Matthew part 34

The Last Shall Be First

The Rich Young Ruler’s True Problem | Matthew 19:23-30

Looking back at verses 16-22, we see the story of the rich young ruler. He feels something is missing in his life despite his great wealth and despite his moral lifestyle. He asks Jesus how to inherit eternal life, and Jesus points him to the goodness of God. He lives a good life, both morally and financially, but he still lacks something. Jesus tells him to sell all his earthly possessions and give the proceeds to the poor. Then he will have eternal life. The man can’t bring himself to do it, “because he had great wealth.”

Jesus has pointed this man to the root of his problem. He cannot follow Jesus because his faith and identity is found in his stuff. He wants eternal life, but he is unwilling to surrender to Jesus to reach it.

As we continue reading, we will see his situation is common to many people in this world.

And Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly, I say to you, only with difficulty will a rich person enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished, saying, “Who then can be saved?” But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Then Peter said in reply, “See, we have left everything and followed you. What then will we have?” Jesus said to them, “Truly, I say to you, in the new world, when the Son of Man will sit on his glorious throne, 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 children or lands, for my name's sake, will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last first.

Matthew 19:23-30

Now, there have been many attempts to reconcile the phrase “easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle” with the context of the day. First, there is not evidence for a “camel gate” in Jerusalem which gets circulated in churches, nor is there enough textual evidence to suggest an alternative translation about a rope. Despite some interesting work with the Greek, it would appear Jesus really did say, “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” It is an odd phrase, to be sure. And yet, the impossibility of such a thing is exactly his point.

Without Jesus, it is impossible to be saved.

With God all things are possible. If the rich young ruler wants to be saved, he must seek the Lord. If a poor person wants to be saved, they must seek the Lord. If anyone desires to enter the kingdom of God and have eternal life, they must seek the Lord.

Heaven is not opened when someone has enough money, enough family, enough morality, or enough anything else. Heaven opens to us when we open ourselves to Jesus.

This is the essential lesson from the rich young ruler.

Being truly blessed has nothing to do with money, power, or morality, but it does have everything to do with walking with Jesus.

Next, Peter speaks up, because he has connected the dots. If the rich guy would have been saved if he sold his stuff and followed Jesus, and Peter did give up his career to follow Jesus, does that mean Peter will be saved? And even more so, will he see a similar life of luxury as the rich guy in the next life?

Jesus’ reply has been described as the “cosmic reversal”. Those in this life who fail to pursue Jesus, but live in the lap of luxury will find themselves without hope and in torment for eternity. But those who live in poverty in this life, yet seek Jesus will inherit eternal life. And anyone who has to give up family, friends, or possessions for the sake of following Jesus, will receive “a hundredfold” in return.

Anything that is lost in the pursuit of Christ will be repaid in abundance.

It reminds of the end to the book of Job. Job begins with a test of his faith. Satan is allowed to torment poor Job taking everything from him. Then, for about 30 chapters, Job has to hear from his so-called friends about all the things Job must have done wrong. Job finally confronts God with what is going on, and God’s reply reminds us of His sovereignty and speaks to how we can endure hardships faithfully in this life. But, at the very end of Job, if you can make it to the end, Job finally has his happy ending. Everything that Job has lost is restored with interest. Job receives twice as much as he lost.

For most people, the idea of giving up ourselves, our property, or, far worse, our family can seem like a cost too high. But the fact is, all of that is borrowed from God anyway. We only have what we have for a short time. If we are called to lose it for the sake of the kingdom of God, it is worth it. And if all we received was the kingdom, that would be enough. But God loves us so much that He is willing to give us so much more that whatever we may lose in this life.

Last, Jesus says, “But many who are first will be last, and the last first.” This statement is really the crux of the story for Matthew. It links the conversation with the rich young ruler with chatter 20, and it describes the cosmic reversal that we have been describing. Let’s continue reading and then return to this statement.

