Matthew 19:23-26

Only in the grace of God do we live and breathe.

Kintsugi is an ancient Japanese method of repairing broken porcelain, using gold to fill the cracks. (Also known as Kintsukuori, which translates “golden joinery.”) The Kintsugi artisan uses gold (or other precious metal) mixed with epoxy to repair the broken piece.Yes, the gold honors the beauty of imperfection, and that beauty spills.There is power in our redemptive story. Terry Hershey “Sabbath Moments”

God repeatedly pledges his presence to his people. To Abram, God said, “Do not be afraid…I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward” (Genesis 15:1). God told Joshua, “Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9). Max Lucado.

Matthew 19:23-26

23 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. 24 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.”

25 When His disciples heard it, they were greatly astonished, saying, “Who then can be saved?”

26 But Jesus looked at them and said to them, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

Jesus employs this ridiculous impossibility to capture His hearers’ attention and emphasize the great sacrifice necessitated by the kingdom of heaven. Jesus frequently uses exaggeration (or hyperbole) to make a point. The impact of these statements often comes from the comical nature of the images. Here the effect comes from picturing someone trying to force a camel—a large animal—through the eye of a needle—a very small hole. A similar image—an elephant going through the eye of a needle—is used in rabbinic literature to denote something impossible (Babylonian Talmud Berakhot 55b). The popular explanation that the “Eye of the Needle” was the name of a small gate in Jerusalem that camels could pass through only with great difficulty was first suggested in the 11th century AD, and there is no evidence such a gate existed. Jesus’ regular use of hyperbole and the parallel sayings from rabbinic texts, however, indicate it was a proverbial image.

Jesus’ remarks reverse the conventional wisdom of His day. It was commonly believed that if someone was blessed with riches, they had God’s approval and were thereby assured of entrance into His kingdom of heaven. Faithlife Bible.

Jesus’ comment about a rich man’s salvation would have been difficult for some Jewish people in this period to accept because they held to a form of “prosperity theology.” If people prospered, it was evidence of God’s blessing on them. Whereas this says it is hard for a rich man to become saved, implying that it is as impossible as passing a camel through the eye of a needle. NKJ Bible.

Genesis 18:14 Is anything too hard for the LORD? At the appointed time I will return to you, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.”

Job 42:2 “I know that You can do everything, and that no purpose of Yours can be withheld from You.

Jeremiah 32:17 ‘Ah, Lord GOD! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm. There is nothing too hard for You.