"The Rich Young Ruler" Rev Dr Robert G Leroe, Cliftondale Congregational Church, Saugus, Massachusetts
A respectable, clean-cut young man comes to Jesus, interested in religion. Mark calls him a ruler, and many Bible scholars think he was a leader in the synagogue, sort of like a deacon or a member of the Board of Trustees! He comes running to Christ, enthusiastic to receive spiritual instruction. Here is an upstanding member of the religious community wanting to know the way of salvation. How many people run up to you asking how to get to heaven?
The Gospel is certainly offered to the vilest of the vile, but not exclusively; it is also for “the religious.” Some people, like this young man, have “churchianity” but lack authentic faith.
Looking at our Lord’s response, it’s surprising to see how Jesus treats this guy. He rebukes him, talks about the Ten Commandments, demands personal sacrifice, then lets him walk away. You’d think Jesus would have asked, “Will you accept Me as your personal Savior?” After hearing Jesus’ response we’re tempted to ask, “Hey—-why are You being so rough with this guy? Give him a break! Don’t let him get away!” Could this possibly be a model for witnessing?
Jesus brings up the Law of Moses because no one can understand their sinful condition if they misunderstand God’s righteous expectations. The Law reveals our inability to please God and leads us to seek His grace. Without knowledge of God’s Law, the cross may draw sympathy but not saving faith from sinners. This young man failed to see the requirements of the Law; he didn’t see himself as a lawbreaker.
Jesus responds negatively to the greeting—it’s almost like He’s trying to give this guy a hard time. However, the words “good teacher” were mere flattery. It was common then—as it is today—to try to butter-up (i.e. manipulate) a teacher.
The young man believed what he was supposed to believe; he was orthodox in his faith; he wasn’t a skeptic. He even asked, “What good thing must I do to inherit eternal life?” He wasn’t like the Sadducees who denied life after death. But we see from his greeting that he thought of Jesus as only a human teacher, which is not enough. Jesus is not being petty. He was not merely a rabbi—He was God the Son. Jesus asked His disciples a question of supreme importance: “Who do you say that I am?” -and Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Our position on Who Jesus is, (His Person) is crucial if we are to gain eternal life.
This young man had 2 deep problems that Jesus brings to light—
The first was that he was unaware of his spiritual condition. You can sense that, in spite of his pious question, he already regarded himself as a likely candidate for heaven. Outwardly he was moral and upright. He says so in vs. 20! He figured he could do whatever God required and felt he was good enough to get into heaven.
Mark says in vs 21 that Jesus “loved” him enough to confront him with his condition, with his 2nd and most troubling dilemma:
“There is one thing you lack,” Jesus tells him. “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions, everything you have, and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow Me.”
Jesus looked through this young man’s facade and into his heart and saw idolatry. First, this man thinks he’s good enough on his own. After encountering Jesus he sees that he’s actually an idolater. There was something between him and God—-his love of wealth. Money isn’t the problem; it’s not even the root of all evil; the love of money is. Jesus doesn’t propose some new commandment; He simply translated the 10th Commandment into a practical test of the young man’s priorities. There’s no indication here or elsewhere that Jesus requires this behavior of any of His followers. What He does require is the thing this fellow lacked-—full surrender to God.
Jesus then tells him, “Follow Me.” Some people think they will sneak into heaven as secret believers. Jesus expects open profession of faith.
This young man had outer piety without true, inner devotion. He kept the letter of the Law, but the Law hadn’t reached his heart. With some outwardly moral people, the motive of their virtue is to earn the respect of society—-a pragmatic, self-aggrandizing incentive rather than a true spiritual motivation.
The test of loyalty to Christ is different for different people. If we were on the road with Jesus perhaps He would have given us different counsel, a different test. This devout, religious man was shocked to learn that he was in actuality an idolater. There exists many forms of idolatry still today—and I’m not referring to pagan lands. We can make idols out of our jobs, cars, clothes, sports, hobbies-—you name it.
Jesus reinforces His counsel with one of the more colorful expressions in the New Testament. He claims (vs. 25) that it would be “easier for a camel to enter the eye of a needle than for the rich to enter the kingdom of God.” There is no historical or archeological evidence of a so-called legendary gate in Jerusalem called the “eye of the needle”. The legend was that one could squeeze one’s camel through this narrow gate by removing all excess baggage. This is not only unhistorical—it’s bad theology. We do not work for our salvation; it is a gift of grace. Jesus is not asking the ruler--or us--to try to earn heaven; He simply wants us to believe and repent—Jesus is looking for our willingness to make Him Lord of our lives.
Luke the physician, in his Gospel account, clarifies what Jesus intends by this “eye of the needle” by using the Greek word for a surgical needle. And so our Lord’s disciples realized that repentance isn’t merely difficult; it’s impossible…apart from God’s enabling grace.
Would Jesus have expected this wealthy seeker to follow through? We don’t know. Jesus encouraged him to walk in a new direction…but instead, his “face fell” and he walked away. The point is, he wasn’t willing to sacrifice his wealth. We may never be called on to literally sell our possessions, but God does require that we acknowledge that our wealth is not our own. Everything we have belongs to God. As followers of Christ, we should be willing to sacrifice what we are for what we could become.
Our Lord’s counsel is ironic, because in Bible days people figured it was easier for the rich to get to heaven. Prosperity was seen as proof of God’s favor. How ironic that material blessings should lead a person to hell. Along with wealth comes prestige, and this young man likely didn’t want to lose his social position—that would be too painful. Pride is the essence of sin, and many would rather be a Ted Turner than a Mother Theresa. So the young man departs, sad but unchanged, and appears no more in history.
Christianity has been infected with a false teaching that belief is all that God requires. Yet throughout the New Testament Jesus calls on people to repent, to be willing to turn from their sins. “Easy believism” calls for decisions, but overlooks the doctrine of the Lordship of Christ. Faith is more than fire insurance. Paul writes to Titus, “They profess to know God but by their deeds they deny Him.” (1:16). Genuine Christianity is shown by the change Christ produces in one’s life. How are our lives distinguishable, different from non-believers? How has our faith affected our lives?
We are called to a life of obedience, in which faith is verified by conduct. True spirituality consists of positive inward reality and positive outward results. In John’s first epistle we’re told, “The man who says, ‘I know God’, but does not do what God commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him.” In John’s Gospel Jesus states, “If you love Me, you will keep my commandments.” Love and belief and obedience all go together in the Bible.
The good news is that when Jesus urges us with these words, “Follow Me”, He enables us to respond. Humanly no one can become His disciple. Human effort alone will not produce the Christian life. And so the disciples ask with some concern (vs. 26), “Who then can be saved?” The answer: “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.” Though the Bible calls non-Christians the “enemies” of God, He can make us His friends. Though spiritually dead in our sins, Jesus can raise us from death to life. Along with His invitation, Jesus offers the power to respond to His call. We can turn away, or we can surrender to Christ.
Prayer: Almighty God, enable us to understand the elements of authentic Christianity—love, faith and repentance. Help us to count the cost of discipleship. Then empower us to receive Christ as Savior and Lord. If any here are far from You, help them to truly open their hearts to Christ, and by the indwelling Holy Spirit cause them to demonstrate their faith as they follow You. Grant us a faith that produces a life of obedience, to Your glory--Holy Father, Risen Son, Blessed Spirit—Amen.
(A major influence for this message was Walter Chantry’s book Today’s Gospel, Banner of Truth Trust)
