Mark 10.24 teaches, Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God!

You would think the response from God by an eager inquirer to enter heaven would be believe in Me and you will be saved.

Or, maybe He would up the ante a bit and tell him to repent then ask Me to come and live in your heart.

Neither was God’s response to a legitimate seeker of eternal life. Rather God responds by telling him to obey the Ten Commandments.

But I thought you couldn’t earn your way to heaven? You can’t and the young man knows this for he responds by telling God he has always obeyed those commands but he still lacks the assurance of his salvation.

The point Jesus was making is that you can’t get to God by following rules; you get to God by loving Him most.

Thus, Jesus commands His seeker to sell everything in order to gain treasure in heaven then follow Him.

Rule following doesn’t earn treasure in heaven; it is a love relationship that God prizes with people.

When the young man walks away because he loves wealth more than God Jesus says it is really hard for the rich to enter heaven.

He repeats this anomaly by broadening to His listening audience the same principal; how hard it is for everyone to enter the kingdom of God.

But wait, we tell everyone it is easy to get into heaven. Simply believe, pray the invitational prayer and you can go to heaven.

Jesus, the Judge of all who attempt to enter heaven, God incarnate, teaches it is a hard thing to enter the kingdom of God. Why is it so hard?

Because the requirement isn’t belief, the devil does that, nor rule following, the religious leaders did that, but love for God with all of our heart, soul, mind and strength and few are those who truly do.