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28Jesus said to them, When the time of the new world comes, the Son of Man will sit on his great and glorious throne. His holiness cannot tolerate even a hint of sin. From his knees, the sincere young man asked the most important, intelligent question anyone could ask. Having money wasn't a sin in itself. Did he give up everything to simply trust God and put God first? Every resource on our site was made possible through the financial support of people like you. 22 But when the young man heard this, he went away sad, for he had many possessions. The subsequent words of Jesus (Mark 10:23-25) elaborate the significance of the encounter, as Jesus stresses the difficulty faced by the wealthy in entering the kingdom. The story of the rich young ruler exposes a raw nerve in us that causes a reaction. The man loved and trusted his money. He asked Jesus what he must do to inherit eternal life. At the end, the young rich ruler knew that he was walking away from God because his first love was his possessions. Then who in the world can be saved? they asked. In fact, Mark 10:31 pulls the whole account together with a forceful emphasis on statusMany who are first will be last, and the last will be first. Up until this point, the account could reflect either a love for things in and of themselves, or for the status that those things provide. The promise of such divine help is spelled out in Mark 10:27,For mortals it is impossible, but not for God; for God all things are possible. This keeps the passage (and hopefully us, as readers) from descending into a simple cynicism towardthe rich. How that decision benefited them! Introduction: Our Heavenly Fathers Plan, Chapter 13: Jesus and His Heavenly Fathers House, Chapter 21: Jesus Commands the Winds and the Waves, Chapter 22: The Man with the Evil Spirits, Chapter 24: Jairuss Daughter Is Raised from the Dead, Chapter 25: A Woman Touches Jesuss Clothes, Chapter 27: Doing His Fathers Work on Earth, Chapter 33: Appearing in Glory: The Transfiguration, Chapter 38: The Pharisee and the Publican, Chapter 43: Jesus Brings Lazarus Back to Life, Chapter 50: Other Teachings at the Last Supper, Chapter 51: Jesus Suffers in the Garden of Gethsemane, Chapter 60: Peter Brings Tabitha Back to Life, Chapter 42: The Rich Young Man, New Testament Stories (2005), 1056, Chapter 42, New Testament Stories, 1056. Jesus wasnt merely telling this man to give up his money, Jesus was telling this man that money was blocking his way to God. Letting anything get between us and following . While Jesus was there, He taught about divorce and marriage on one occasion. Ill say it againit is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God!, Humanly speaking, it is impossible. 29And everyone who has given up houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or property, for my sake, will receive a hundred times as much in return and will inherit eternal life. Jesus responds, Sell your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me (Matt. There is no desire more noble, or more pleasing to God than the desire for perfection; and as our Lord looked at the young man, He loved him for this yearning of his soul." (Parable of the lost sheep) each person has great value in the sight of God what the man told his neighbors (Parable of the lost sheep) "Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost." everyone (Parable of the lost sheep) whom God welcomes the younger son (Parable of the prodigal son) asked for his share of his father's possessions You must not steal. Jesus, looking at him, loved him (Mark 10:21). It is, however, an inconvenient teaching and so tends to be glossed over entirely. Just as one drop of spit ruined the entire Coke, so one sin breaks the perfect relationship that God had with people. The Jewishness of Jesus continues when he explains what a person must do in order to have eternal life, namely keep the commandments. 2014 by the Theology of Work Project, Inc. Continuing, then, in the next verse in Matthew 19, in verse 20, we read, The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet? The mans response to Jesus shows that even he himself, although he navely believed he had kept the commandments from his youth up, knew that he was not yet saved. When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved? (Matthew 19:23-25). Produced by TOW Project, 10 Key Points About Work in the Bible That Every Christian Should Know, Beyond Rank and Power: What Philemon Tells Us About Leadership, Learning From the Psalms How to Pray Through Your Work, Kingdom and Discipleship (Mark 1-4, 6, 8), The Beginning of the Gospel (Mark 1:1-13), The Calling of the First Disciples (Mark 1:16-20), Discipleship in Process (Mark 4:35-41; 6:45-52; 8:14-21), Rhythms of Work, Rest, and Worship (Mark 1-4, 6, 13), The First Days of the Movement (Mark 1:21-45), Parables at Work (Mark 4:26-29 and 13:32-37), The Rich Young Man and Attitudes to Wealth and Status (Mark 10:17-31), Our Work Fulfills the Great Commandment (Mark 12:28-34), The Cross and Resurrection (Mark 14:32-16:8), Conclusions: Drawing Together Some Threads (Mark), Theology of Work Commentary Volume 4: Matthew through Acts, Theology of Work Bible Commentary - One Volume Edition, Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License. With your gift of any size, youll enable us to continue equipping Christians with high-quality biblically-based content. He is called a "ruler." What else must I do?, 21Jesus told him, If you want to be perfect, go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. The question is based on Jesus statement at the end of Matthew 19:17, where Jesus says, If thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. Without an understanding of the context, this can certainly sound as if Jesus is saying that the man could have been saved by keeping the commandments. Because we sin (even one time), we are no longer pure like God is pure. What did Jesus ask this young man to do?3. Yet we might wonder, with the value of giving so recognized, why not give away much more than half? The dialog between Jesus and the rich, young ruler is found in Matthew 19:16-22, Mark 10:17-22, and Luke 18:18-23, with the subject continuing to be discussed in the verses that follow. A Parable", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Jesus_and_the_rich_young_man&oldid=1119152966, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 31 October 2022, at 00:33. Thus, Jesus statement about how hard it is for rich people to be saved astounded them. Loving money is a sin. In contrast with the young ruler, the apostle Peter and other disciples made a good choice. There is only One who is good. It was time for the _________ Feast in Jerusalem. Academics, politicians, pastors, artists, and many others may gain great status through their work without necessarily making a lot of money. - Matthew 19:22. Half a billion dollars still exceeds by far any amount needed for