Who Can Enter the Kingdom of God? (Matthew 19:13–30)

[Stephan Choe]

July 27, 2026

- Being childlike, overcoming the love of money, and living for Jesus -

Key Verse 19:29:        “And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life.”

How can one receive eternal life and enter the Kingdom of God? This is an important question for everyone.

Although many people suppress their thoughts about death and eternal life, it remains a burning question for every human being. Today, we want to reflect on this question.

May God help us to personally experience the blessedness of eternal life and the Kingdom of God, and to lead a life full of blessing.

1. Jesus Blesses Children (13–15)

Young children love to play, and they make noise while doing so. When our grandchildren came to visit about ten years ago, my wife Esther said to them, "Children, don't run around noisily, because the elderly gentleman living below us will be disturbed!" They tried to play quietly. But after a few minutes, they were romping around again. That is simply how children are.

While Jesus was teaching, people brought their children to Him so that He might lay His hands on them and bless them. Here, "children" refers to young ones ranging from birth to about seven years of age.

All parents desire for their children to be blessed by God. However, because young children make noise, people often find them bothersome and do not want them attending the meeting.

In those days, the Pharisees did not allow young children to enter the assembly of the congregation. They believed that the Kingdom of God did not yet belong to young children because such children could not yet keep the laws.

Jesus’ disciples found the young children to be a nuisance. Consequently, they rebuked the children and tried to prevent them from coming to Jesus.

What did Jesus say?

Jesus said, "Let the children come to me and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." And he laid his hands on them and moved on from there (14–15).

Jesus welcomed children and blessed them because he loved them. He was like a loving mother who considers the noise made by her young children to be normal.

In this passage, the Gospel of Mark records, "And he took them in his arms and laid his hands on them and blessed them" (Mark 10:16).

Based on these Bible verses, some churches practice infant baptism. Based on the same verses, some churches practice the blessing of children.

Ultimately, Jesus declared that the kingdom of heaven belongs to those who are like children.

In doing so, he encourages us to place childlike trust in Jesus. Unlike some adults, young children do not take pride in their knowledge or abilities; consequently, they do not rely on them. Instead, they place childlike trust in their parents.

We do not receive eternal life and the Kingdom of Heaven because of our knowledge or our abilities. Our knowledge and abilities are limited so we should not rely on ourselves. Rather, we should place childlike trust in God and His Word, and obey Him. God loves us and blesses us with His Kingdom, just as Jesus blessed the little children.

2. Love of Money vs. Eternal Life (16–26)

As Jesus was on his way, a young man approached him and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to have eternal life?”

It was very encouraging that he was seeking the way to eternal life. Eternal life is the central theme of the four Gospels. This young man must have spent considerable time reflecting on the path to eternal life.

Everyone must eventually find the answer to this question—at the very latest, before they die.

We would like to know whether the young man found the right answer to the question regarding the path to eternal life. This young man was wealthy. He likely already possessed everything he desired. By all accounts, he should have been completely satisfied with his life and happy, wanting for nothing. Yet, he realized that he lacked eternal life. This unsettled him, for without eternal life, everything seemed fleeting and meaningless to him. Then he heard that Jesus taught the way to eternal life. So, he came to Jesus and asked what good deed he should do to receive eternal life.

 “Why do you ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, keep the commandments.”

The man asked, “Which ones?”

Jesus answered him, “You shall not murder; you shall not commit adultery; you shall not steal; you shall not bear false witness; honor your father and mother; and you shall love your neighbor as yourself” (18–19). Jesus cited the second part of the Ten Commandments to him.

The Bible teaches that a person is saved if he keeps all of God's commandments. It further teaches us that not a single person on earth can keep all of God's commandments perfectly (Rom. 3:23). Anyone who kept all of God's commandments perfectly would be an angel. Unfortunately, no one in the world is capable of keeping all of God's commandments perfectly like an angel.

But the young man answered Jesus, “I have kept all these things; what do I still lack?”

Fantastic! In all likelihood, he had memorized God’s commandments from childhood, obeyed his parents, rarely lied, given alms to the poor, and fasted regularly. People said, “This young man is sure to enter Paradise, even if no one else does.”

Yet the young man sensed somehow that he lacked the assurance of salvation. That is why he came to Jesus and asked Him what he should do to receive eternal life.

Jesus knew exactly why. This man had kept God’s commandments superficially, for his heart was set on his wealth. Jesus therefore wanted to help him break free from his love of money and learn to love God and other people with all his heart so that he might possess eternal life and find happiness.

That is why He said to him,

“If you wish to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow Me!” (21)

Why did Jesus tell him that? He wanted the young man not merely to follow God’s commandments superficially, but to observe them rightly, in accordance with their spirit. The spirit of the commandments is love—specifically, love for God and love for people. The rich young man did indeed keep God’s commandments; yet in reality, he loved money more than God or other people. Although he appeared pious in the eyes of others, in God’s eyes he was selfish. He needed to demonstrate repentance through action in order to receive forgiveness and eternal life. Jesus loved him and wanted to help him love God with all his heart and receive eternal life. That is why He said to him, “Sell what you have and give to the poor—then you will have treasure in heaven—and come, follow Me!”

He really ought to consider what is more valuable: his money or eternal life. He needed to decide to place his hope not in his money, but in eternal life and the Kingdom of God. He should have practically anchored his hope in eternal life and the Kingdom of God by choosing eternal life and deciding to follow Jesus. He was called to stop loving his money more than God—to sell his wealth, use the proceeds to help the poor, and follow Jesus. Through his time with Jesus, he was meant to truly get to know Him and believe in Him. Jesus’ offer was a golden opportunity for him to receive eternal life and become a disciple of Jesus; it was a unique, magnificent offer of grace from Jesus.

