Yeshua’s Final Journey ~ Part 3
In our last post, we are now dealing with the final days of Yeshua’s life and ministry. Yeshua follows His discussion with the Rich Young Man in this post and explains The Love of Possessions.
The Love of Possessions
23 Then Yeshua said to His talmidim, “Yes. I tell you that it will be very hard for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. 24 Furthermore, I tell you that it is easier for a camel to pass through a needle’s eye than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God.” 25 When the talmidim heard this, they were utterly amazed. “Then who,” they asked, “can be saved?” 26 Yeshua looked at them and said, “Humanly, this is impossible; but with God, everything is possible.”
Yeshua’s image may be literal, a camel and a sewing needle, or He may refer to the narrow protective passage at the entrance to a walled city called a “needle’s eye.” Either dramatizes His point, essentially the same as in Mattityahu 6:19–24.
27 Kefa replied, “Look, we have left everything and followed you. So what will we have?”28 Yeshua said to them, “Yes. I tell you that in the regenerated world when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones and judge the twelve tribes of Isra’el.
The Tanakh speaks of a regenerated world at Isaiah 1:25–2:5, 11:1–16, 65:17; Jeremiah 23:3–8, 30:1–31:40; Micah 4:1–5:3; Zechariah 12:1–14:21; Psalms 2, 22, 89; Daniel 7–12. Also, note Romans 8:19–23 and Revelation 21:1–22:5. Rabbinic literature speaks of the ‘olam haba (“world” or “age to come”).
You … will also sit on twelve thrones and judge the twelve tribes of Israel. An important Brit Hadashah verse confirming God’s promises to national Isra’el, e.g., Isaiah 1:26, “And I will restore your judges as at first.” See Ezekiel 48, Isaiah 9:5–6(6–7). This verse gives a rationale for choosing twelve emissaries (10:2–4) and maintaining that number (Ac 1:15–26); also, compare Revelation 21:10–14.
29 Everyone who has left houses, brothers, sisters, father, mother, children, or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times more, and he will obtain eternal life. 30 But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first. [1]
Yeshua Foretells His Death for the Third Time
32 They were on the road going up to Yerushalayim. Yeshua was walking ahead of them, and they were amazed – and those following were afraid. So again, taking the Twelve along with Him, He began telling them what was about to happen to Him. 33 “We are now going up to Yerushalayim, where the Son of Man will be handed over to the head cohanim and the Torah-teachers. They will sentence Him to death and turn Him over to the Goyim (Gentiles), 34 who will jeer at Him, spit on Him, beat Him, and kill Him; but after three days, He will rise.” [2] 34 However, they understood none of this; its meaning had been hidden from them, and they had no idea what he was talking about.[3]
Passages such as Psalm 22 and Isaiah 53 were understood by the early church as referring to the sufferings endured by Yeshua (compare Acts 3:18; 17:2–3; 26:22–23).
In our next, we will continue to explore Yeshua’s Final Journey.
My Heart is for Israel 