Q: In Matthew 19:23-24, Jesus says that rich people dont go to heaven. Doesnt this contradict numerous statements in the Bible which describe wealthy as a sign of divine approval and blessedness? Is it okay to be rich, or not?
A: First, Jesus did not say that rich people dont go to heaven. He said that it is very difficult for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. He used hyperbole -- the camel-through-the-eye-of-a-needle saying -- to emphasize the point. Second, in Israel, wealth was considered a sign of divine blessing, in sync with the blessings promised in the covenant of the Law. But this was a general expectation, not an absolute rule, and it was part of a corporately-bestowed blessing that depended at least in part on the corporate faithfulness of the nation. Now lets look at the passages which the SAB cites to show that wealth is a sign of righteousness.
Psalm 37:25 -- "I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken nor his seed begging bread." -- It is quite a stretch to interpret not begging for bread as wealthy. Anyone who has not been reduced to indigence fits this description. Also, this is presented as one mans observations (yet have I not seen).
Psalm 112:1, 3 -- "Blessed is the man who fears the Lord .... Wealth and riches shall be in his house." -- Like the rest of the psalm, this is an axiom about Israelites in Israel under the covenant of the Law. Wealth is not the only characteristic of the individual described in this psalm: this individual has taken a difficult road: he is not only wealthy; he also does the following:
(1) reveres the one true God,
(2) rejoices in the Lords commandments
(3) exhibits virtue and uprightness,
(4) displays much compassion,
(5) graciously and discreetly lends to those in need,
(6) does not fear bad news,
(7) gives to the poor,
(8) sets an example which causes the wicked to grieve.
/With all these characteristics/ a wealthy man can be blessed. But it is a difficult balance to maintain. This is the sort of needle-threading approach that Jesus refers to in Matthew 19:24-26.
Proverbs 15:6 -- In the house of the righteous is much treasure." -- Like many other proverbs, this is axiomatic, not universal. Also, the type of treasure is not said to be financial wealth; there are other kinds of treasure.
Heavy hangs the head that wears the crown, and likewise heavy is the burden of the rich. Enormous riches and the desire to be fantastically wealthy have ensnared many in sin and greediness and bad stewardship. And those who have obtained wealth through injustice will have to pay back their temporary gain; such outer wealth, bereft of integrity, reflects inner poverty.
But as Jesus says, with God, it is possible, though difficult, for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.
Also: James 5:1 is used in the SAB as evidence that wealth is a sign of divine disapproval, but it seems very obvious to me that if one reads James 5:1-6, the rich individuals are being rebuked not on account of their wealth but on account of the dishonest means by which they obtained it, and the selfish way in which they misprioritized it.
Yours in Christ,
Waterrock
P.S. Some apologists have explained this text by saying that in Jerusalem there was a gate called the "Eye of the Needle" which could only be entered by an average-sized camel if the camel removed all its burdens and went in without baggage. Lovely as this illustration may seem, I don't think there's actually any evidence of such a gate ever existing. If my memory serves me well, the illustration is ancient and so is the denial of its veracity; Jerome mentioned and criticized it.
A: First, Jesus did not say that rich people dont go to heaven. He said that it is very difficult for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. He used hyperbole -- the camel-through-the-eye-of-a-needle saying -- to emphasize the point. Second, in Israel, wealth was considered a sign of divine blessing, in sync with the blessings promised in the covenant of the Law. But this was a general expectation, not an absolute rule, and it was part of a corporately-bestowed blessing that depended at least in part on the corporate faithfulness of the nation. Now lets look at the passages which the SAB cites to show that wealth is a sign of righteousness.
Psalm 37:25 -- "I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken nor his seed begging bread." -- It is quite a stretch to interpret not begging for bread as wealthy. Anyone who has not been reduced to indigence fits this description. Also, this is presented as one mans observations (yet have I not seen).
Psalm 112:1, 3 -- "Blessed is the man who fears the Lord .... Wealth and riches shall be in his house." -- Like the rest of the psalm, this is an axiom about Israelites in Israel under the covenant of the Law. Wealth is not the only characteristic of the individual described in this psalm: this individual has taken a difficult road: he is not only wealthy; he also does the following:
(1) reveres the one true God,
(2) rejoices in the Lords commandments
(3) exhibits virtue and uprightness,
(4) displays much compassion,
(5) graciously and discreetly lends to those in need,
(6) does not fear bad news,
(7) gives to the poor,
(8) sets an example which causes the wicked to grieve.
/With all these characteristics/ a wealthy man can be blessed. But it is a difficult balance to maintain. This is the sort of needle-threading approach that Jesus refers to in Matthew 19:24-26.
Proverbs 15:6 -- In the house of the righteous is much treasure." -- Like many other proverbs, this is axiomatic, not universal. Also, the type of treasure is not said to be financial wealth; there are other kinds of treasure.
Heavy hangs the head that wears the crown, and likewise heavy is the burden of the rich. Enormous riches and the desire to be fantastically wealthy have ensnared many in sin and greediness and bad stewardship. And those who have obtained wealth through injustice will have to pay back their temporary gain; such outer wealth, bereft of integrity, reflects inner poverty.
But as Jesus says, with God, it is possible, though difficult, for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.
Also: James 5:1 is used in the SAB as evidence that wealth is a sign of divine disapproval, but it seems very obvious to me that if one reads James 5:1-6, the rich individuals are being rebuked not on account of their wealth but on account of the dishonest means by which they obtained it, and the selfish way in which they misprioritized it.
Yours in Christ,
Waterrock
P.S. Some apologists have explained this text by saying that in Jerusalem there was a gate called the "Eye of the Needle" which could only be entered by an average-sized camel if the camel removed all its burdens and went in without baggage. Lovely as this illustration may seem, I don't think there's actually any evidence of such a gate ever existing. If my memory serves me well, the illustration is ancient and so is the denial of its veracity; Jerome mentioned and criticized it.
