Matthew 19:23

 Matthew 19:23 says, Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven.  After His encounter with the rich young ruler, Jesus said a rich man should hardly enter the kingdom of heaven.  This was because like the rich young ruler, rich people often value riches more than they value their relationship with God.  Verse twenty-four declares, 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.  Jesus further emphasized His statement about a rich man entering the kingdom of heaven.  Jesus said it would be nearly impossible, but we must remember that with God, nothing is impossible and that with the smallest of faith, we can do things that seem impossible.  Verse twenty-five states, When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved?  When the disciples heard this, they were exceedingly amazed, asking Jesus who could be saved.  Jesus will always be the One to determine who can be saved, and that is anyone who puts their faith in Him as Savior and Lord.  Verse twenty-six says, But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.  As already stated, Jesus said with God all things are possible.  We should never forget this promise.  Verse twenty-seven states, Then answered Peter and said unto him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore?  Peter said that the disciples had given up everything to follow Jesus and asked what they would have.  When we come to Jesus and accept Him as our Savior and Lord, we give up everything that we have in this world, and we know the answer to the question.  We will have everlasting life with God.  Verse twenty-eight declares, And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.  Jesus said that the disciples would sit on twelve thrones in heaven judging the twelve tribes of Israel, after He had was sitting on His throne in glory.  He did not promise them anything in this world, and I do not profess to know exactly what their role in heaven will be, nor mine for that matter, but I have faith that we will all be there for the purpose that God assigns us.  Verse twenty-nine adds, And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name’s sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.  Jesus told Peter, and tells us, that whatever we sacrifice for Him in this world, we will receive one hundred times over when we are in heaven with Him.  Verse thirty concludes, But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first.  If, after we accept Jesus as our Savior and Lord, we desire to be first in His Kingdom, Jesus tells us that we will be last.  There is no room for egotism among Christians.