The Basis Of The New Kingly Rule - The Impossibility Of Salvation Without God Being At Work (19:23-26).
In Matthew 5:3-6 it was those who had been ‘blessed' by God who were poor in spirit, repentant, meek, and hungry after righteousness. In Matthew 11:6 it was those who had been ‘blessed' by God who would not be caused to stumble at the way in which Jesus was carrying out His work as the Messiah. In Matthew 11:25-26 it was the Father, Lord of Heaven and earth, who had hidden things from the wise and prudent and had revealed them to ‘babes'. In Matthew 13:16 it was because the disciples had been ‘blessed' by God that they saw and heard. In Matthew 16:17 it was because he had been ‘blessed' by God that Peter had recognised Jesus' Messiahship. Now we learn that it is only those who have been so blessed by God who can be saved. In the end, therefore, the reason that the young man had gone away was because he was not one of those ‘blessed by God'. For without that it is impossible for a man to be saved. This is a constant theme of Jesus, and of Matthew. No man can come to Him except it be given him by the Father, that is, unless the Father draws him (John 6:37; John 6:39; John 6:44). For it is those who have been blessed by God who believe and who consequently have eternal life (John 6:40).
Analysis.
a Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly I say to you, It is hard for a rich man to enter into the Kingly Rule of Heaven” (Matthew 19:23).
b “And again I say to you, “It is easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye, than for a rich man to enter into the Kingly Rule of God” (Matthew 19:24).
c And when the disciples heard it, they were greatly astonished, saying, “Who then can be saved?” (Matthew 19:25).
b And Jesus looking on them said to them, “With men this is impossible” (Matthew 19:26 a).
a “But with God all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26 b).
Note that in ‘a' we have described for us how hard it is for a rich man to enter the Kingly Rule of Heaven and in the parallel we are informed that all things are possible with God. In ‘b' the impossibility of a rich man entering the Kingly Rule of God is described, and in the parallel Jesus confirms that it is indeed impossible for men. Centrally in ‘c' comes the question ‘who then can be saved'. And the answer is clearly ‘all whom God chooses to save'.