The rich, young man

(Audio: English)

SUMMARY: In this passage, a rich young man asks Jesus what he must do to gain eternal life. Jesus tells him to obey the commandments, and the man claims to have kept them all since he was young. Jesus then tells him to sell his possessions and give to the poor, and the man leaves sad because he has great wealth. Jesus tells his disciples that it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven, but with God, all things are possible. He also promises that those who have left everything to follow him will be rewarded in the renewal of all things. The passage highlights the importance of recognizing Jesus as God and not just a good teacher, and the danger of seeking only to fulfill the minimum requirements rather than truly surrendering everything to follow Christ.

The passage talks about Jesus challenging a rich man to sell everything and give it to the poor in order to follow him. Jesus explains that it is difficult for the rich to enter the Kingdom of heaven because where your treasure is, there your heart is also. Jesus loves us too much to let us worship false idols and challenges us to give up the things we treasure too much. He invites us to take a risk and trust that he is telling the truth about heaven and the blessings that come with following him. The Christian life is all about trust and letting go of the things we hold on to tightly.

The speaker invites the audience to stand and dedicate themselves to the Lord. They ask for the ability to be radical followers of Jesus and to not pick and choose which commandments to follow. They acknowledge God's trustworthiness and beauty and commit to following Him as their shepherd.

“.....Teacher, what good things must I do to get eternal life?’ Why you ask me about what is good? Jesus replied. There’s only one who is good. If you want to enter life obey the commandments’. Which ones?, the man inquired. Jesus replied ‘Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honor your father and mother, and love your neighbor as yourself’. ‘All these things are kept’, the young man said. ‘What so do I lack?’. Jesus answered ‘if you want to be perfect though, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have a treasure in heaven. Then come follow me.’

When the young man heard this he went away sad because he had great wealth. Then Jesus said to his disciples, ‘I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. 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’.