Scripture: And behold, a man came up to him, saying, “Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?” And he said to him, “Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. If you would enter life, keep the commandments.” He said to him, “Which ones?” And Jesus said, “You shall not murder, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother, and, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” The young man said to him, “All these I have kept. What do I still lack?” Jesus said to him, “If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” When the young man heard this he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.
Matthew 19:16-22 ESV
[Click here to read the entire chapter.]
Observation: Recapping yesterday’s Daily Focus (click here to read), having addressed marriage relationships, Jesus turned his attention to children—spurred by the disciples rebuking the parents in the crowd for letting their children distract Jesus from more vital ministry needs. So Jesus graciously cautioned his disciples not to hinder children from seeking him, for they belong to the kingdom of heaven. And to emphasize his point, Jesus welcomed and tenderly laid his hands on this gathering of children.
In today’s reading, all three synoptic Gospels record the story we will review. While Matthew tells us that a young man approached Jesus, Luke notes he is a certain ruler (Luke 18:18-23, click here to read), and Mark merely mentions he is a man (Mark 10:17-22, click here to read). Although all three describe him as rich. As the story develops, the young man addresses Jesus with a title of respect, “Teacher,” following rabbinic protocol. He then queries about what “good deed” he must do to attain eternal life. Before Jesus answers the presenting question, he clarifies that striving for good misses the mark. He then answers the question: Obey the commandments.
The young man’s next question (“Which ones?”) reveals his heart: he seeks affirmation for his good deeds. Jesus initially plays along and cites the six commandments regarding our relationship with humankind (where he reframes the prohibition of coveting our neighbor’s possessions with loving them as ourselves). The young man proudly responds that he has kept all these commandments and asks what he still lacks. But Jesus sees through his self-justification and tells him to go all in: If you seek perfection, sell all you have, give it to the poor, and follow me. Exposed, the rich young man walks away dejected.
Takeaway: Theologian Michael Wilkins surmises that the young man’s wealth and scrupulous observance of the law likely point to him being a Pharisee, noting that the religious leaders in Jesus’ day were among the retainer class (NIV Application Commentary: Matthew, p. 647). Similarly, during the feudal period of England’s development, the lords of these massive estates would retain a Church of England priest to serve as an on-site chaplain. And many were rewarded with an affluent lifestyle.
So, our rich young religious ruler who had everything going for him (good-hearted, educated, wealthy, and high standing in society) lacked one critical thing above his godly behavior required to attain eternal life: faith and trust in the Teacher, who is the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6). And as we will explore in tomorrow’s Daily Focus, his wealth is a stumbling block—not insurmountable for all, but often a hindrance.
Our takeaway? Whether or not God has blessed us with material wealth, we must avoid the snare of self-justification. In many subtle ways, we seek validation of our worth outside the Cross of Christ. Whether investing or self-promoting our intellect, outward appearance, possessions, or even our good deeds, these temporal and worldly gains (that are not bad in themselves) can fuel us to prioritize them.
Our Part? Hold them loosely in our hearts to make more room for Christ. Learn to be content with the ebb and flow of wealth, health, the aging process, and our status in society. And pursue a “richer” relationship with Jesus where we mature our understanding of his love and grace for us and grow in our gratitude and affection for him.
Prayer: Father God, we thank you for your Son, who sold everything he had, particularly his life, to obey your will and bring us eternal life. We confess, however, that we struggle to resist placing our identity and worth in worldly and temporal pursuits. So, please help us to avoid the snare of self-justification and wholeheartedly embrace our identity in and affection for your Son. Amen.
Rev. Gordon Green, M.Div., M.A. Counseling
Leave a Reply