King James Version, with Nii Okai's journal notes · 4 notes
1And it came to pass, that when Jesus had finished these sayings, he departed from Galilee, and came into the coasts of Judaea beyond Jordan;
2And great multitudes followed him; and he healed them there.
3The Pharisees also came unto him, tempting him, and saying unto him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause?
4And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female,
5And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh?
6Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.
7They say unto him, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away?
8He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so.
9And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery.
Adultery, because in the eyes 👀 of the Lord they are still married... So offering a bill of divorce cannot annul what has been established by covenant.
However, sleeping with another breaks that marital union.
That then implies that consummation is the seal of marriage, so sex with a different person breaks the union.
10His disciples say unto him, If the case of the man be so with his wife, it is not good to marry.
11But he said unto them, All men cannot receive this saying, save they to whom it is given.
12For there are some eunuchs, which were so born from their mother’s womb: and there are some eunuchs, which were made eunuchs of men: and there be eunuchs, which have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven’s sake. He that is able to receive it, let him receive it.
In our current generation, being a eunuch is not even considered, but I suspect a time is coming where it will be common among the believers.
13Then were there brought unto him little children, that he should put his hands on them, and pray: and the disciples rebuked them.
14But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.
15And he laid his hands on them, and departed thence.
16And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?
17And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.
18He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness,
19Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
20The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?
21Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.
With all the rich young ruler had done, he was qualified for the kingdom 👑 of God.
But if he wanted the ultimate crown 👑 and to be perfect 👌, here were the terms.
And now he was too entangled in his wealth to let it go for the kingdom.
In the Luke 18 account of the same story, Jesus tells him that he lacks one thing, i.e. his riches were his hindrance.
So then I asked if he will make heaven, since he had done well except in releasing his hard-earned cash for the kingdom.
But in this account in Matthew, Jesus tells him if he wants to be perfect 👌...
As if to say, you have done well in keeping all these commands, which will qualify you for eternal life, but if you really want to hit the nail on the head and be sure of having met all requirements, go sell all you have.
That was the deal breaker for the guy... he couldn't do what Jesus suggested.
I think he would make the kingdom, but narrowly, and if in the kingdom there are different zones based on degrees of sacrifice, he will miss the best of places.
No wonder Jesus explained how hard it was for the rich to make heaven.
Again, Paul talks of people whose works will be burned when tried with fire 🔥, but they themselves will make it, but scarcely...
However, if our work be of gold or silver, it is purified rather than burned by the fire 🔥...
So this kinda answers my questions.
22But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.
23Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven.
24And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.
25When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved?
26But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.
27Then answered Peter and said unto him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore?
28And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
29And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name’s sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.
30But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first.