The Rich and
The Kingdom of God
19 December 2021
What place do the rich have in the Kingdom of God—and where do the rest of us stand?
When we speak about the rich and the Kingdom of God, the words of Jesus immediately come to mind:
“It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”
This statement appears in all three Synoptic Gospels (Matthew 19:24, Mark 10:25, Luke 18:25). It is powerful, memorable—and deeply unsettling.
After all, there will always be someone richer than us and someone poorer than us. So who exactly are “the rich” that Jesus is speaking about? And if many wealthy people provide employment and income that sustain countless families, how can they be viewed as the problem?
To understand Jesus’ words, we must first understand the social world in which He lived.
Society in the Time of Jesus
The society of first-century Judea was sharply divided into classes, each with its own role, power, and beliefs.
The Temple Class
At the religious center of Jewish life stood the Temple and those associated with it.
- Prophets were often self-declared and followed because people found meaning in their message.
- The Levites, according to Mosaic Law, were the only tribe permitted to conduct Temple rituals.
- Scribes existed to copy and preserve Scripture in an age without printing presses. They were highly educated and multilingual.
- Pharisees were scribes devoted to studying and interpreting the Law of Moses. They developed 613 rules governing daily life, which proved burdensome for ordinary people.
- Sadducees were wealthy Jews aligned with Roman authority. They adopted Roman customs and rejected belief in the resurrection (Matthew 22).
All these groups earned their income directly or indirectly from the Temple. Together, they formed what we may call the Temple Class.
Jesus respected the Law but strongly challenged how it was interpreted. While He said:
“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.”
(Matthew 5:17–18)
He also criticized religious leaders for placing heavy burdens on others:
“They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on the shoulders of others.”
(Matthew 23:4)
For Jesus, the Law was meant to be followed in spirit, not merely in letter. Ultimately, it came down to love—love of God and love of neighbor (Matthew 22:37–39; Mark 12:29–31; Luke 10:27).
The Ruling Class
During Roman occupation, Judea was governed by puppet kings who ruled only with Rome’s approval. True authority rested with Roman governors appointed by the Emperor. These rulers sustained themselves through heavy taxation imposed on the people.
The Landowners: “The Rich”
According to Mosaic Law, land was originally allotted to families and meant to remain within them (Leviticus 25). Over centuries of exile and conquest, this system broke down.
By the time of Jesus, wealth and land were concentrated in the hands of a few. Wealthy landowners:
- Leased land to tenants for minimal returns
- Hired laborers at low wages
- Contributed generously to the Temple
- Followed Pharisaic rules meticulously
Because of this, they were taught—and believed—that their wealth was a sign of God’s blessing and assurance of a place in the Kingdom of God.
The Working Class and the Poor
Below the landowners were the working class—tenants, fishermen, carpenters, metalworkers—and finally the poor, those unable to work and forced to beg.
These groups were often labeled sinners, cursed by God, and excluded from hope of the Kingdom. Prostitutes and tax collectors were also included in this category.
A Dangerous Belief
The rich believed they had to remain pure by avoiding contact with the poor and sinners. Jesus rejected this belief. He taught that wealth is a gift from God and carries responsibility—the duty to uplift those in need.
It is in this context that Jesus declares how difficult it is for the rich to enter the Kingdom of God.
What Jesus Teaches About “The Rich”
The Rich Man and Lazarus (Luke 16)
This parable exposes the indifference of the rich toward suffering, even when it lies at their own gate. The rich man’s failure was not ignorance but refusal to live out what Scripture already taught.
The Rich Young Man (Matthew 19:16–22)
Though confident he had kept the commandments, the young man could not part with his wealth. His attachment revealed a deeper issue—his inability to fully trust God or see the poor as neighbors.
Wealth, Temptation, and Responsibility
In 1 Timothy 6, Paul warns about the temptations that accompany wealth. Jesus himself says:
“Make friends for yourselves by means of worldly wealth, so that when it is gone, they may welcome you into eternal homes.”
(Luke 16:9)
Christians are not called to hoard wealth out of fear, but to invest it so that others may benefit—just as taught in the Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14–30; Luke 19:11–26).
Conclusion
Money itself is not sinful. It becomes a problem when:
- We consider ourselves too important to associate with others
- We fail to use our resources for the good of those around us
- We allow wealth to lead us into excess and indulgence
What This Means for Us Today
Regardless of our financial status, we are all vulnerable to the same spiritual failures.
- We are called to steward wealth, not cling to it
- Hoarding resources out of fear is unchristian
- Investing in ways that uplift others reflects the heart of the Gospel
Finally, Jesus’ warning applies beyond money. If we fail to see another human being as our neighbor—because of race, religion, caste, color, or creed—we risk becoming like the rich man in Luke 16.
When we ignore the one lying at our gate, we are already far from the Kingdom.
References
- Scripture quotations are from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible. © 1989 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
- Photo credit: Photo by Sritam Das from Pexels