a very comfortable life. Even if we manage to use wealth in a godly manner, it may prove much harder to escape the trap of slavery to status. The rich young man said he had always obeyed those commandments. What is wrong with the reading of the Ten Commandments each Sunday in church or with Christians wanting them posted in public places? Although the man may not have known it, this is trueJesus is God. He believed that he had observed the entire law since his youth (Matt 19:20), and everyone else believed it also (cf. "He went away sad, because he had great wealth" (verse 22). Why did Jesus have to experience so much suffering? Moreover, they would inherit everlasting life. We are sinners, and we need a Savior. The account of the Rich Young Ruler is found in Matthew 19:16-22; Mark 10:17-22; and Luke 18:18-23. In each case he is found asking Jesus how to receive eternal life. Why did Jesus give this particular man that particular answer?4. Imagine Jesus saying to any of us, "You lack one thing.". (Hold up a can of Coke.) Matthew 19:16-22. Unless otherwise noted, the Scripture quotations contained herein are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, Copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A., and are used by permission. He saw that this rich young ruler was trusting in his riches - that was his #1 priority. This showed he was well trained in the protocols of religious hierarchy. He needed to sell everything he had and give the money to the poor. Say: Suppose you are about to drink a nice, cold Coke. Copyright 2006 by Bible League International, Easy-to-Read Version (ERV). If we do this, we learn that we can trust God for the things we really need in life, and we dont need to hold on to our possessions and positions for security. I often feel like the man in this scene - I want to follow Jesus, I try to keep the commandments, but it seems like . Jesus brought all of the following disciples with him to the Transfiguration except for: Andrew. Produced by TOW Project, 10 Key Points About Work in the Bible That Every Christian Should Know, Beyond Rank and Power: What Philemon Tells Us About Leadership, Learning From the Psalms How to Pray Through Your Work, The Kingdom of Heaven Has Come Near (Matthew), Working as Citizens of God's Kingdom (Matthew 1-4), The Kingdom of Heaven at Work in Us (Matthew 5-7), "Blessed Are the Poor in Spirit, for Theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven" (Matthew 5:3), "Blessed Are Those Who Mourn, for They Will be Comforted" (Matthew 5:4), "Blessed Are the Meek, for They Will Inherit the Earth" (Matthew 5:5), "Blessed Are Those Who Hunger and Thirst for Righteousness" (Matthew 5:6), "Blessed Are the Merciful, for They Will Receive Mercy" (Matthew 5:7), "Blessed Are the Pure in Heart, for They Will See God" (Matthew 5:8), "Blessed Are the Peacemakers, for They Will Be Called Children of God" (Matt 5:9), "Blessed Are Those Who Are Persecuted for Righteousness' Sake" (Matt 5:10), Salt and Light in the World of Work (Matthew 5:13-16), Give Us This Day Our Daily Bread (Matthew 6:11), Store Your Treasure in Heaven, Not on Earth (Matthew 6:19-34), Do Not Judge, So That You May Not Be Judged (Matthew 7:1-5), Do to Others as You Would Have Them Do to You: The Golden Rule (Matthew 7:12), Paying Taxes (Matthew 17:24-27 and 22:15-22), Living in the New Kingdom (Matthew 18-25), The Laborers in the Vineyard (Matthew 20:1-16), Parable of the Two Sons (Matthew 21:28-32), Parable of the Tenants (Matthew 21:33-41), The Great Commandment is a Great Framework (Matthew 22:34-40), Parable of the Faithful Servant (Matthew 24:45-51), The Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14-30), Jesus' Death and Resurrection (Matthew 27-28), Theology of Work Commentary Volume 4: Matthew through Acts, Theology of Work Bible Commentary - One Volume Edition, Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License. You must not commit adultery. The Savior told him to love and honor his father and mother and not to kill anyone or lie or steal. In Matthew 19:16-17a, we read, And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? Because he wanted eternal life and to be in God's Kingdom, he asked Jesus what he must do to obtain them. And this is the lesson that Jesus goes on to teach in the verses that follow. These dont even parallel the seven rules in the Noachide Code (universal laws that are supposed to apply to everyone, Jew and non-Jew). Jesus had all this status and even more. Jesus told him, Keep the commandments: dont kill, dont steal, dont lie, and honor your parents.. get to know the Bible better! The question quoted earlier was asked of Jesus in the parable of the rich young ruler found in three of the four gospels. You must not murder. Does regard for status keep us from devoting more of our time, talent, and treasure to the things we recognize as truly important? The rich young man may miss entering the kingdom of God as much because of his slavery to status as because of his slavery to wealthper se. For example, if he got sick, he could pay the best doctors. And I know it isn't supposed to be easy to be a disciple - "take up your cross" - but this seems like Jesus didn't want this man to follow Him. What we do know about the rich young ruler. Who is this rich man? Based on a work atwww.theologyofwork.org. The solution is not to try harder to be good, but to accept Gods love; that is, to follow Christ. Hold up the cup of Coke. It reads: The other of the rich men said to him "Master, what good thing shall I do and live?" Specifically, the rich man asks Jesus if there is a good deed he must do in order to be right with God and enter the kingdom of heaven. All rights reserved. That would mean, you've done everything necessary in order to possess great riches in heaven, except one thing. Rather than a sign of Gods blessing, material wealth is treated as a sign that someone isnt heeding Gods will. But, Jesus wasn't done. Learn Religions, Aug. 27, 2020, learnreligions.com/jesus-on-how-the-rich-get-to-heaven-248724. If, therefore, the young man would achieve perfection he must experience a complete change of heart and life. The young man's problem was in letting his money get between himself and following Jesus. Jesus had just said that no man is good. He thought he was guaranteed heaven based on his good deeds. Wealth is sometimes a result of workours or someone elsesbut work itself can also be an emotional obstacle to following Jesus. It is broader in that one is expected to follow Jesus, a task that can have a variety of meanings but which most Christians can at least plausibly argue that they try to do. Then come, follow me.. Those who love money or stuff are constantly worried that they will lose it! He was enslaved to his stuff, and this kept him from having a loving relationship with God. What does the Bible have to say about work? When the young man heard this, he went away sad. In English translations of the Bible, the words trust, belief, and faith are all translations of the same Greek word, pistis. Many commentators pass this off as a mere glance of affection, but the evidence is against them. In contemporary society, there is no apparent difficulty in following Jesus while still retaining all sorts of worldly goods. Two reasons. Now in Mark 10:17 we are told Jesus had started out on a journey. But they are secondary to seeking first the kingdom of God (Matt. Jesus, wanting to drive home His lesson, continues with things for the man to do: Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me (Matthew 19:21). How did the young man respond to Jesus' demand?5. He saith unto him, Which? Jesus reply affirms the heavenly reward that awaits all those who make such sacrifices. He could not be saved by buying his way in, or by flattering the Good Teacher, or by following the Ten Commandments. 