The Rich Young Ruler

---

Part Two

The Rich Young Ruler

16Now

a man came up to Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?”

17“Why do you ask me about what is good?”

Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, obey the commandments.”

18“Which ones?” the man inquired.

Jesus replied, “‘Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, 19honor your father and mother,‘ and ‘love your neighbor as yourself.’” 20“All these I have kept,” the young man said.

“What do I still lack?”

21Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect,

go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” 22When the young man heard this, he went

away sad, because he had great wealth.

23Then Jesus said to his disciples, “I tell you

the truth, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24“Again I tell 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.”

25When the disciples heard this, they were greatly

astonished and asked, “Who then can be saved?” 26Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is

impossible, but with God all things are possible.” ~Matthew 19:16-26

The Rich Young Ruler’s Flawed Thinking He thought that his possessions and position, along with his religious piety and acts of philanthropy, would buy earthly satisfaction and eternal security.

“Jesus looked at him and loved him.” ~Mark 10:21

Why does Jesus state the obvious? Jesus is revealing his compassion for a man enslaved by the deceptiveness of depending on everything plus God for happiness. Jesus loved him too much to allow this flawed thinking to go unchallenged.

Eye of the Needle: Various Explanations 1. Archaeologically : The “eye of the needle” refers to a gate in ancient Jerusalem. 2. A Textual Error: Kamelos (“camel”) should really be kamilos (“cable” or “rope”). 3. A Play on Words: Kamelos is similar to the Aramaic, kalma, which meant “vermin” or “louse”.

The Preferred Interpretation • Jesus was using hyperbole. • This was understood as exaggeration for effect. • The camel, in contrast with the small size of a needle’s eye, shows the utter impossibility of any effort to squeeze the former through the latter.

•

Wealth itself isn’t the problem. It’s our attitude toward it!

•

Security and satisfaction will come not through money—nor skills, talents, intellect, good looks, relationships—or even by living a good life!

•

A camel cannot go through the eye of a needle, and one who loves the world more than God forfeits the abundance of God.

“Don't love the world or anything that belongs to the world. If you love the world, you can’t love the Father. Our foolish pride comes from this world, and so do our selfish desires and our desire to have everything we see. None of this comes from the Father. The world and the desires it causes are disappearing. But if we obey God, we will live forever.” ~I John 2:15-17 (CEV)

We gain neither earthly satisfaction nor eternal security by trusting in worldly means; “to enter life” comes from trusting God alone.

• Faith: Forsaking All I Trust Him • Jesus’ concern isn’t wealth, but trust; not what we possess, but what possesses us.

A Flawed Belief System The rich young ruler had a misguided belief about what would provide him security and what would bring him satisfaction.

•

The Flaw: A track record of good works will result in a sense of Divine favor and earthly happiness.

•

The Truth: Security and satisfaction are not humanly gained, they are Divinely gifted. Human effort is measurable, but never produces the immeasurable security and satisfaction of true life.

A F.A.I.T.H. - Based Belief System Jesus’ antidote for my emptiness is to surrender what I am depending on and trust that God will provide everything I need for satisfaction and security.

•

Matthew 19:21: “sell your possessions and give to the poor...Then come, follow me."

•

How do you enter life—eternal life someday and abundant life today?

Forsaking All I Trust Him