Discussion:
Part 1: Jesus and the Children (Verses 13–15)
1. The disciples tried to rebuff the parents bringing their children to Jesus. In what ways do we modern believers accidentally "hinder" people we deem less important from getting to Jesus?
2. Jesus says the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to "such as these." What specific qualities of a child is Jesus highlighting as essential for entering the Kingdom?
Part 2: The Rich Young Man (Verses 16–22)
3. Jesus lists several of the Ten Commandments, and the man claims to have kept them all. Was he being self-righteous, or was he missing the "spirit" of the law? How does Jesus’ final command to "sell your possessions" expose the man’s heart regarding the very first commandment (having no other gods)?
4.The man went away sad because he had great wealth. Why is it often harder to walk away from "much" than it is to walk away from "little"?
Part 3: The Danger of Riches (Verses 23–26)
5. Jesus uses the famous "camel through the eye of a needle" analogy.
If this task is humanly impossible, why were the disciples so "greatly astonished" (v. 25)? What does their reaction tell us about the cultural assumption that wealth was a sign of God’s favor?
6. Jesus says, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." How does this statement shift the focus from human effort (the young man’s "what must I do?") to divine grace?
Part 4: The Reward of Sacrifice (Verses 27–30)
7. Peter points out that the disciples did leave everything. Is his question ("What then will there be for us?") coming from greed? How does Jesus’ reply respond to them?
8. Jesus promises that those who leave homes or family for His sake will receive a "hundredfold" and inherit eternal life. How have you seen this promise of "new family" or "spiritual provision" manifest in the life of the Church today?
9. Verse 30 says, "But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first." Based on the entire chapter, who are the "first" and who are the "last" in this context? How does this challenge our personal definitions of success?
