The story of the rich young ruler recorded in Matthew 19:16-22 with parallel accounts in Mark 10:17-27 and Luke 18:18-23 is a very sobering one. Many people in the modern Church read it and skim over it, thinking that there is no lesson in it for them. In particular, they think that the commandment to give up all one has for Christ is only a commandment for the rich young ruler.
They love to point out that one does not need to sell everything one has to follow Christ, and make an argument by saying that Jesus did not say people need to literally sell all one has to become homeless or impoverished. However, Jesus makes no such statement. Such a statement simply a legalistic statement which seeks to miminalise Christ's command for self-denial, by the unrighteous use of the law, demonstrating a miminal love of Jesus.
There is no guarantee or promise by God to followers of Christ that they will be rich Biblically meaning that one will live a comfortable life whatsoever. Do not be deceived by the Abrahamic theology rubbish some fools in the modern Church sprout, who love to point out of Abraham was blessed by earthly riches. Do not listen or heed such people, but ignore their contentions and disputes!
The concept of 'blessings' in the New Testament is radically different from the Old Testament concept. Jesus never said that having earthly wealth is a sign of being blessed, that is, to be right with God. By no means! The doctrine that earthly wealth or comfort is a sign or measure of blessings is a doctrine of demons, seeking to seduce people into seeking mammon, instead of God. This is an absolutely fatal doctrine, which can lead people who waver in their faith eventually lose it when suffering comes.
In fact, under the New Covenant, His promises that followers will suffer (John 16:33; Acts 14:22; 2 Timothy 3:12).
Jesus makes it very clear as to what one must do to follow Him. He does not simply suggest, or claim, but proclaims that "whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple" (Luke 14:33).
He said, " If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me" (Matthew 16:24).
Jesus made it absolutely unambiguous that "If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple" (Luke 14:26-27).
There are no exceptions or qualifications to the command, not suggestion, opinion, or encouragement, but command to give up all things, including that which may be honourable to follow Christ. That is the true test as to whether one truly loves Jesus, to give up all one has or could have to follow Jesus Christ.
The frightening thing is that only those who truly love Jesus Christ can understand and accept such a saying. Those who do not truly love Jesus cannot understand let alone accept such a saying. So, if you do not understand what Jesus said when He said that anyone who wants to follow Him my deny himself or herself to follow Him (Matthew 16:24, or to forsake all for Christ (Luke 14:33), you are almost definitely a false convert, and need to seriously reexamine yourself to see if you are even being saved. For Jesus said, "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me" (John 10:27).
Many professing Christians in modern professing Church America and also in Australia where the prosperity harlot 'church' is growing are exactly like the rich young ruler. Yet, of course, they are quick to simply claim that they are not 'rich', as if this meant that they could not be like the rich young ruler.
The recount of the rich young ruler is as follows:
And a certain ruler asked him, saying, Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?
And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? none is good, save one, that is, God.
Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother.
And he said, All these have I kept from my youth up.
Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me.
And when he heard this, he was very sorrowful: for he was very rich.
And when Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful, he said, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!
For it is easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.
And they that heard it said, Who then can be saved?
And he said, The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.
(Luke 18:18-27).
The rich young ruler though he was right with God, and going to Heaven, as he 'kept the law', and did not lie, commit adultery, murder, steal and that he honoured his father and mother. He thought that made him righteous. However, Jesus rebuked him for thinking that he was righteous in observing such moral laws, in which He said that he lacked a true willingness to give up all he had for Jesus Christ. To such such true willingness to give up all one had for the sake of Jesus Christ it itself to not love Christ, and fall short of the righteousness God requires for one to be saved.
Indeed, the righteousness is not found in one's conduct, as even the unsaved can abstain from lying, stealing, committing adultery and to honour their father and mother, but are headed for eternity in Hell. Such righteous conduct are only manifestations of love for Christ. They do not constitute the righteousness in themselves. True righteousness is found only in genuine love of Christ, and manifests in the willingness to give up all one had for Christ.
The rich young ruler was not 'blessed'. He was accursed, as he was not willing to give up everything for Christ, which is itself a manifestation of hatred for Christ. A person either loves Christ or hates Christ (Matthew 12:30; Mark 9:38-41; Luke 9:50). So, loving Jesus with a lukewarm love which is not willing to give up all one has for Christ hates Jesus.
