The young rich ruler - Mr. Samuel Herald Christian

‘Now a man came up to Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?” “Why do you ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, obey the commandments.” “Which ones?” the man inquired. Jesus replied, “‘Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honor your father and mother,’ and ‘love your neighbor as yourself.'” “All these I have kept,” the young man said. “What do I still lack?” Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth’ (Mt.19:16-22).

Matthew gives a few details about this individual in v 20 he tells us that the man is “young” neaniskos in Greek (a term that could encompass ages from twenty to forty) and in v 22 that he is rich. Luke calls him a “ruler” archon in Greek (probably a synagogue official as referred in 18:18) Matthew adds the expression “good things” to clarify that the man was asking about what kind of deeds could earn him eternal life.

Here, there is no indication that this man is trying to trap Jesus. His question may well be genuine, revealing his own sense of some personal inadequacy. What the rich man calls “eternal life”, however, Jesus calls the “Kingdom” in V 23 and the disciples call as being “saved” in v 25. Rarely do these three terms appear together in the same context in scripture. In the light of the synonyms present in this passage, eternal life must have both temporal and qualitative aspects to it.

Jesus apparently is probing the young man to see why he is not satisfied with the obvious Jewish answer to his question, namely that a person must do good things that the only good God, Yahweh has already commanded. The young man is not satisfied. Perhaps he knows the rabbinic debates about the weightier matters of the law or about how to sum up the law in a commandment or two.

Perhaps he is looking for a loophole to avoid obeying certain less desirable commands. Which ones can serve a person? Jesus focuses on the second table of the Decalogue in Exodus 20: 1-17; presenting the fifth through ninth commandments. All these command focus on external and observable believer that others can evaluate. The young man insists that he has obeyed these laws, but still he senses a lack in his life. Surprisingly, Jesus does not challenge the man’s claim.

Jesus does not have to convict this young man of over confidence because he already has admitted a sense of adequacy, apparently in some entirely different and yet undisclosed area of his life. Jesus now puts his finger on this area and he gives two commandments and promises two results for obedience to those commands. The young man must sell his possessions and give them to the poor, and then he must follow Jesus in discipleship (v 21). In other sense, the commands form an invitation literally to “go on the road” with Jesus’ roaming troupe making a clear break from his former life-style.

Almsgiving and discipleship will make the man “perfect” (teleios in Greek), completely whole or mature as in (Mt.5:48), and he will receive the promise of eternal life, which is described here as “treasure in heaven.” Almsgiving was cardinal virtue in Judaism, but this extreme sacrifice was never commanded. The two commands to sell all and follow Jesus must be kept together. Giving up all that one possesses, without the love that only a relationship with Jesus can produce, profits nothing (1Cor.13:3). The man’s response confirms that Jesus has uncovered the facet of this man’s life that has been haunting him v 22.

How great the impediment is can be seen from the Young man’s sorrowful departure. What he minded was giving up all that wealth means privilege, status and economic power. He was not ready to surrender his comfortable and secure world for the unknown, frightening world into which Jesus was calling him. He was identified by his wealth; he did not want to find a new identity.

True Christian’s stewardship will examine mortgages, credit, giving insurance, investments and whole host of areas of life not often brought under Christ Lordship. Jesus commands Christians to use all their possessions not just some fixed percentage of them for the kingdom priorities. If money stands in the way of a person committing his or her life to Christ, Jesus will make the identical demands on that individual as he did on this young man. If the obstacle is something else, the demands will vary. But many want to follow him with all their possessions. The transformation and repentance should lead us to combat the life negating realities of pleasures and greed of accumulating money, and come back to lead a new life of simplicity, peace and happiness in Jesus Christ. Amen.