Rich Young Ruler
17 As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. “Good teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 18 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. 19 You know the commandments: ‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, you shall not defraud, honor your father and mother.”
20 “Teacher,” he declared, “all these I have kept since I was a boy.”
21 Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” 22 At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth.
23 Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!” 24 The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said again, “Children, how hard it is[e] to enter the kingdom of God! 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 this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.”
28 Then Peter spoke up, “We have left everything to follow you!” 29 “Truly I tell you,” Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel 30 will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age: homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields—along with persecutions—and in the age to come eternal life. 31 But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”
2nd February 2025: Horsham
Part 1
I’m going to deal with this familiar passage in two parts. This post will focus on the interaction between Jesus and this young man recorded in verses 17-22. (You can read my notes on the second part of this reading here). Mark refers simply to ‘a man’ (verse 17). In parallel versions, Matthew and Luke agree that he was very rich. Matthew tells us that the man was young (Matthew 19: 16-22), and Luke describes him as a ‘ruler’ (Luke 18:18-30). These titles come together to give us the familiar ‘rich young ruler’.
The Story: No rabbi would allow himself to be called ‘good’ (v17). That is an adjective reserved for God. Jesus questions rather than rejects the description when this descriptor is applied to him. His question (v18) is more in the form of a test. Is this young man using exaggerated flattery or is he recognising Christ as God? The test goes on. ‘You know the commandments.’ (v19)
‘Let us learn from this passage, the self-ignorance of man.’ (Ryle, p150) In this young man we meet someone who sees himself as sinless before God. He knows what the Law says. He has, since his youth, met the requirements of the Law (v20). Jewish understanding was that doing so would earn him a place in heaven.
To his credit, he senses that something is lacking. His initial question shows that he thinks there is something more he needs to do to inherit eternal life, and he wants Jesus to explain what it is.
Jesus looks at him. He looks straight into his heart and he loves him (v21).
‘Jesus loved him for his honesty and sincerity. Here is a young man who has tried being good and found that it did not lead him anywhere.’ (Pawson, p187)
Yet Jesus sees that there is something missing. ‘“One thing you lack,” he said.’ (v21) What is the one thing he lacks? It looks as if the thing he lacks is poverty. After all, Jesus goes on to tell him to sell everything.
‘What was the one thing this young man did not have? It was not anything to do with his money. Jesus said that the one thing he lacked was – Jesus.’ (Pawson, p187)
The problem with the money is that it is too important to this young man. It is too much part of his life. He wants to follow Jesus but he wants to hold on to his wealth. The thing that he has to do is deal with that.
“Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” (v21)
His wealth is like a barrier between him and Jesus. The barrier needs to go. For this young man that was a problem. A big problem. It was a bridge too far.
At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth. (v22)
End Piece: In my mind I see this young man turning away dejectedly, Jesus watching him go until he is lost in the crowd. Jesus didn’t reject the rich young ruler. He rejected Jesus. Having fallen at the feet of Christ, he was unwilling to abandon that part of his life which held him back from stepping out on the path offered to him by Jesus.
There’s a risk here. We can look, you and I, at this young man and think ‘I’m not like him. I’m not rich. I don’t have his problems.’ The point is that we are at risk of self-ignorance. Following Jesus means different things for different people, but it never means carry on doing everything exactly as you have been. We invariably have to sacrifice something to follow, and the attitude of sacrifice is ongoing. Our ongoing sinful nature means that there is always something creeping into that space between us and Christ, like a trip hazard ready to make us stumble in our walk with Him.
Whether it is an issue with our lifestyle, relationships, career, self righteousness, finances, ambitions or fears, dealing with it is not always easy. Yet as we, like this young man, must fall at his feet and seek to follow him, we are reminded that all things are possible with God.
Trust in me, says Jesus. Be ready to get rid of the thing which is holding you back, says Jesus, then ‘Then come, follow me.’
‘Let us beware of this state of mind. [..] Let us pray for self knowledge. Let us ask for the Holy Spirit to convince us of sin, to show us our own hearts, to show us God’s holiness, and to show us our need of Christ.’ (Ryle, p150}