What we often overlook with the story of the rich young ruler
- Robert Hendrickson
- Jul 13, 2019
- 3 min read
Today I’d like to talk about the rich young man found in the gospels, and what we often overlook with this story… and eternal life.
In Mark chapter 10:17-27 along with Matthew 19 and Luke 18, we read about this rich young man and the kingdom of God.
Now most people and many pastors I think kinda fly through this story and come to its conclusion, which is basically Christ saying, "it's easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than it is for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God", or that sermon we’ve all heard before may go something like, the rich young ruler and his treasures and how it's so hard to give up our worldly possessions for the kingdom of God, you know?
While this is true, I think by flying through the story like we often do, there is something that a lot of us overlook; and I want to get into that today... so let’s check it out… starting in verse 17 of Mark 10, and I’m basically paraphrasing here when I read it, so bear with me.
Now as Christ was about to leave and go on his way, a man ran up, knelt down before him, and asked him, “Good teacher, what must I do to INHERIT ETERNAL LIFE?” Yeshua (or Jesus) answered him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone (this is a good study in itself). However, He says, “you know the commandments”: (and he starts listing the commandment as to this guy’s question …now think about that) ‘thou shall not murder; you shall not commit adultery; you shall not steal; you shall not bear false witness; you shall not defraud; honor your father and your mother.’”
It’s at this point I believe he interrupted Christ, “but, but, teacher, all of these I have done from my youth.” And so Christ looking at him, and basically had a love him [probably because of the enthusiasm he saw in the guy in wanting to keep the law]…. But then basically he said to the rich man, you do well then in KEEPING THE LAW IF YOU WANT TO INHERIT ETERNAL LIFE, BUT THERE IS ONE THING ...ONE THING, YOU LACK, go sell everything you own and give it to the poor...in this way you completely fulfill or interpret the law perfectly (as Christ did - Matt. 5:17) - Gal. 5:14; Gal. 6:2; Rom. 15:1.
You see, without compassion, charity, or a love for others as we have for ourselves, which only God can give, our obedience to his law (or good works alone) means nothing - this is important to understand for salvation.
Now listen to what Christ's disciples said after this man walked away sorrowful because the guy was loaded, you know? And they said, "Lord, who can do this to be [truly] save". For they now knew that it took more than just obeying the law to be saved; it took a heart changing experience.
Anyway, Christ answered them saying, "with man, this kind of love is impossible but with God all things are possible"...for man is incapable of showing this kind of love with our own hearts without it first being renewed by the Holy Spirit (Titus 3:5) as new believers in Christ.
You see, Christ not only encouraged the keeping of the law through his teachings [Matt 23:1-3] but above all else, he stressed that you must do it with a love which is not our own, for in this way alone will our righteousness exceed that of the Pharisees [Matt. 5:20] ensuring eternal life - [Matt. 19:16-26; Luke 18:18-27]/
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