The Parable of the Vineyard Workers | Matthew 20:1-16

“For the kingdom of heaven is like a master of a house who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. After agreeing with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard. And going out about the third hour he saw others standing idle in the marketplace, and to the he said, ‘You go into the vineyard too, and whatever is right I will give you.’ So they went. Going out again about the sixth hour and the ninth hour, he did the same. And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing. And he said to them, ‘Why do you stand here idle all day?’ They said to him, ‘Because no one has hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You go into the vineyard too.’ And when evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Call the laborers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last, up to the first.’ And when those hired about the eleventh hour came, each of them received a denarius. Now when those hired first came, they thought they would receive more, but each of them also received a denarius. And on receiving it they grumbled at the master of the house, saying, ‘These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.’ But he replied to one of them, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius? Take what belongs to you and go. I choose to give to this last worker as I give to you. Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or do you begrudge my generosity?’ So the last will be first, and the first last.”

Matthew 20:1-16

The parable gives us a fascinating scenario. The master of the house goes out to hire workers multiple times during the day. First, this isn’t the normal way to do such business. Typically, when someone goes out to hire day laborers, they know how many they need, and that’s how many they hire. The generosity of the master is on display in the very idea that he returns to the pool of workers multiple times. Then, his generosity continues with how he dispenses the wages. He begins with those who showed up last, and gives each of them the same as the other groups—the full day’s wage.

This scenario gives us an illustration of what Jesus says in chapter 19. The Lord is willing to give generously to all who follow Him. No matter what we have to give up in this life, the Lord is willing to reward us.

Heavenly rewards are based on the generosity of God.

But the workers who showed up first have a bit of a problem. They were hired first, in the morning, which means they had to deal with the heat of the day in their day’s work. In fact, if you do the math, the last bunch to get hired were picked up around 5pm. The day was pretty much done already! Depending on the time of year, they probably only worked a couple of hours. And yet, the master of the house gives them the same wage as the guys who were picked up early in the morning—probably around 6 or 7am.

Does it seem fair the guy who worked 2 hours is paid the same as the guy who worked 12??

But the master of the house reminds the workers of the deal that was made. They agreed to work the day for a denarius. The master has honored the contract. And it is his right to be generous to those who came later by paying them the same amount. The early morning workers are indignant, but their indignation doesn’t change the contract they agreed to.

This story is a reminder of how good and generous God is to us, especially when we understand how little we deserve his generosity. And just so I’m clear, it is not a math lesson. Jesus is not saying those who give up more will receive more. If we just read the end of chapter 19, we might come to such a conclusion, but chapter 20’s parable negates such a false idea.

Our rewards in heaven are not about what we give up. They aren’t about what we necessarily do in life, though we can’t receive any reward if we do not surrender to Christ. They are based on the generosity of God.

No matter what time of day Jesus comes to us, we will receive our heavenly reward if we go with him.

Sometimes I have heard it said this parable is also about when a person comes to Christ. That whether it is as a child, an adult, or laying on their deathbed, they will receive eternal life. And that is true, but I don’t think that’s the point of the story. I have even read some who believe the parable is about avoiding the jealousy that can occur when we compare our lives with others. Again, that is true, but that isn’t the point of the story.

When we compare the conversation with the rich young ruler with the parable, and consider Jesus ends both scenarios with saying, “The first will be last, and the last first,” I believe the point Jesus is making is about the generosity of God.

The Lord is more than willing to replace what is lost, to pay what is earned, and to give even more to those who follow Him.

He will give so much because He wants to give. The Lord is a generous God. And His generosity is not based on our own merit. It is based on His goodness. So, if you are dealing with loss, take heart, the Lord will restore what is lost. If you are dealing with a lack in this world, take heart, God will supply your every need. If you have not received your earnings for the labor done, don’t lose hope, the day is not done. When this day ends, and eternity dawns, you will receive the eternal inheritance promised, if you will surrender to Jesus today.