But the man was so attached to his money that he was saddened by Jesus’ words and rejected His offer. What a pity!

Jesus said to His disciples, “It is harder for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of Heaven than for a camel to go through the eye of a needle.”

Francis of Assisi is a well-known saint in history. He was born into a wealthy family. He once happened to attend a church service, where he heard the Word of God: "One thing you lack; go, sell everything you have and give it to the poor, and follow me!" He repented of his selfish life and decided to obey this word. He lived in poverty and cared for the poor and the sick. He was wise, choosing eternal life and dedicating his life to it.

However, by His words in verses 23–24, Jesus did not mean that all wealthy people in the world must give up their possessions to receive eternal life. Rather, He meant that our hearts must not be attached to money or to any material thing.

We ought to repent of our love for money and love God and people more than money. What this practical repentance looks like may vary from person to person. We should have hearts fully devoted to God and work for the sake of God and others. Here are two examples: Someone who loves their travel plans more than God should adjust their schedule to serve God better. Someone who stays up late on Saturday nights occupied with something should instead go to bed at a reasonable hour, so that they can attend the Sunday service without fatigue and worship God with all their heart.

When Jesus’ disciples heard His words, they were all astonished and asked Him, “Who then can be saved?”

We can well understand the disciples. They wanted to receive eternal life. That is why they had given up so much and followed Jesus. But if they could not be saved and enter the Kingdom of Heaven, all their efforts would have been in vain.

On the surface, there appear to be many worthwhile pursuits—such as helping the poor or the sick, or giving donations to the needy. Yet, upon closer reflection, we realize that everything is ultimately in vain because death has the final word. Without eternal life, there is no truly meaningful activity. Jesus himself said, "What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his life?" (16:26).

Without eternal life, the words of unbelievers—"Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die"—would sound convincing.

But Jesus Christ said, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible" (26). Through Jesus, God has opened a way for us to eternal life.

Jesus compared the desire of a person to be saved and receive eternal life through their own works or achievements to a camel trying to pass through the eye of a needle.

My mother did not wear glasses, even though her eyesight was somewhat poor. Whenever she wanted to sew, she struggled to thread the needle. That is why I often threaded the needle for her.

But I cannot lead a camel through the eye of a needle. That is utterly impossible! It is just as impossible for us to enter the Kingdom of Heaven through our own efforts. Why? Because not a single human being is as completely holy as the angels. The Kingdom of Heaven is a perfectly holy place, free from sin. A person with any sin has no right to enter it. If people with sin could enter the Kingdom of Heaven, it would be infected by sin; it would no longer be a sin-free zone, and the Kingdom of Heaven would cease to be paradise.

Without exception, all people have committed some sin. Therefore, no one can enter the Kingdom of Heaven through any piety He might possess.

Jesus’ disciples were alarmed by Jesus’ words and asked Him, “Who then can be saved (and enter the Kingdom of Heaven)?” (25).

Jesus looked at their alarmed faces and answered them, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible!”

With this answer, Jesus indicated that God would open a way of salvation for mankind through Jesus. That is why John the Baptist had preached, “Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven has drawn near!” (3:2).

After Jesus had risen from the dead and ascended into heaven, Peter preached at Pentecost,

“Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38).

Everyone who receives the Holy Spirit through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ is a child of God and possesses eternal life.

Because Jesus died for our sin, God forgives all our sin and grants us eternal life when we confess our sin and believe in Jesus’ sacrificial death. God also gives us the Holy Spirit, making us children of God. We will rise from the dead on the day of resurrection. As long as we live on this earth, we are imperfect. When we rise from the dead and enter the Kingdom of Heaven, we will put on a new body and be perfect. We will be able to see God face to face and possess eternal life. Because of this eternal life, our lives and our endeavors in Christ have eternal meaning. Therefore, we can live and work joyfully for God and for other people.

All people can receive eternal life and enter the Kingdom of Heaven if they repent of their sins and believe that Jesus is the Son of God and the Savior, and that He died for their sins and rose from the dead. This is the Gospel, the Good News. The Bible proclaims this Gospel to us so that people may believe in it, have eternal life, and enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Praise God for His goodness!

3. Promises for those who follow (27–30)

When Peter heard Jesus’ words regarding following Him and eternal life, he said to Him, “Look, we have left everything and followed You; what will we receive for it?”

Indeed, Peter and other disciples had left their professions to follow Jesus.

Jesus answered, “Truly, I say to you: You who have followed Me will, at the renewal of all things—when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory—also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or mother or children or fields for the sake of My name will receive a hundredfold and inherit eternal life.”

Jesus promised both eternal life and heavenly blessings to all who believe in Him and prioritize His cause. The twelve disciples had left their professions to follow Jesus. As they accompanied Him, they came to know Him personally and were able to believe in Jesus as the Christ and the Son of God. That is why Peter could confess, "You are Christ, the Son of the living God!" (16:16). They subsequently witnessed the Christ dying on the cross for the sins of humanity and rising from the dead. Through this, they realized that Christ died for human sins and rose from the dead to secure our eternal life. They also received the Holy Spirit and the commission to take the Gospel to the world. Empowered by the Holy Spirit, they preached the Gospel wherever they went.

For all who believe in the Gospel and follow the will of Christ, Christ’s promise holds true: to enter the Kingdom of Heaven and be blessed in the glory of God. Faith in Jesus as the Son of God and actively following Him—this is the path to divine blessing. For one person, God’s will may mean spreading the Gospel full-time; for another, it may mean working a secular job while credibly bearing witness to Jesus Christ through both word and deed.

May God help you not to become like the rich young man, but rather to be good disciples of Christ and to serve as salt of the earth and light of the world. Amen!