Skip to main content

205. The Rich Young Ruler and Jesus

Matthew 19:16-30, Mark 10:17-30, Luke 18:18-30
Key Verse: Jesus looked at him and loved him.
Mark 10:21A

How you understand this encounter Jesus had with this young man may be determined in part by your own culture and economic position in life. If you see yourself as lacking economically, or oppressed in some way, you may wish to cheer, once again, because the rich man is getting justice. If you are better off, you may find yourself thinking something like, “Oh, I hope the Lord doesn’t ask me to give up everything…” or you may wish to ignore Jesus’ words altogether here and continue believing that you’re doing pretty well as a Christian. Surely, God wouldn’t turn you away. You can see that understanding this encounter truly is a matter of perspective.

Again, we are faced with variations of the story depending on which gospel account we choose to focus on. The different versions are similar enough that we can glean wisdom from it without being too distracted in the details.

We have here a rich young man, possibly a junior Pharisee, approaching Jesus. Since Jesus is not harsh with this young man, as he has been with some who would try to test Jesus to get Him to trip up in some way, we have no reason to doubt his sincerity. He may have discerned that, somehow, in Jesus’ way of thinking, following the law wasn’t enough to gain eternal life and he was hoping to understand Jesus’ deeper insight. Or perhaps more likely, since from his own testimony, this young man would have probably been what his society would have called a “good boy,” he may have been hoping to receive further affirmation and additional assurance from from Jesus that his quest for eternity was secure.

Jesus first tests him based on his own standards, the fifth through tenth commandments, which are often referred to as the horizontal law. These are the commandments that focus on how we treat our fellow man. The young man brightens because he has followed all of these commandments well and could probably get others to testify to the same about him.

Then, Jesus turns to the first two commandments that focus on how we relate to God. “You shall have no other gods before Me. You shall not make for yourself any idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below.” (Deut. 5:7-8) The young man would be most familiar with these commands as a part of the Shema, a Jewish prayer said daily in the home. “Hear O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is One. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.” (Deut. 6:4-5)

By challenging the young man to go sell his possessions and give to the poor, Jesus struck at the heart of the matter and revealed the true condition of the young man’s heart. By man’s standards this man was “good,” but by God’s standards, this man had made idols of what he owned and wasn’t even truly as concerned for the plight of his fellow man as first appeared.

The man made his choice, based on his true heart, and walked away. The disciples who stayed, received the affirmation from Jesus that the young man had been seeking. Notice, however, that Jesus was not cheering when the young man left. Jesus was grieving that this man was choosing earthly possessions over Himself. Jesus had come to save that man and to offer him eternal life. Jesus would die soon for that man, but that man’s possessions blocked his view of seeing how much he was truly loved and wanted by his creator.

What of our clutter, in possessions or activities, blocks our view of Jesus? What would be the hardest thing for Jesus to ask you to give up for Him? Could you? Should you?

Hymn: “Give of Your Best to the Master” 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

October 27 Save the Glaze for the Bunny

Like a coating of glaze over earthenware are fervent lips of an evil heart. A malicious man disguises himself with his lips. But in his heart, he harbors deceit. Though his speech is charming, do not believe him, for seven abominations fill his heart. His malice may be concealed by deception, but his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly. If a man digs a pit, he will fall into it. If a man rolls a stone, it will roll back on him. ~Proverbs 26:23-28 For there are many rebellious people, mere talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision group. They must be silenced, because they are ruining whole households by teaching things they ought not teach—and that for the sake of dishonest gain. Even one of their own prophets has said, “Cretans are always liars, evil brutes, lazy gluttons.” This testimony is true. Therefore, rebuke them sharply, so that they will be sound in the faith and will pay no attention to Jewish myths or to the commands of those who reject the truth. T...
Post a Comment
Read more

July 16 Thick Skinned Love

Whoever covers over an offence promotes love, but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends. ~Proverbs 17:9 If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. ~Matthew 18:15  The end of all things is near. Therefore, be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray. Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. ~1 Peter 4:7-8  Being offended seems to be the battle cry of the day. Instead of freedom of speech, everyone has the right not to be offended. If one is offended, then one has the right to exact vengeance on the offender because, of course, the offender KNEW that he or she was being offensive and just didn’t care. Is that how you see much of society behaving today?  There seems to be all of this offending and finger pointing that just keeps growing and growing. Nothing is being resolved, just more blame that grows louder a...
Post a Comment
Read more

January 24 You’ll See, He Remembers

The wise inherit honor, but fools He holds up to shame. ~Proverbs 3:35 “Tell the righteous it will be well with them, for they will enjoy the fruit of their deeds.” ~Isaiah 3:10 “God is not unjust; He will not forget your work and the love you have shown Him as you have helped His people and continue to help them. We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, in order to make your hope sure. We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.” ~Hebrews 6:10-12 “The sins of some men are obvious, reaching the place of judgment ahead of them. The sins of others trail behind them. In the same way, good deeds are obvious, and even those that are not cannot be hidden.” ~1 Timothy 5:24-25 “But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.” ~Matthew 12:36-3...
Post a Comment
Read more