In the first century church, that Jesus built, there was no difference in a disciple and a convert. Sadly, this is not so today. Jesus explains in Matthew 19 that they should be one and the same. Not many years after this text, if you claimed to be a follower of Jesus, you were going to be questioned and even hunted for it. There was no such thing as a convert who did follow.
Matthew 19.16-26 says— “And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet? Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me. But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions. Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven. And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved? But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.”
Verse 16 says “And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?” Luke says this man was a “ruler.” That’s why this passage is usually labeled the ‘The rich Young Ruler’. He was a young leader of the Sanhedrin. Being steeped deep in religion and ritualism he was convinced that he need only “do” something to gain eternal life. Which is why he used the phrase “have eternal life.” As a: Rich, Young, Jewish, Ruler— he was all but guaranteed in his religion. As if to say: ‘Just in case, I can add-to what I am already doing to inherit eternal life.’ This is why he referenced Jesus as “Good Master.” This was a common greeting to someone who was respected and who possessed skill with the Word of God. Earlier this young man had heard Jesus open the scripture in the temple. He was simply giving respect.
Another interesting note is found in the parallel in Mark 10.21 which says— “Jesus beholding him loved him”. It was then Jesus told him to sell all that he had. We can gather from that, that Jesus told him the truth because He loved him. But the demands of God for a person to have eternal life isn’t something we do, rather it’s someone we accept. This man was instructed to let go. We have to let go of our own ways, our own abilities, and our own stuff, then accept Jesus as our substitute. We can’t work to get to heaven. This is why Jesus responded to the greeting so strangely in verse 17— “Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God.” He is simply stating the facts: you cant be good enough, and you can’t do anything good enough. Then Jesus told him to— “keep the commandments.” To which the ruler said, “which ones.” The list that Jesus gave wasn’t a list designed to merit heaven, but a closer look at them identifies they are the ones dealing with relationships. The young man replied he did that “from his youth up”, but that’s impossible. No one could ever possibly have never disobeyed those commands. He was self-righteous. It is possible that he did all of the many necessary sacrifices and regulations necessary to be clean from your sin… but that makes this even more self-righteous… He was looking to do even more.
According to Jesus, there was one thing he lacked— “…if thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shall have treasure in heaven, and come and follow me.”(21) Why would he tell him to do that? Jesus knows what affects us better than we do. Jesus knows us better than we know ourselves. He knows what’s around the corner, and He knows our heart. The young man still had to let go. In verse 22 the man went away “sorrowful” because he had great possessions; Luke said “very rich”. Sorrowful means to be ‘grieved’, broken and in pain… but over stuff?!
He wasn’t able to let it go. He couldn’t make the trade. If the only condition is to let go of stuff to get eternal life— why not do it? Simple… he loved his stuff. It starts to make more sense in verse 23 when Jesus said, “that a rich man shall hardly enter”. Rich man here is the same as: “have riches” in Mark. The possessions were a problem. Not that he was rich, but that he possessed them. Riches in their culture is a direct sign of God’s blessings. Wait… do we do that today? I can’t tell you how many times someone has gotten a new thing and other believers immediately say, ‘wow, God is blessing him.’ Here is a reality check— If this was the measure of closeness to God, then the Apostles failed miserably!
For this young man it had become his identity. He wasn’t really ready to lose one identity for another. Makes me think… What identifies you? What do people say as a tag line to your life? He is a follower; She is a disciple of Jesus; He is a good Christian… or something else?
The antithesis is also found in this passage. For a quick double check, in Mark it adds “take up the cross” to the phrase “and come and follow me” in verse 21. There is then an essential need to die to yourself. It’s an exchange. For some strange reason people think that they can “follow” without letting go of themselves and those things they allow to define them. Jesus demands you make the trade. And there we have it! This is where our 21st century christianity kneecaps us. We are convinced by liars (including our own flesh) that we can have both. Jesus says— nope.
Notice the reaction of the Apostles in 25: “exceedingly amazed”, Mark said: “astonished out of measure”. This blew their minds. Using this man as an illustration Jesus explained that not letting go of everything for Jesus, is the same as not fully taking Him at all. You have left an escape door available in case it gets too rough. Simply put: you are more in love with this thing(s) than with Jesus. A lack of complete trust in Him. Do you remember that he referred to Jesus as “Good Master,” a show of respect? Many respect Jesus, but do not love Him with all of their heart. Which is why it’s so hard letting go of all the things.
Really, it isn’t the money, the riches, and possessions themselves, but it can be, and for this man it sadly was. There’s that one thing…isn’t there? One thing that you’re not willing to let go of. That one thing that keeps holding you back. That one thing that you tell God: ‘you can have all of me… except that.’
What is your one thing? And, what are you going to do with it? Maybe you’re thinking, ‘I don’t do drugs’ but you’re selfish. Perhaps, ‘I’m not a drunk’, but you’re prideful. Maybe you think, ‘Well I’m not mean or anything like Jimmy, everyone knows what He does.’, but you’re withholding forgiveness. Maybe even you think, ‘I’m not half as bad as I used to be’, but there is bitterness in your heart.
I don’t know what your one thing is, but I know you have one. Jesus revealed to him 2000 years ago, and now to us: you will eventually walk away broken and in pain, if you don’t let that thing go. You have to pick a side. You have to choose who you will follow. Jesus is not going to accept half-way. That’s not commitment. Did He commit to you? Did He cast all aside and willingly give Himself? You can either live your best life now, or you can trade it in and live your best life then (Heaven)— but you can’t have both.
Three chapters earlier Jesus said: “For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Matthew 16.26). What are you exchanging for your soul? There is that one thing isn’t there. Will you wait until you get to heaven before you realize it wasn’t worth it? Let God take the lead and recklessly abandon your life for the one to come. What a great exchange, being the disciple of Jesus and gaining heavenly rewards. The only thing you had to give up was the one thing holding you back in the first place.
How sad though, most will have to admit today that they truly do love their possessions, or schedule, or house, or position more than God. I don’t want that said of me and I have to do an inventory myself. How about you? Take some time now and make an inventory. Don’t justify your life, but inspect it. It’s uncomfortable but honoring to God. Make it public, tell your family and abandon whatever is holding you back.
You can trust Him, He’s got this.