25 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." 26 The disciples were even more amazed, and said to each other, "Who then can be saved?" 27 Jesus looked at them and said, "With man . 16A man came to Jesus and asked, Teacher, what good thing must I do to have eternal life?, 17Jesus answered, Why do you ask me about what is good? The non-canonical Gospel of the Nazarenes is mostly identical to the Gospel of Matthew, but one of the differences is an elaboration of this account. It is as if Jesus were saying, Okay, you think you have kept the law from your youth, so Ill add a few more things for you to try to obtain perfection on your own. "[13], "Gospel of the Nazaraeans: Variant/Addition to Mt 19:14-24 (Wikisource)", "Veritatis Splendor, Official English Text", "A Contrast of Character | Zacchaeus and the Rich Young Ruler", "XLVII. Whoever loves money never has money enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income. When Christ replied that he would have to get rid of all he had, his high ideals came crashing down. whatever the hindrance of the individual was concerning being able to enter the Kingdom of God. 6:33) and a right (righteous) relationship with God and with others. This rich young man simply asked Jesus how he could attain eternal life. He's clean-cut, he's a good young man, he's a Southern boyhe kneels before Jesus. During this joyous season, we reflect on Jesus, the greatest gift God ever gave. Is there anything or anyone that you love more than God? Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. The man believed that no matter what problem came his way, he had enough money to help him through. Mark reinforces the characterizations of Matthew and Luke, adding the detail that the young rich man "knelt down" in front of Jesus (Mark 10:17). Unless otherwise noted, the Scripture quotations contained herein are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, Copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A., and are used by permission. They have already been unburdened by wealth as a result of following him. Did he sell everything and feel great relief because he no longer had to worry about how much money he had? Matthew 19:25). [10], Separately, dispensational theologians distinguish between the Gospel of the Kingdom and the Gospel of Grace that is taught in dispensational churches today to avoid conflict with the doctrine which states that salvation is "by grace through faith" articulated in Ephesians 2:89. If so, ask God to change your heart! What does the Bible have to say about work? This is exactly as impossible as it is for a rich man (or, frankly, any man trusting in anything other than Jesus) to be saved. The proper status of Jesus followers is that of a child or slave no status at all. Answer (1 of 53): Jesus had a pattern of getting to the heart of the issue. He answered him, "Why do you ask me about the good? For less than $5/mo. Jesus told them that they would receive many times more than what they left behind. No, not at all. Thats the way it is with our lives. While he was still in a state of ignorance over the fact that salvation is entirely by grace, he did realize that, although he had thought that he had kept the commandments from his youth, he was still not saved. What does it mean to take up your cross and follow Jesus. He gave an illustration of something that is normally impossible. This is the way most people are. (Teacher Note: Knowing this is the case, why do we ever long for more money?). Jesus points the young man to the law, and specifically to the Ten Commandments. Ask: At this point, do you think this man was saw his NEED for God? 16Someone came to Jesus with this question: Teacher,[a] what good deed must I do to have eternal life?, 17Why ask me about what is good? Jesus replied. Second, Jesus is God. I will be yours. NLT The One Year Bible for Women (Softcover), NLT Premium Value Thinline Bible, Filament Enabled Edition-- soft leather-look, brown, Contemporary Comparative Side-by-Side Bible: NIV/NKJV/NLT/The Message, Bonded leather, burgundy, My First Hands-on Bible--soft leather-look, bold blue, NLT Super Giant Print Bible, Filament Enabled Edition (Red Letter, LeatherLike, Peony Rich Teal). God was not #1 in his life, and He should be! Why did Jesus tell Him to obey the commandments in response? (This story is discussed in greater depth in the entries for Mark 10:17-31 and Luke 18:18-30 at www.theologyofwork.org.). He said to him "Go, sell all that thou hast and divide it to the poor, and come, follow me." In other words, faith comes from God. Jesus and the young rich man. This leads Peter to defend the disciples attitudes and history of self-denial. So Jesus tells him to do somethingkeep the commandments. Jesus on How the Rich Get to Heaven (Mark 10:17-25). "You lack one thing; go, sell whatever you have, give to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven.". See, he was super wealthy and had all the money and stuff he wanted. They asked, Then who can be saved?, 26Jesus looked at them and said, This is something that people cannot do. The account of the rich young ruler is found in Matthew 19:16-22, Mark 10:17-22, and Luke 18:18-23. This scene with Jesus and a rich young man is probably the most famous biblical passage that tends to be ignored by modern Christians. The deliberately absurd image simply emphasizes the impossibility of the rich being saved without divine help. Another time, Jesus was passing through the city of Jericho when he came upon another rich man . The answer is more difficult in that a person must sell all they have first something few, if any, modern Christians can plausibly claim that they do. If we have privileged positionsas the rich man didmanaging our careers may become more important than serving others, doing good work, or even making time for family, civic, and spiritual life. Jesus purpose is not to shame or browbeat the young man, but to love him. So, the rich man was trusting in his ability to do something to save himself. Jesus statement is similar to Pauls in Galatians 3:12: And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them. This might sound as if it is possible to keep the law and be justified. So he left. 23 then said jesus unto his disciples, verily i say unto you, that a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven. They asked who can live with God. When the young man heard this he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. [11], The young rulers decision was not wise. Even if as he says none are good by God, then isnt he God and therefore also good? 24Ill say it againit is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God!. 5:7 For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die. Is it possible that the status of remaining a billionaire (or at least a half-billionaire) is an impediment to devoting an entire fortune to the purposes that are so clearly important to a donor? A distinctive element in Matthew's narrative is that the young man then asks Jesus, "What do I still lack?" He shows great insight in asking this question. Isaiah 64:6a says: All of us have become like someone who is unclean. All of the good things we do are like polluted rags to (God). Despite my inadequacy I can take comfort in the thought that God has forgiven me my sins and can have fellowship with Christ in faith." People often misunderstand the point of what Jesus said here. But Jesus states that the one thing he lacks is treasure in heaven, obtained by sacrificing his earthly wealth and following the vagrant from Galilee. 22But when the young man heard this, he went away sad, for he had many possessions. They have left everything to follow Jesus. Subscribe to the CompellingTruth.org Newsletter: Why did Jesus ask the rich young ruler about obeying the commandments? Do No King but Jesus, and Honor the king Contradict? He lacked faith in Jesus. The Coke is no longer pure. Subscribe to our mailing list to receive our newsletter. NOW the rich man heard a commandment that he couldnt keep. We are not told what happened to that young man. (Of course, DO NOT let the child take it!) They asked who can live with God. All of his stuff was blocking the way to his relationship with God. They have the wrong idea that the good things they do can outweigh the bad things they do. The rich young man said he had always obeyed the commandments. "Jesus on How the Rich Get to Heaven (Mark 10:17-25)." Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Many commentators pass this off as a mere glance of affection, but the evidence is against them. Second, Jesus is God. This parable is further discussed under "Luke 18:18-30"inLuke and Workat www.theologyofwork.org. But many who are the greatest now will be least important then, and those who seem least important now will be the greatest then. At first, it may look like Jesus gave him a very unusual answer, but you will see how Jesus is helping this man understand his NEED for God. Give the money to the poor, and you will have riches in heaven. The one thing that would have made the man truly perfect, because his perfection would have been the imputed righteousness of Jesus, was saving faith. He said to him "Man, perform the law and the prophets." But only Matthew tells us he was young (Matthew 19:20); and Luke alone says he was a ruler (Luke 18:18). So he left. Isnt this telling them to keep at least some of the law? seeing that it is written in the law 'Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself,' and look, many of your brothers, sons of Abraham, are clad with dung, dying for hunger, and your house is full of much goods, and there goes out therefrom nought at all unto them." The disciples did not understand. A. Mark 10:17-24 Mark 10:17-24 tells the tragic story of a wealthy young man who greatly desired to become part of Jesus' following. Passover. The Danger of Riches and the Reward of voluntary Poverty. Rich Young Ruler Ran To Jesus In Mark 10:1 we are told that Jesus has been in the region of Judea on the east side of the Jordan River. The wise men followed the star to Bethlehem with "exceedingly great joy" (Matthew 2:10). So, first, if Jesus is good, then He is God. This edition is a one-volume hardcover version. Its like the person must realize this Coke is completely ruined - I need a new Coke! The King James Version emphasizes this point by repeating it three times; in many other translations, though, the second, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God, is reduced to Children, how hard it is to enter into the kingdom of God.. Try Bible Gateway Plus free today! Interestingly, Do not covet (Exodus 20:17; Deuteronomy 5:21) is presented with a definite commercial twist as Do not defraud. The rich man says that he has kept all of these since my youth (Mark 10:20). Maybe he hadn't heard Jesus' teaching that you will either "hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other [but] You cannot serve God and money" (Matt . Son of Man is a title Jesus used for himself. How would you feel if someone asked you to give it all away? This man nor anyone else can be good enough to qualify for heaven. BEST VALUE in digital Bible study. But few people admit that they are HELPLESS sinners. Sometimes people wonder what Jesus meant by a camel going through the eye of a needle. Love for money causes all kinds of evil. Recently a group of billionaires received much publicity for pledging to give away at least half of their wealth. Copyright 2012 Peter Ditzel. You must not steal. Is our treasure in our work, our jobs, our performance and skills, our retirement funds? Yes, Jesus encounter with the rich man highlights that it is hard to motivate yourself to change the world if you are already on top of the heap. BEST VALUE in digital Bible study. Teacher, show and read the 10 Commandments. But if you want to have eternal life, obey the laws commands., Jesus answered, You must not murder anyone, you must not commit adultery, you must not steal, you must not tell lies about others, 19you must respect your father and mother,[a] and love your neighbor[b] the same as you love yourself.[c], 20The young man said, I have obeyed all these commands. William Barclay popularized it in his Daily Study Bible Commentary; see William Barclay, The Gospel of Matthew (Westminster John Knox Press, 2001), 253. Children had little status within the community or family. 2:21; Heb. He was very rich. But in the next verse, Paul says, Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law (verse 13a). So he recognizes that keeping the commandments is not the answer, but he still thinks there is something he must do. The man responds that he has kept all of the commandments since he was a boy. Jesus' Entry into Jerusalem (Mark 11:1-11), Scripture Readings for Ash Wednesday Through the First Week of Lent, Scripture Readings for the Fifth Week of Lent, Jesus Heals a Boy With an Unclean Spirit, Epilepsy (Mark 9:14-29). Maybe you felt sad like the rich young ruler or that it would be really hard. Covenant and Law (including New Covenant Theology), Sovereign Grace (the Doctrines of Grace, Calvinism, the TULIP), Biblical Typology (Types and Shadows in the Bible), Issues (religious, political, and societal controversies), You Are My Disciples, If You Have Love for One Another. Jesus, looking around, he said to his disciples:What they will hardly enter the Kingdom of God that which they have riches! Start for FREE. It is perhaps noteworthy that when he repeats his statement in Mark 10:24, he addresses the disciples as children, declaring them unburdened by status. Jesus told him that he needed to sell everything he owned and give all the money to the poor, then follow Jesus. But Jesus said again, "Children, how hard it is[e] to enter the kingdom of God! . Why Not? This last statement, though, places the emphasis firmly upon the issue of status. After Jesus finished preaching to the crowds he began his journey to Jerusalem. Its human nature. This one-of-a-kind Bible resource answers that very question. Jesus answered saying, 'What is impossible with men is possible with God' (Luke 18:24-26). Mark 10:17-22, the story of the rich young ruler, is a bellwether text for measuring just how literally we are willing to take the Bible.On the face of it, the story's prose is so sparse and its implication so disconcerting that we can't help but be tempted to add in a few words here and there to shade the meaning in our preferred direction and thus cushion the cudgel-like blow to our . 44 Walter Grundmann, "agathos . Why? What question did this wealthy, young man ask Jesus?2. The man's choice undoubtedly saddened Jesus as well, because Jesus loved him ( Mark 10:21 ). [2] Their generosity is astounding, and in no way do we wish to criticize any of the pledgers. [7] The account starts with a question to Jesus about eternal life, and Jesus then refers to entry into the Kingdom of God in the same context. He knew how much the young man loved being rich. It is not something we can keep. (Hosea 7:8-10), Biblical Character Qualities And Life Skills, 7. This rich young ruler lacked the love of God in his heart. Honor your father and mother. Or so it appears. Permissions Statement. Its curious, though, that Jesus doesnt actually list the Ten Commandments here. And many who are last now will be first in the future. First, Jesus advises the man to obey the commandments. And Jesus replied, " You shall not kill; The guy had it all. The dialog between Jesus and the rich, young ruler is found in Matthew 19:16-22, Mark 10:17-22, and Luke 18:18-23, with the subject continuing to be discussed in the verses that follow. But with God, it is possible. Sometimes, we may be vague about what faith is, but when we understand that it is the same thing as belief and trust, then we have a better idea. And its impossible for us too! I tell you the truth, it is very hard for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. If you like reading the Theology of Work Bible Commentary free online, you might enjoy it in print! As Jesus watched the rich young man walk sadly away, He didn't say, "How difficult it is for those who are wealthy to experience deeper sanctification by making optional . All rights reserved worldwide. Application: When the love of money (or the love of stuff) grabs onto your heart, you find yourself walking away from Jesus. What commandment does Jesus enunciate to the rich young man, and which ones are missing? Before we leave this episode, one crucial aspect remains. Ask for a volunteer who would like a nice, cold Coke. Learn Religions. Start for FREE. But Jesus said that with God all things are possible. Theology of Work Project Online Materials byTheology of Work Project, Inc.is licensed under aCreative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License. A minor child was on a par with a slave and only after reaching maturity was he/she a free person who could inherit the family estate. But his question reveals he senses he's missing something. But put Gods kingdom first. Cline, Austin. Matthew, Mark, and Luke all tell the story of this man who came to Jesus with an important question (Matthew 19:16-30; Mark 10:17-31; Luke 18-30). And everyone who has given up houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or property, for my sake, will receive a hundred times as much in return and will inherit eternal life. Used under license from Veer. The issue of money, earlier discussed in Matthew 6, raises its head again with the story of the rich young man who was drawn to Jesus. The rich young man did not want to give away everything he had. This seems like a very Jewish sentiment which conflicts with the Christology of the other gospels in which Jesus is portrayed as a sinless lamb, God incarnate. Second, what Jesus said means that no one else is good. Was Jesus suggesting that commandment keeping would save the man? God does satisfy us. Luke adds that Jesus said the man lacked one thing: Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me (Luke 18:22). 10 Later, in the house, his followers asked Jesus again about the question of divorce. - 1 Timothy 6:10. Soon after, Jesus declares this in explicit workplace terms. The Cross And Boasting (Galatians 6:12-15), 6. 21 Jesus answered, "If you want to be perfect, then go and sell all that you own. This young ruler may have sincerely wanted to be better than most and Jesus baited him to draw him out but Jesus made it clear that "good" is an absolute quality and is not possible for humans. In Mark 10:17-31 Jesus is approached by a man only identified as a rich young ruler. He wants to know what he must do to inherit eternal life. No, not quite Jesus answer is both broader and more difficult. If you like reading the Theology of Work Bible Commentary free online, you might enjoy it in print! We have a rich young man who asks 'what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?' He seems very sincere and appears to want to do good and see if he is lacking in any area. He was young, rich, had power, and was probably good looking. The young man told Jesus that he had been keeping all of these rules since he was a child. Simply, He meant exactly what He said. It seems that he loves the comforts and security afforded by his possessions too much. By ascribing that title to Jesus, the young man was indicating that Jesus was, in fact, God, since only God is truly perfectly good. Now, if this man were sharp, he would have seen that if no one is good, then he has asked the wrong question. What links the two passages is probably not the issue of security, orrelying on financial resources rather than on God. You are free to share (to copy, distribute and transmit the work), and remix (to adapt the work) for non-commercial use only, under the condition that you must attribute the work to the Theology of Work Project, Inc., but not in any way that suggests that it endorses you or your use of the work. He asked, "What do I have to do in order to live forever with God in heaven?" At first, it may look like Jesus gave him a very unusual answer, but you will see how Jesus is helping this man understand his NEED for God. They have wounded themselves with many sorrows. Main Point: We must put Gods kingdom first in our lives. The Cross And The Flesh (Gal. But no, he went away sorrowful. Again, the things left by such people (house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields) potentially have connotations of statusand not merely material abundance. On another occasion He blessed some children. - Matthew 6:33a. Jodi has a passion for Biblical ac More, Have You Noticed Your Gray Hair? One day a rich young man came to Jesus and asked Him what he should do to go to heaven. Many people think that they can do something to take care of their sin. Used under license from Veer. And, I believe that Mark says this at this point because the man said something that indicated his election. New Living Translation (NLT), There is only One who is good. God is perfect and holy. 5:19-25). 24 and again i say unto you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of god. The young man left feeling sad. Swahili New Testament Easy to Read Version (ERV), ERV Holy Bible--soft leather-look, russet, case of 24, ERV Holy Bible--soft leather-look, teal, case of 24. Say: One day, a young ( Matthew 19:22 ), rich ruler came to Jesus and asked Him a very important question. Jesus mentioned several of the Ten Commandments by name, including commands against murder, adultery, theft, bearing false witness, honoring father and mother, and then ending with the additional command of loving your neighbor as yourself. Some people want to get rich. Contributors: Grant MacAskill Romans 3:20 says, Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. Performing the deeds of the law (such as keeping the Ten Commandments) will never justify you. Retrieved from https://www.learnreligions.com/jesus-on-how-the-rich-get-to-heaven-248724. Is it any different for workers of more modest means? get to know the Bible better! 19:22). Contributors: Jonathan Pennington and Alice Mathews But Jesus knew better! When the young ruler asks Jesus what he should do to obtain eternal life, Jesus tells him to obey the seventh, sixth, eighth, ninth, and fifth commandments. The law was given to show people their need for a Savior. The young man decided that Jesus was asking too much. Jesus immediately came back with a question that is really the beginning of the lesson Jesus wants to teach in His response to the man. The one thing the ruler lacked was trust in Jesus. So the passage begins with this young man who's obviously distressed about his soul. [1] They possessed none of the properties by which status was judged. While Jesus's instructions to the rich young ruler are often interpreted to be supererogatory for Christians, Dietrich Bonhoeffer argues that this interpretation acquiesces in what he calls "cheap grace", lowering the standard of Christian teaching: The difference between ourselves and the rich young man is that he was not allowed to solace his regrets by saying: "Never mind what Jesus says, I can still hold on to my riches, but in a spirit of inner detachment. His heart should be transformed to love God and man. Jesus answered, You must not murder anyone, you must not commit adultery, you must not steal, you must not tell lies about others. He wanted to know what he needed to do to obtain eternal life: . Why did Jesus tell the rich young ruler he could be saved by obeying the commandments? Knecht goes to say that unfortunately the young man "resisted our Lords gracious invitation, because of his too great attachment to the things of this world. The rich guy was really good at following the rules. Then come, follow me.'" (18:22) Jesus wanted the rich young ruler to love him more than his stuff. People who love money want more and more and more of it. Jesus wanted the man to trust God, not money. (In Lukes account, he is explicitly called a ruler, Luke 18:18.) In his case, the challenge was radical because of his strong attachment to wealth (Matt. He didnt want to do this, because he was very rich. Like most Jews at the time, Jesus disciples were under the mistaken notion that being saved was a matter of doing good works, and since rich people could afford more acts of charity, they were in the best position to be saved. Even if we hold high positions or bear authority, we are to regard the position and authority as belonging to God, not ourselves. [12], Justus Knecht reflects on this passage, writing: "The young man had kept the commandments from his youth up; and yet he did not feel satisfied. How did Jesus respond to Peter's bragging about making a sacrifice?Narrator: Jesus and his disciples were heading to Jerusalem. Jesus knows every persons heart. The rico.A rich young man (Mt 19, 20) And a socially important person (Lk 18, 18) which she believed herself to be religious because she was turning ten Commandments. He loved the things he owned more than he loved God. Why are Jesus genealogies in Matthew and Luke so different. It is phile that is more often translated as affection. Even so, while phile can sometimes refer to love, even the love of God, I know of no Scripture that uses agapa to mean mere affection when used of what God has for a person. A distinctive aspect to Marks rendering of the story is its juxtaposition with the account of the little children being brought to Jesus, and the subsequent statement that the kingdom is to be received like such infants (Mark 10:13-16). Just then a young man ran up up to Jesus and fell down to his knees before him. Jesus was bringing the rich young ruler to see the same point about salvation that he just made in verses 13-14 and verse 17. It deals with eternal life[1][2] and the world to come.[3]. 26Jesus looked at them intently and said, Humanly speaking, it is impossible. Before those of us of modest means and status in the Western world let ourselves off the hook, let us ask whether, by world standards, we also have become complacent because of our (relative) wealth and status. God probably won't ask you to give up all of your things, but he wants us to love him MORE than our stuff. Then you are guilty of breaking all of it. But with God everything is possible., I assure you that when the world is made new. Bible Commentary The young man asks Jesus, "What good deed must I do to have eternal life?" Jesus tells him to keep the commandments, and he responds that he has done that from his youth. What vital thing did this man lack? We can never lose the love of Jesus!!! This morning, as I readied myself for church, one of those out-of-the-blue thoughts came to me. It is, however, an inconvenient teaching and so tends to be glossed over entirely. More insights from your Bible study - Get Started with Logos Bible Software for Free! [7][8] The rich young man was the context in which Pope John Paul II brought out the Christian moral law in chapter 1 of his 1993 encyclical letter Veritatis splendor.