I am sure this post would puzzle quite a few of you. Nevertheless, truth has to be told, irrespective of whether it will disturb someone or not.
So, here we are, reading a well familiar passage and noticing what most of us haven't noticed so far.
Mat 19:16 And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have ETERNAL LIFE?
Mat 19:17 And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.Mat 19:18 He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness,Mat 19:19 Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.Mat 19:20 The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?Mat 19:21 Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.Mat 19:22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.
Mat 19:23 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN.
Mat 19:24 And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into THE KINGDOM OF GOD.
Have you noticed that:
- The rich youth's question was about eternal life.
- Jesus' response to his disciples was about the Kingdom of Heaven.
- Then he followed it up with a parable about the Kingdom of God.
All the three expressions are used in the same context, which means, all the three expressions mean or amount to the same concept.
If you have been following this series, you may have noticed that we have been saying that the Kingdom of God / Heaven is not up there in the sky or outer space. If this stance be true, one may ask whether there is nothing beyond this life. It is a fact that we have been taught that if we believe Jesus we will be raised from the dead at the second coming of Jesus and we will be taken to heaven. But, is that what Jesus taught?
Joh 11:25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:
Joh 11:26 And WHOSOEVER LIVETH AND BELIEVETH IN ME SHALL NEVER DIE. Believest thou this?
After saying "everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die" (ESV), Jesus quickly added: " Do you believe this?”, because he knew that most won't believe his statement! Could he have meant biological death in this statement? Far be it from truth, because he knew that he himself had to die and he has stated it several times, very unambiguously. My point is: you are the Kingdom of God, eternal life is in you, and even after your body is dead, you continue to be part of the Kingdom of God that has no end.
In Christ,
Tomsan Kattackal
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