And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My name's sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life

 

 Then Jesus said to His disciples, "Assuredly, I say to you that it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.  And again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."  When His disciples heard it, they were greatly astonished, saying, "Who then can be saved?"  But Jesus looked at them and said to them, "With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."  

 

Then Peter answered and said to Him, "See, we have left all and followed You.  Therefore what shall we have?"  So Jesus said to them, "Assuredly I say to you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.  And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My name's sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life.  But many who are first will be last, and the last first."

 

- Matthew 19:23-30 

 

Yesterday we read that little children were brought to Him that He might put His hands on them and pray, but the disciples rebuked them. But Jesus said, "Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven."  And He laid His hands on them and departed from there.  Now behold, one came and said to Him, "Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?"  So He said to him, "Why do you call Me good?  No one is good but One, that is, God.  But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments."  He said to Him, "Which ones?"  Jesus said, "'You shall not murder,' 'You shall not commit adultery,' 'You shall not steal,' 'You shall not bear false witness,' 'Honor your father and your mother,' and 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'"  The young man said to Him, "All these things I have kept from my youth.  What do I still lack?"  Jesus said to him, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me."  But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.

 

Then Jesus said to His disciples, "Assuredly, I say to you that it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.  And again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."  When His disciples heard it, they were greatly astonished, saying, "Who then can be saved?"  But Jesus looked at them and said to them, "With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."  My study Bible reports that there have been various interpretations suggested for the impossible image of a camel going through the eye of a needle.  One such explanation is that this word in Aramaic is for "rope" but it sounds alike to the word for camel.  Another is the suggestion that the eye of a needle was the name of a city gate through which a camel might barely squeeze if it were first unloaded of all its baggage, which symbolized wealth and possessions.  There is additionally a similar expression in the Talmud: "for an elephant to go through the eye of a needle."   But, whatever the phrase is reference to, it shows the impossibility of salvation for those who are attached to riches.  My study Bible says that this is clearly evidenced by the response of the disciples, "Who then can be saved?"  But by God's grace, even what is impossible for human beings can come to pass.  

 

 Then Peter answered and said to Him, "See, we have left all and followed You.  Therefore what shall we have?"  So Jesus said to them, "Assuredly I say to you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.  And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My name's sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life.  But many who are first will be last, and the last first."  My study Bible comments here that Christ is not commanding believers to divorce spouses and abandon children (anymore than He advised all people to dispose of their wealth).  St. John Chrysostom tells us that this is a reference to keeping faith under persecution even if it means to lose one's family.  It also means to accept tat unbelieving family members may cut off ties because of the believer's faith (see 1 Corinthians 7:12-16).  My study Bible adds that believers are promised a hundredfold of houses and relatives not in an earthly sense, but rather a spiritual one; that is, the fathers and mothers of the Church, our brothers and sisters in Christ, and houses of worship and fellowship. 

 

 St Paul writes, "For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows" (1 Timothy 6:10).  It's important to note the distinction that St. Paul himself makes through his words here.  He speaks of the love of money, meaning an unhealthy or disordered passion for it.  But just as Jesus replies to the disciples, we must note that all things are under the hand of God, and our lives as disciples or followers of Christ is also under Christ's authority.  Thus, there is nothing that should come between our capacity to find and follow Christ and the Lord's direction for our lives.  For, just as Jesus said about St. Mary the sister of Sts. Martha and Lazarus, this is the one thing that is truly needed (see Luke 10:38-42).  As we quoted from my study Bible in yesterday's commentary, according to St. John Chrysostom, what the road of salvation looks like (and what sacrifices we'll be asked to make) vary from person to person; our paths are unique on the journey of faith.  In this case, the rich young man (see yesterday's reading, above) was instructed by Christ to sell all that he had and give to the poor, and become a disciple ("and come, follow Me").  This was for a particular reason, for the depth of attachment the young man had to his wealth, his possessions.  And clearly we can see the truth about that attachment in that he went away sorrowful, and the exchange in the equation -- which he gave up -- was eternal life.  Clearly he had a desire for goodness and perfection, but such was the attachment of his possessions that he could not give them up, even for perfection and eternal life and discipleship in Christ.  But in today's reading we're given the illustration that the disciples, despite not being wealthy men, have also give up all for the Kingdom and for the path of discipleship they've been offered.  St. Peter says, "See, we have left all and followed You."  They have left behind their old lives, and to various extents what we know of their histories this included families, homes, etc.  Sts. Peter and Andrew are brothers and they are also disciples together.  Many wives, or mothers, or extended family of these men (and of Christ Himself) are also a part of this ministry among the disciples, but they also have put their lives in the service of Christ and His followers.  So, what we know of Christ's ministry and these men affirms what St. Chrysostom and my study Bible indicate, that each path is unique for each individual.  But what is clear is that all things are in service to God.  The gradual or growing dependency upon Christ in this sense throughout our lives of disciples is a testimony to and reflection of that.  What one could not give up yesterday, becomes something, with time and faith, one is willing to let go in order to more fully follow Christ in faith.  And Jesus' promise of the return for such sacrifice holds true as it did for these men.  As my study Bible comments, countless faithful have found a hundredfold in return -- of saints, of brothers and sisters in the Church, of the richness of a spiritual life that gives strength and sustenance and goodness, even abundance.  For Christ's love expands and gives us ways to enrich our lives that we may never have considered, expanding to those with whom we may share our faith, and our wealth as well.  But all of this comes through time, through the evolution of our faith and its progress in our lives, a steady path of following Christ.  Jesus teaches at the Last Supper to the disciples, "These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world" (John 16:33).  And so it will be, that our faith may ask of us sacrifices, leaving behind things that hinder us in exchange for the life Christ offers us.  But in Him we have richness, and strength, and courage, and love -- and lest we forget, peace.  Let us find Christ's way for our lives, and live His faith and the path He chooses for us.