Tuesday 11 November 2025
When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astounded and said, “Then who can be saved?” But Jesus looked at them and said, “For mortals it is impossible, but for God all things are possible.” (vs 25-26)
Background
Matthew 19:23-26 is a passage that resonates with the heart of Christian worship, inviting us to reconsider our understanding of devotion, dependence and the transformative power of God. Jesus’ words to his disciples, following his encounter with the rich young man, are as startling as they are profound: “Truly I tell you, it will be hard for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven… 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.” The disciples’ response is astonishment and the question, “Then who can be saved?” — reflects our own anxieties and uncertainties about worthiness, salvation and the nature of worship itself.
At its core, worship is an act of surrender. It is the acknowledgement of our limitations, our dependence on grace, and our desire to be drawn into the presence of God. The passage challenges us to examine what we bring to worship – our possessions, our achievements, our status – and invites us to discover that, in the end, these are not the keys to God’s kingdom. When Jesus says, “For mortals it is impossible, but for God all things are possible,” (v. 26) he redefines worship as the posture of empty-handed trust. True worship is not about what we can offer to God, but about opening ourselves to receive what only God can give.
In worship, we are confronted with the reality of our own insufficiency. The rich young man’s sorrow is mirrored in our own struggles to let go, to relinquish control and to trust that God’s grace is enough. The disciples’ amazement at Jesus’ words points to a fundamental truth: the kingdom of heaven cannot be earned or bought; it is a gift that comes through faith and humility. Worship, then, is the space in which we encounter this mystery. It is the moment where we come before God, not with our hands full of accomplishments, but with our hearts open to grace.
The theme of worship in these verses is further illuminated by the imagery of the “camel to go through the eye of a needle”. This hyperbole forces us to confront the absurdity of relying on our own resources to attain salvation. In worship, we are called to recognise that God’s ways are not our ways, and that what seems impossible for us is made possible by divine intervention. This recognition leads to awe, reverence, and a deep sense of gratitude – a posture that is at the very heart of worship.
Moreover, worship is not only a private act but a communal experience. The disciples’ question, “Then who can be saved?” (v. 25) is not posed in isolation but within the context of their shared journey. Worship gathers us together in our vulnerability, reminding us that we are united by our need for God’s mercy. It is in this collective longing that we find comfort and hope, trusting that God’s promise is for all who come with open hearts.
The hymn “Rock of Ages” echoes these themes, capturing the essence of worship as reliance on God alone: “Nothing in my hand I bring, simply to thy cross I cling.” In worship, we hide ourselves in God, seeking refuge from our fears and failures, and trusting in the saving power of Christ. The passage from Matthew assures us that salvation is not a human achievement but a divine gift, and worship is the continual act of receiving, trusting, and responding to that gift with praise and thanksgiving.
As we reflect on Matthew 19:23-26, we are invited to approach worship not as a performance or transaction, but as an encounter with the God who makes the impossible possible. May our worship be marked by humility, openness and a deep trust in the grace that alone can save us, drawing us ever closer to the heart of God.
To Ponder:
- We are invited to approach worship not as a performance or transaction, but as an encounter with God. Can you recall an occasion when, in worship, you felt really close to God? Can you pinpoint how that encounter happened?
- Some people say that they can worship God as well on their own as in church. Is this the case for you? How important to you is gathering with other Christians in worship?
Bible notes author: The Revd Dr Adrian Burdon
The Revd Dr Adrian Burdon is Superintendent Minister of the Telford Circuit in the West Midlands District. Adrian has been a presbyter since 1988 and, in addition to Shropshire, has worked in the Oldham Circuit, on the Fylde Coast, in Leeds city centre, the Northeast of England, and as a mission partner in the South Pacific. Adrian is Chair of the Churches Together in Britain and Ireland writing group which writes material for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity.