The Rich Young Ruler
Notes from a Bible Study led by John VC

References: Matthew 19:16-24, Mark 10:17-23, Luke 18:18-25

Love for Riches > Love for God?

This account is narrated in almost the same way in these 3 Gospels

Answering the following will help you understand the portion better:

• Try to paint a picture of the rich young man in not more than 20 words.
• Which commandment did Jesus specifically refer to?
• Why was it so difficult for the rich young ruler when realization set it.?

Lessons

We see a very polite, respectful and eager young man who leaves Christ and goes away sorrowful. Why? The story makes it clear that he is young, and Luke tells us he is a ruler; possibly a magistrate or a Justice of the Peace.

In the parallel account in Mark, we are told that the young man came running up to Christ and knelt before him, indicating a sense of urgency and respect. He then shows submissiveness and a willingness to be taught when he addresses Jesus as Good Teacher.

The young ruler tells Christ that he has kept all the commandments since he was a child. What else should he do? Jesus does not contradict him. In Mark’s account, it says He looked at him and loved him. Possibly, this man was adept at keeping the letter of the law, but he was coming up short in abiding by the spirit of the law. Perhaps Jesus saw that he was absolutely sincere in his efforts to abide by those commandments. He says:

I’m keeping the commandments and have done well in that regard all my life. Show me where I’m coming up short.

Jesus sees he is sincere in his pursuit and it says he loved him. He loved him enough to tell him what he needed to hear, pointing to the one thing hindering him. The ruler said to Jesus what he thought he kept, Jesus told him what he did not. He probably thought he kept it all and would be commended, that there would be nothing to hinder him. However, Jesus puts his finger on just one thing—“Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me.

God specifically refers one of the ten commandments:

You shall have no other gods before me.

If the young man did this, he would show his love for God. It would be greater than his love for his possessions. This would please God. Yet, the young ruler was unwilling to do this. His treasure was here on earth. To him the cost of eternal life was way too high. His worldly riches exerted a stronger tug on his heart than Christ did; the young man walks away sad.

Looking at the world we live in today; surrounded by our worldly pleasures and comforts, it’s upto each one of us to look for things in our life that hinder our relationship with God.

(Photo by talkephotography)