What is the meaning of Matthew 19:26? Jesus looked at them - The physical gaze of Jesus underscores His personal engagement. He is not detached; He looks directly at His listeners, just as He did with the rich young ruler moments earlier (Matthew 19:22). - Cross references reveal how often the Lord’s look carried both compassion and correction—Mark 10:21 notes, “Jesus looked at him and loved him,” before exposing the man’s attachment to wealth. - This attentive look reminds us that Christ sees every heart (John 2:24-25) and nothing is hidden from His sight (Hebrews 4:13). and said - Whenever Jesus speaks, divine authority is on display (Matthew 7:29). - His words are Spirit and life (John 6:63), so what follows is not merely advice but the revealed will of God. - As in John 3:3, His statements often overturn human assumptions and redirect listeners to eternal realities. “With man this is impossible - The immediate “this” refers to salvation for those trusting in riches (Matthew 19:24-25), yet it also encompasses every human attempt to earn favor with God (Isaiah 64:6). - Scripture repeatedly testifies to human inability: • Jeremiah 13:23—Can the Ethiopian change his skin? • Romans 3:10-12—None are righteous, none seek God. - Our limits are not slight handicaps; they are absolute barriers apart from divine intervention. but with God - The contrast pivots on divine capability. God alone can bridge the gulf that sin created (Ephesians 2:4-5). - The Lord takes the initiative: Luke 19:10—“The Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” - Philippians 2:13 affirms, “for it is God who works in you to will and to act on behalf of His good pleasure,” spotlighting His active role in both the desire and completion of salvation. all things are possible.” - “All things” must be read in harmony with God’s character and promises; He cannot deny Himself (2 Timothy 2:13) or contradict His Word (Numbers 23:19). - Salvation for the most hardened heart, deliverance from sin’s power, fulfillment of every covenant promise—none lie beyond His reach (Ephesians 3:20). - Examples throughout Scripture illustrate this limitless power: • Genesis 18:14—A barren Sarah conceives. • Luke 1:37—Mary hears, “For nothing will be impossible with God.” • Acts 9—Saul the persecutor becomes Paul the apostle, proving God’s capacity to transform. summary Jesus’ steady gaze, authoritative speech, and definitive proclamation magnify both human helplessness and divine omnipotence. Matthew 19:26 is a call to abandon self-reliance and rest in God’s boundless ability to save, transform, and fulfill His purposes—because with Him, nothing is impossible. |
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