[9]. . Because even though I love Coke, I would not ever want to drink another persons spit! Would you want to drink the coke? He asked, What do I have to do in order to live forever with God in heaven?. First of all, the context of the discussion is how this man can have eternal life. Mark 10:22 Image New Testament stories [art] The Savior told His disciples that it is hard for those who love riches to go to heaven. In the only example of anyone refusing to follow Jesus, the young man went away grieved, apparently upset that he couldnt become a follower on easier terms that would allow him to keep all of this great possessions. This doesnt seem to be a problem which afflicts Christians today. From Matthew's account, we learn that he is a young man ( Matthew 19:20 ). The term child/children could also be used as a serious insult (see Matthew 11:16-17).. / They have wandered away from the faith. Jesus was getting him to begin to think, to realize that all of his commandment keeping had not saved him, that he was too weak and carnal to give up his riches and follow Jesus, and that he lacked one thingthe gift of saving faith that would enable him to put his trust in Jesus Christ alone as His Savior. And this was the one thing that made it so hard for this young man to be a true follower of Jesus. This is actually the very first commandment! And, as I said, I believe that God did eventually grant faith to this rich, young ruler. For those who grow in both wealth and status through their work, this is a double caution. In fact, the selling of material wealth and property appears to not only be advisable, but actually critical according to Jesus, there is no chance that a rich person can get into heaven. The parallel passages in Matthew and Luke add that he is not only wealthy but that he is a young man and a ruler. [6], This event relates the term "eternal life" to entry into the Kingdom of God. In short, he knew that keeping the commandments didnt save him, and that is more than most people know. . Adopted by the Theology of Work Project Board July 6, 2011. If you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments.". The law cannot save you, and, if you are honest with yourself, it tells you the very thing you dont want to hearyou are a sinner. Then Jesus told the guy to go sell all his stuff and give his money to the poor. You are free to share (to copy, distribute and transmit the work), and remix (to adapt the work) for non-commercial use only, under the condition that you must attribute the work to the Theology of Work Project, Inc., but not in any way that suggests that it endorses you or your use of the work. But when Jesus told him to sell everything he owned and give the money to the poor, he realized that he had not kept every commandment! https://www.learnreligions.com/jesus-on-how-the-rich-get-to-heaven-248724 (accessed December 7, 2022). Only God is good. Say: As the people heard these rules and then tried to live by them, they soon realized that it was impossible to keep them all. A slave, after all, is simply a worker with no status, not even the status of owning their own ability to work. Jesus And The Rich Young Ruler. He went away from Jesus and indeed this honesty had more promise than any apparent communion with Jesus based on disobedience. Say: When the rich ruler first came to Jesus, the man thought of himself as a pretty good guy. 19Honor your father and mother. The young man asks Jesus, What good deed must I do to have eternal life? Jesus tells him to keep the commandments, and he responds that he has done that from his youth. Jesus looked at him and said, "How hard it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God! Our Lord, seeing this, gave him this counsel: 'If thou wishest to be perfect, become voluntarily poor, and follow Me.' He asks why the man called Him good, because no one is good except God. TheTheology of Work Bible Commentary is an in-depth Bible study tool put together by a group of biblical scholars, pastors, and workplace Christians to help you discover what the whole Bible--from Genesis to Revelation--says about work. We are simply Gods slaves, representing him but not assuming the status that belongs to him alone. This presents an obstacle that the rich man cannot pass. God does not extend His love in the context of eternal life to just anyone; God loves His elect (for more information, download the booklet, Limited Atonement, from this page). If this passage were actually heeded today, it is likely that Christianity and Christians would be very different. Can that status become a form of slavery that keeps us from jeopardizing our position by taking an unpopular stance or moving on to more fruitful work elsewhere? Why did this man lack trust or faith? And he turned and said to Simon his disciple, sitting by him, "Simon, son of John, it is easier for a camel to enter through the eye of a needle than a rich man into the kingdom of the heavens". Jesus analogy of the camel and the eye of the needle (Mark 10:25) probably has nothing to do with a small gate in Jerusalem,[1] but could be a pun on the similarity of the Greek word for a camel (kamelos) and that for a heavy rope (kamilos). The tiny bit of spit ruined the entire cup of good Coke. Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. Jesus listed some of the Ten Commandments. Crucially, they owned nothing. Even more importantly, Jesus knew that money cannot buy things like peace and joy. ( Matthew 19:22) You're supposed to have Jesus in your hand. Rom. Jesus was telling this man to give up everything he had, give it to the poor, and follow Him. Jesus knew that the young man trusted his money more than he trusted God. All three say he was rich. Jesus instructs him to follow the commandments: "You shall not murder, you shall not commit. Now, lets go on. This is simply a myth that has circulated in popular Christian circles. And he wanted to know what to do in order to get this. But God wasnt first in the mans life; all of his stuff was more important to him. Jodi has over 20 years experience teaching children in large and small group settings. Unless otherwise noted the Scriptures taken from: Holy Bible, New International Readers Version, (NIrV). First, Jesus advises the man to obey the commandments. "When Jesus heard this, he said to him, 'You still lack one thing. This is not what the rich guy wanted to hear. But to answer your questionif you want to receive eternal life, keep. The lessons in each chapter are great for small group or individual study. Say: The nice, pure Coke is spoiled. . But God can do anything., 27Peter said to him, We left everything we had and followed you. Special thanks to John R. Cross, The Stranger on the Road to Emmaus, GoodSeed International. Also this young man was self-righte. He wants to be our favorite thing. You must not testify falsely. Try Bible Gateway Plus free today! But at this point, there is something that is particularly interesting. He loved the things he owned more than he loved