Just finished reading Luke 18 and decided to google “eye of the needle” which led to the following from gty.org:
Luke 18:25 is one of the clearest testimonies from our Lord on the inability of man to do anything to save himself. This doctrine of total inability is a vital component to the gospel; it highlights the impossibility of salvation apart from a sovereign work of God in a person’s heart. More than that it highlights God’s grace in that He does do that work. For that reason this text should lead to humble praise of our God and Savior.
Praise be to God in the Highest.
Luke 18:25 is one of the clearest testimonies from our Lord on the inability of man to do anything to save himself. This doctrine of total inability is a vital component to the gospel; it highlights the impossibility of salvation apart from a sovereign work of God in a person’s heart. More than that it highlights God’s grace in that He does do that work. For that reason this text should lead to humble praise of our God and Savior.
Praise be to God in the Highest.
Luke 8
A rich man in Jesus's time has wealth through the manual labour of others. Wealth provides security on buying your
way out of trouble and never having to come to terms with ones own sin and evil and reaching out to others for help.
The lesson is such men do not have the language or understanding or focus of God. Loss, hardship do not register, they
are above ordinary people, they are chosen to be blessed and deserve all they get because of their talents.
To be placed at that point of total desperation and abandonment, when one calls out to God for help has not taken
place, so many layers of sin and defence before one even scrapes the surface and so many others to sacrifice before
the big man is even scratched. Like the big mafia boss, who can stand against them or dare to bring them down.
And their sins are because of others, and circumstance, or else they would have been a nice caring person.