…a man came…saying, “Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?”…When the young man heard this, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.
Matthew 19:16-26
A real life parable is presented, by Matthew, to us here. A young, wealthy man came to Jesus calling Him, “Good teacher” and asking Jesus what “good deed” must he do to gain eternal life. It is plain the young man does not know Jesus is the Son of the Living God for Jesus says to him, “…There is only One who is good” because he called Jesus “good teacher.” When Jesus tells the young man to “keep the commandments” to enter eternal life, it is apparent that the young man thinks that the way to eternal life is obedience to the moral law of God and Jesus knows this. This young, rich man displays his arrogance in his response to Jesus’ telling him to obey all that God has commanded, “All these I have kept.” So, Jesus tells the rich, young man that “to be perfect,” he should sell his earthly possessions to give to the poor, thereby having treasures in Heaven and, follow Him. At this, the rich, young man left Jesus sorrowful that he must give up his great wealth to follow Jesus. Jesus turns to His Disciples and says, “…only with difficulty will a rich person enter the Kingdom of Heaven.” At this, Jesus’ Disciples are “greatly astonished” and, they question “who then can be saved?” Jesus replies, “…with God, all things are possible.” Christians, Jesus, here, is NOT saying that rich people will not be saved. Scripture gives us many examples of rich, godly saints- Abraham, Job, Joseph, Joseph of Arimathea, and many others. Jesus’ teaching is that wealth, in this world, offers a false security that can keep one from the eternal salvation found only in Christ. God blesses His chosen ones in this life and the next. Jesus told the rich, young man to “transfer” his earthly wealth to “treasures in Heaven” which will never be stolen, devalued by inflation or, unfairly taxed out of existence. Though many of God’s children may not be blessed financially in this life, Scripture gives Christians what, when followed, will result in life well lived to the glory and praise of our all sufficient God. Christians must not be fooled by the world’s ways “to have it all now.”
Source: S C Ball March 10, 2023
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