What Do You Treasure? Receiving, Riches, and Rewards in the Kingdom of Heaven

The three interactions of Matthew 19:13-30 are surprisingly connected to each other and to recent interactions in Matthew's Gospel. It begins with Jesus' rebuke and then teaching of receiving children (see Mt 18:1-5), followed with Jesus' challenge to the rich young ruler concerning heart righteousness with respect to the Law (see Mt 19:1-12), and ends with Jesus' exhortation to the disciples over riches and rewards in the Kingdom of Heaven. The connection is Jesus again teaching on who is received into the Kingdom of Heaven and how riches and rewards are related to the Kingdom. And the single overriding theme is seen in the question, "What do you treasure?"

Matthew 19:13-30 – What Do You Treasure?
Receiving, Riches, and Rewards and the Kingdom of Heaven
I. Receiving Children into the Kingdom (vv13-15)
---A. Jesus Treasures Children
---B. Jesus Teaches (again) who is Received into the Kingdom
II. Rejecting Seekers of the Kingdom (vv16-26)
---A. Jesus Evangelizes the Rich Young Ruler (vv16-22)
------1. God? 2. Sin? 3. Repent/Believe!
---B. Jesus Explains to the Disciples (vv23-26)
III. Rewarding Followers of the King (vv27-30)