Should I be poor to be in G-d's kingdom? ~ Cross reference of Mark 10:17 to Exodus 20:12

Though the Greek text has Matthew as the first of the four gospels. scholars believe that mark was first and almost 97% of Mark is adopted by Matthew. You can find this event documented in Matthew & Luke as well. 

You can read the post where I covered my thoughts that John the dipper, Jesus, Jesus's disciples, Paul all thought that the end of days was near. After Jesus died and "rose from the grave", the same belief continued, but now they were waiting for Jesus to return in the clouds with his angels to redeem Israel.

In this post I will focus on what Jesus said "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."

I am sure this was a hyperbole to lay emphasis on the listeners that it is very difficult for a rich man to enter G-d's kingdom. Found a couple of images in Google where they say this is the needle gate that Jesus was referring to. Did not find any research documents that confirm this though. Looks like a needle but certainly no gate. Click here for some more details.

Tanakh does not teach what Jesus said, on the contrary G-d says that the rich should help the poor and G-d will count it as good.

All Images are links to Google Images. Copyright violations not intended.

All Greek Text references are from NIV and Tanakh references are from Chabad.

This post is not intended to offend anyone's faith but for those people who are Seeking the truth of THE ONE TRUE G-D of the universe to who we owe all our love, gratitude & devotion.

My encouragement to you is that you read the whole chapter of Tanakh that the Greek text quotes so you get the context and understand what G-d actually said.

G-d Bless and Seek THE Truth.

Mark 10:17 As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. “Good teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 18 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. 19 You know the commandments: ‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, you shall not defraud, honor your father and mother.’” 20 “Teacher,” he declared, “all these I have kept since I was a boy.” 21 Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” 22 At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth. 23 Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!” 24 The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said again, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! 25 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.”

Exodus 20:12 Honor your father and your mother, in order that your days be lengthened on the land that the Lord, your God, is giving you. 13 You shall not murder. You shall not commit adultery. You shall not steal. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. 14 You shall not covet your neighbor's house. You shall not covet your neighbor's wife, his manservant, his maidservant, his ox, his donkey, or whatever belongs to your neighbor."

Deuteronomy 5:16 Honor your father and your mother as the Lord your God commanded you, in order that your days be lengthened, and that it may go well with you on the land that the Lord, your God, is giving you. 17 You shall not murder. And you shall not commit adultery. And you shall not steal. And you shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. 18 And you shall not covet your neighbor's wife, nor shall you desire your neighbor's house, his field, his manservant, his maidservant, his ox, his donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.

• Like I said in the introduction, Tanakh does not teach that the rich will not be able to enter the kingdom of G-d. It encourages the rich to help the poor so that their charity will be counted as good for them in G-d's sight.
• Personally I think, G-d has gifted us skills he expects us to use during our life on this earth so that we can prosper and give all the glory to G-d.
• As you focus on these skills you will realize that not only are you good at things, but you will strive for perfection and wealth will automatically come.
• Question is what and how do you treat this wealth?
• Do you see what you earned is by your own merit?
• Do you believe you have a right to spend it all on yourself?
• Do you think the needy around you don't deserve your help?
• Tanakh gives us answers to these questions that will be the difference between what Jesus said and what Tanakh talks about.
• I believe, all that you accumulated, is G-d's blessings to you so you can be a blessing to others. This does not mean you should not enjoy what you have, but it means you need to keep the needy in mind and always be willing to help them.
• See if this makes sense. Ikigai is a Japanese teaching that talks about the same principles. G-d gave you all the skills you need to make wealth. You need to figure out what these skills are and use them.
• You will realize you are good at it
• You enjoy every moment of what you do
• You can monetize it.
• The two most important things to do when you prosper are 1. Give all the glory to G-d  2. help the needy.

Below are some verses from Tanakh that talk about G-d's expectations from the rich toward the needy.

Exodus 23:11 but during the seventh year let the land lie unplowed and unused. Then the poor among your people may get food from it, and the wild animals may eat what is left. Do the same with your vineyard and your olive grove.

Leviticus 19:10 Do not go over your vineyard a second time or pick up the grapes that have fallen. Leave them for the poor and the foreigner. I am the Lord your God.

Leviticus 19:15 “‘Do not pervert justice; do not show partiality to the poor or favoritism to the great, but judge your neighbor fairly.

Leviticus 25:39 “‘If any of your fellow Israelites become poor and sell themselves to you, do not make them work as slaves.

Deuteronomy 15:4 However, there need be no poor people among you, for in the land the Lord your God is giving you to possess as your inheritance, he will richly bless you,

Deuteronomy 15:7 If anyone is poor among your fellow Israelites in any of the towns of the land the Lord your God is giving you, do not be hardhearted or tightfisted toward them.

Deuteronomy 15:11 There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your fellow Israelites who are poor and needy in your land.

Deuteronomy 24:14 Do not take advantage of a hired worker who is poor and needy, whether that worker is a fellow Israelite or a foreigner residing in one of your towns.

Deuteronomy 24:15 Pay them their wages each day before sunset, because they are poor and are counting on it. Otherwise they may cry to the Lord against you, and you will be guilty of sin.

Job 20:10 His children must make amends to the poor; his own hands must give back his wealth.

Psalm 15:5 who lends money to the poor without interest; who does not accept a bribe against the innocent. Whoever does these things will never be shaken.

Proverbs 14:31 Whoever oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors God.

Proverbs 19:17 Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will reward them for what they have done.

Proverbs 21:13 Whoever shuts their ears to the cry of the poor will also cry out and not be answered.

Proverbs 22:9 The generous will themselves be blessed, for they share their food with the poor.

Proverbs 22:16 One who oppresses the poor to increase his wealth and one who gives gifts to the rich—both come to poverty.

Proverbs 22:22 Do not exploit the poor because they are poor and do not crush the needy in court,

Proverbs 28:8 Whoever increases wealth by taking interest or profit from the poor amasses it for another, who will be kind to the poor.

Proverbs 28:27 Those who give to the poor will lack nothing, but those who close their eyes to them receive many curses.

And the list goes on and on. But you get the point. 

Read up for yourself what G-d says will happen to people who oppress the poor. You will realize that G-d expects the rich to take care of the poor and in the process be blessed by G-d and enter his kingdom.