Matthew 19:23-26 | I Samuel 16:1-13 | Gospels in Lent Track: John 5-6
Jesus looked at them carefully.
Jesus looked at them full of care.
Don’t miss the look for the words.
The Greek words for camel and rope are but a letter apart, something like the difference between kamilon and kamiilon. Linguists believe the words were homonyms in the 1st century, meaning they sounded exactly same when pronounced.
Does it matter? It’s pretty hard to own a lot and enter God’s Kingdom. Again, don’t just think of God’s Kingdom as something in the future. It is in the future, but Christ had come to announce its presence then and there. It’s hard to be within the Kingdom of God and own a lot.
Hard. Not impossible. But it’s certainly not a goal to shoot for.
You know that thread we’ve been seeing all through Matthew? That laws and boundaries exist for good reason, but God’s grace can overshadow them? This little story is more of the same. Jesus told the young man with a lot of possessions he needed to sell them. But a few lines later, he said it’s not impossible for a wealthy individual to enter the Kingdom. (“With God.”)
But how hard do you want to make it for yourself?
Matthew 19:23-26
Then Jesus said to his disciples, “I assure you that it will be very hard for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven. In fact, it’s easier for a camel to squeeze through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter God’s kingdom.”
When his disciples heard this, they were stunned. “Then who can be saved?” they asked.
Jesus looked at them carefully and said, “It’s impossible for human beings. But all things are possible for God.”
I Samuel 16:1-13
The Lord said to Samuel, “How long are you going to grieve over Saul? I have rejected him as king over Israel. Fill your horn with oil and get going. I’m sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem because I have found my next king among his sons.”
“How can I do that?” Samuel asked. “When Saul hears of it he’ll kill me!”
“Take a heifer with you,” the Lord replied, “and say, ‘I have come to make a sacrifice to the Lord.’ Invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will make clear to you what you should do. You will anoint for me the person I point out to you.”
Samuel did what the Lord instructed. When he came to Bethlehem, the city elders came to meet him. They were shaking with fear. “Do you come in peace?” they asked.
“Yes,” Samuel answered. “I’ve come to make a sacrifice to the Lord. Now make yourselves holy, then come with me to the sacrifice.” Samuel made Jesse and his sons holy and invited them to the sacrifice as well.
When they arrived, Samuel looked at Eliab and thought, That must be the Lord’s anointed right in front.
But the Lord said to Samuel, “Have no regard for his appearance or stature, because I haven’t selected him. God doesn’t look at things like humans do. Humans see only what is visible to the eyes, but the Lord sees into the heart.”
Next Jesse called for Abinadab, who presented himself to Samuel, but he said, “The Lord hasn’t chosen this one either.” So Jesse presented Shammah, but Samuel said, “No, the Lord hasn’t chosen this one.” Jesse presented seven of his sons to Samuel, but Samuel said to Jesse, “The Lord hasn’t picked any of these.” Then Samuel asked Jesse, “Is that all of your boys?”
“There is still the youngest one,” Jesse answered, “but he’s out keeping the sheep.”
“Send for him,” Samuel told Jesse, “because we can’t proceed until he gets here.”
So Jesse sent and brought him in. He was reddish brown, had beautiful eyes, and was good-looking. The Lord said, “That’s the one. Go anoint him.” So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him right there in front of his brothers. The Lord’s spirit came over David from that point forward.
Then Samuel left and went to Ramah.
Prayer
God,
It’s Friday. I’m not sure that means much in your grand scheme of things, but for us, it’s generally a more favorable day. Regardless of what it is, I offer this day to you.
No matter what they say, no matter what I think, no matter what…help me to remember you are looking within me. Search my heart, God. Find within me what can receive your love in better ways. Then help me to reflect it rather than deflect it.
Help me to accomplish today, Lord. To build and construct or to solve or even to fix. But with all these activities, Lord, may they be useful to people and to you for the progression of goodness. (Sometimes I can look busy for its own sake.)
That’s all for now.
By your Spirit & in Christ,
Amen.