He was young, wealthy, and
powerful, but spiritually impoverished.
Aware of a deficiency he made his way to Jesus. His question?
“Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may obtain eternal life?”
(Matthew 19:16). He desired “eternal
life”—his youth, possessions, and power still left him hungering for something
more.
His question was
problematic. The man was on the wrong
course. No doings of man, no matter how
impressive, can ever measure up to God’s holy standard. God alone is good (Luke 18:19; Romans
3:12). The best of man’s religious
efforts fall short (Romans 3:23).
Jesus worked to reveal the man’s
shortcomings by issuing a challenge.
“Keep the commandments,” He said (Matthew 19:17). “Which ones?” asked the man. Jesus recited for him the second half of the
Decalogue—the social division of the Ten Commandments—and added the Leviticus
19:18 requirement to “love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 19:18-19).
The young man responded by
claiming that he had kept all these. Did
he really think so? He must have. But he was mistaken. Jesus knew the truth and responded: “If you
wish to be complete, go and sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you
will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me” (Matthew 19:21). “Do you really love your neighbor as
yourself?” Are you willing to sacrifice
all that you have for their sake?
Salvation by good works will demand this and more. Jesus was not suggesting that salvation can
be earned, he was revealing to the man the hopelessness of his condition. The young man had much property—he was
unwilling to give that up. The demands
of salvation by works were too great.
Man has neither the will or ability to do all that is required by the
Law.
He did not do what Jesus
demanded, but instead went away “grieving” (Matthew 19:22). The course he had chosen came to a bad
end. It would have been better if he had
come to Jesus in humility and in faith (in the one alone who is good)--as a
child would have come (Cf. Matthew 19:13-15; 18:3-4; Mark 10:15). But he came attesting to his good works, and
they were inadequate. It was a sad end
of to the story, at least as far as the rich young ruler was concerned. But Jesus used the occasion to teach His
disciples some important things. He said
to His disciples, “Truly I say to you, it is hard for a rich man to enter the
kingdom of heaven. Again I say to you,
it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man
to enter the kingdom of God” (Matthew 19:23-24).
The Jews of Jesus’ day perceived
riches to be indicative of a man’s piety and God’s blessing upon him. So the disciples were no doubt surprised by
what they heard. The reality is that the
rich and poor alike must come to God as spiritual paupers. But it is harder for the rich to do that,
inasmuch as wealth deceives as to sense of need (Cf. Proverbs 30:7-9; 1 Timothy
6:17).
It is easier for a camel to go
through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of
God! How hard is it for a camel to go
through the eye of a needle? I’ve seen
camels. They are really large and have
big humps. The eye of a needle is
incredibly small. To get a camel through
the eye of a needle is not just hard, it’s impossible.
Thank God that what is impossible
with man is possible with God (Matthew 19:26).
The Spirit is able to make us aware of our need and true condition
before Him (i.e. spiritual bankruptcy; John 16:8; Matthew 5:3). It is only then that we realize that there is
nothing that we can do—“not the labor of my hands can fulfill the law’s
demands.” Helpless and contrite we are
directed to the one who became poor, that we might become rich (2 Corinthians
8:9). True and lasting riches—bound up
in Him alone-- are then bestowed on those who sincerely trust in Him (1 Timothy
6:17-19). Thank God that He is able to
do the impossible. Salvation is a
miracle of God’s grace for rich and poor alike—but especially for the rich. “By His doing you are in Christ Jesus” (1
Corinthians 1:30).
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