God. Because Jesus asked him to give up what was most valuable to him. Mark 10:22 emphasizes the affective dimension of the situationWhen he heard this, he was shocked and went away grieving. The young man is emotionally disturbed by Jesus teaching, indicating an openness to its truth, but he is not able to follow through. because they ate His food and were filled. Mark 10:13 simply called him a man, Matthew 19:22 adds that he was young, Luke 18:18 says he was a ruler () who was "extremely rich" ( ; 18:23). The Bible declares the opposite: Rom. God gave the law, the 10 Commandments, to show people that no matter how good they were, they could never measure up to Gods perfect holiness. The passage starts out with a young man addressing Jesus as good, which Jesus then rebukes him for. Because he would not obey, he could not believe. No, not yet. For young kids, you could just explain the situation. So, lets look at the surrounding verses more carefully. It is found only in Marks account: Then Jesus beholding him loved him (Mark 10:21a). The question is based on Jesus statement at the end of Matthew 19:17, where Jesus says, If thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. Without an understanding of the context, this can certainly sound as if Jesus is saying that the man could have been saved by keeping the commandments. It may not have occurred until sometime after Christs resurrection, but I believe there is good reason to think this man was eventually saved. Jesus told the young man that he needed to do one more thing. In Mark's passage before us (10:17-31) there is an encounter between Jesus and a rich man who asks, "What must I do to inherit eternal life?". This edition is a one-volume hardcover version. God should have been #1 in his life. Explore what Matthewsays about the kingdom of God and your work. Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Indeed, 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 heaven."[5]. Even if he isnt God, why would he say that he isnt good? Heinrich Hofmann (1824-1911), "Christ and the Rich Young Man" (photo: Public Domain) The "poor" young, rich man in Matthew 19:16-23. And they will have eternal life. So what will we have?. Then come, follow me.. How painful might it be to put our work-related status at risk even a little bit in order to serve another person, diminish an injustice, maintain your moral integrity, or see yourself in Gods eyes? Jesus looked at him and said, "How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of heaven! In Matthew, a rich young man asks Jesus what actions bring eternal life. It is likely, though, that Jesus rejection of material wealth is closely tied to his rejection of earthly power if a person has to be receptive to powerlessness to follow Jesus, it makes sense that they would have to abandon many of the trappings of power, like wealth and material goods. Love your neighbor as yourself., If you want to be perfect, go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. In Matthew 19:17b-19, we read, But if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. He has asked what he can do to earn eternal life. So, lets look at the surrounding verses more carefully. Say: The young man was called a ruler, but truly he was a slave. But with God everything is possible., 27Then Peter said to him, Weve given up everything to follow you. His emotional attachment to his wealth and status overrules his willingness to heed the words of Jesus. Then the young man should follow Him. He was young, rich, and confident enough to ask Jesus a question. Here is the story: Matthew 19:16-22King James Version (KJV) 16 And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Mas. The mans question leads Jesus to list (Mark 10:18) the six most sociallyoriented commandments in the Decalogue. Our wealth and privilege may make us arrogant or insensitive to the people around us. - Ecclesiastes 5:10a. They "left all things" and followed Jesus. The young man is emotionally disturbed by Jesus' teaching, indicating an openness to its truth, but he is not able to follow through. Ephesians 2:8-9 tells us, For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. Faith is the gift of God. Say: The culture that Jesus lived in believed that they could live forever in heaven with God if they were good enough and kept all of Gods laws. There is only One who is good. Most people agree that they have sinned by doing or thinking wrong things. Jesus and the rich young man (also called Jesus and the rich ruler) is an episode in the life of Jesus recounted in the Gospel of Matthew 19:1630, the Gospel of Mark 10:1731 and the Gospel of Luke 18:1830 in the New Testament. Because its ruined! A man rushes up to Jesus and, kneeling before him, wanted to know what things he should do to obtain eternal life. For the man to have done this, he would have had to have complete trust in Jesus. Then come and follow me!" 22 But when the young man heard Jesus tell him to give away his money, he was sad. This one-of-a-kind Bible resource answers that very question. God knows precisely what is in our hearts and what is needed as we serve him. Applying this to work today requires real sensitivity and honesty with regard to our own instincts and values. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. "Jesus looked at him and loved him." Even though this young man . And the man says that he has kept the commandments but he is still not saved. 29Everyone who has left houses, brothers, sisters, father, mother, children, or farms to follow me will get much more than they left. Super wealthy and had all the money and stuff he wanted to know he... That was his possessions too much of riches and the prophets. ruler lacked trust. People to be glossed over entirely of breaking all of the properties by status... The ruler lacked the love of God many people think that they are what did the rich young man ask jesus seeking... Would be really hard person to enter the kingdom of heaven solution is not the! Very important question if so, ask God to change your heart is very hard for this man. Jesus again about the rich ruler first came to Jesus, looking at and! Compellingtruth.Org Newsletter: why did Jesus ask the rich young man to obey commandments. Money can not tolerate even a hint of sin and more of it,... 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Has money enough ; whoever loves wealth is sometimes a result of following him he trusted God is our. With a definite commercial twist as do not let the child take it! is apparent. Decided that Jesus was passing through the city of Jericho when he explains what a person must.. Modest means does what did the rich young man ask jesus Bible have to experience so much suffering ; if you want to be true! Status at all then you are guilty of breaking all of these rules since was! The hindrance of the rich young man said he had always obeyed the commandments but he still there...

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