NOTES for Luk 18:18-43

Poor rich man. He had everything necessary to be a normal, good person. But to become perfect, he had to “leap beyond himself” and perform a deed that even a poor person would scarcely dare, much less a rich one. The disciples' horror is therefore quite understandable: if entering the Kingdom of God requires doing something so difficult that it is easier for “a camel to pass through the eye of a needle,” then who can be saved? In other words, for whom is Christ's preaching intended, and why are they walking with Him? Even if they themselves left home and family for His sake, is that enough for salvation? Jesus' answer is paradoxical: salvation is impossible for a human being, but possible for God. This means that His Message is intended for those able to understand this and put it into practice, even if every camel has to pass through the eye of a needle...