approach Jesus. He asks Jesus what good thing that he must do to gain eternal life (the account in Mark 10:17-18 captures the words differently but both emphasize the standard of “good” and so reflect the same meaning.) His question reflects a common Jewish understanding that certain “good” acts could be enough to put one over the threshold for qualifying for eternal life. Jesus poses a rhetorical question that places the focus on God’s holiness as the standard of good (Matthew 5:48) and then answers first by pointing to the commandments as God’s communication of His expectations. Since there were 613 commands in the Old Testament, common debates at the time focused around which were most crucial to do well, and so the ruler asks Jesus to narrow them down. Jesus responds with several from the last half of the Ten Commandments and added to those Leviticus 19:18. The young ruler claims that he wholeheartedly has obeyed them all (similar to Paul in Philippians 3:6) but recognizes that there must be more when he asks what he still lacks. Jesus then challenges him to sell everything and follow Jesus, but at that the young man goes away because Jesus has called out something that is so precious to him that he is willing to choose it over Jesus.
Jesus follows the interaction by commenting to the disciples that it is hard for a rich person to enter the Kingdom, and then emphasizes his point by comparing it to a camel passing through the eye of a needle. As this is a reversal of the common expectation that riches were generally a sign of God’s favor, the disciples cannot make sense of this and wonder where this leaves those whom they presume are even less likely to be saved. While they are still misunderstanding what riches represent, their point is nonetheless apt. Jesus responds that it is indeed impossible for all to save themselves, but that God can save anyone. Peter then turns the question to what this all means for the disciples, who have done what the young ruler would not. Jesus assures him that anything that has been done in obedience to Jesus, will not only be rewarded, but will receive a reward immeasurably greater than what was given up. This includes an eternal position of authority (Luke 22:28-30, I Corinthians 6:2, Revelation 20:4, 21:12-14), earthly blessings of gaining spiritual family (Mark 10:29-30), and eternal life. Those who receive it, though, will often be those who are in the lowest position here on earth.

Examination and Application
In many ways, this passage applies the lesson in humility that Jesus gave the disciples back in 18:1-4. They still have a mindset that falsely elevates earthly wealth and position. Jesus is calling people to radical obedience to him, a call that he gave clearly from the Sermon on the Mount to his invitation in Matthew 11:28-30. His invitation has not changed, but he communicates the invitation in a different way to those who would hear, so that they would see where their obedience still falls short. He also reminds us that there is nothing that we can give up to him that will not be rewarded many times over. If we recognize the assurance and wealth of his promises (Ephesians 1:18) then we will not hesitate to eagerly leave everything to follow him (Matthew 13:44-46.)