If you are not a Christian, know this. God exists and is the Moral Lawgiver of the Universe. If you have ever lied, stolen anything, looked in lust at any person, fornicated, used God's name in vain, such as by saying 'Oh my G-d', you are guilty before God for your sin. God is good, righteous and just, and so He must punish you. That punishment is eternity in Hell, a place of eternal suffering and torment. But God does not want that for you, for God so loved the world that He gave His Only Begotten Son Jesus Christ, so that whoever shall believe on Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life (John 3:16). God sent Him to die the death you deserve for your sins. You broke God's Law. Jesus paid your fine on your behalf, so that He can dismiss His case against you on the Day of Judgment. It is appointed for a person to once to die, and that this Judgment will come.
So, turn from your sins, and place your faith in Jesus alone. Your so-called 'good works' will not nor cannot make you right with God, because you are condemned by God for your sins. It is like a murderer who seeks to get rid of his guilt for murder by helping the poor. Such does not absolve his guilt. Turn to Christ today while you still have time. Do not delay it for even a millisecond. It is a matter of life and death.
They love to point out that one does not need to sell everything one has to follow Christ, and make an argument by saying that Jesus did not say people need to literally sell all one has to become homeless or impoverished. However, Jesus makes no such statement. Such a statement simply a legalistic statement which seeks to miminalise Christ's command for self-denial, by the unrighteous use of the law, demonstrating a miminal love of Jesus.
There is no guarantee or promise by God to followers of Christ that they will be rich Biblically meaning that one will live a comfortable life whatsoever. Do not be deceived by the Abrahamic theology rubbish some fools in the modern Church sprout, who love to point out of Abraham was blessed by earthly riches. Do not listen or heed such people, but ignore their contentions and disputes!
The concept of 'blessings' in the New Testament is radically different from the Old Testament concept. Jesus never said that having earthly wealth is a sign of being blessed, that is, to be right with God. By no means! The doctrine that earthly wealth or comfort is a sign or measure of blessings is a doctrine of demons, seeking to seduce people into seeking mammon, instead of God. This is an absolutely fatal doctrine, which can lead people who waver in their faith eventually lose it when suffering comes.
In fact, under the New Covenant, His promises that followers will suffer (John 16:33; Acts 14:22; 2 Timothy 3:12).
Jesus makes it very clear as to what one must do to follow Him. He does not simply suggest, or claim, but proclaims that "whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple" (Luke 14:33).
He said, " If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me" (Matthew 16:24).
Jesus made it absolutely unambiguous that "If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple" (Luke 14:26-27).
There are no exceptions or qualifications to the command, not suggestion, opinion, or encouragement, but command to give up all things, including that which may be honourable to follow Christ. That is the true test as to whether one truly loves Jesus, to give up all one has or could have to follow Jesus Christ.
The frightening thing is that only those who truly love Jesus Christ can understand and accept such a saying. Those who do not truly love Jesus cannot understand let alone accept such a saying. So, if you do not understand what Jesus said when He said that anyone who wants to follow Him my deny himself or herself to follow Him (Matthew 16:24, or to forsake all for Christ (Luke 14:33), you are almost definitely a false convert, and need to seriously reexamine yourself to see if you are even being saved. For Jesus said, "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me" (John 10:27).
Many professing Christians in modern professing Church America and also in Australia where the prosperity harlot 'church' is growing are exactly like the rich young ruler. Yet, of course, they are quick to simply claim that they are not 'rich', as if this meant that they could not be like the rich young ruler.
The recount of the rich young ruler is as follows:
And a certain ruler asked him, saying, Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?
And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? none is good, save one, that is, God.
Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother.
And he said, All these have I kept from my youth up.
Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me.
And when he heard this, he was very sorrowful: for he was very rich.
And when Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful, he said, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!
For it is easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.
And they that heard it said, Who then can be saved?
And he said, The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.
(Luke 18:18-27).
The rich young ruler though he was right with God, and going to Heaven, as he 'kept the law', and did not lie, commit adultery, murder, steal and that he honoured his father and mother. He thought that made him righteous. However, Jesus rebuked him for thinking that he was righteous in observing such moral laws, in which He said that he lacked a true willingness to give up all he had for Jesus Christ. To such such true willingness to give up all one had for the sake of Jesus Christ it itself to not love Christ, and fall short of the righteousness God requires for one to be saved.
Indeed, the righteousness is not found in one's conduct, as even the unsaved can abstain from lying, stealing, committing adultery and to honour their father and mother, but are headed for eternity in Hell. Such righteous conduct are only manifestations of love for Christ. They do not constitute the righteousness in themselves. True righteousness is found only in genuine love of Christ, and manifests in the willingness to give up all one had for Christ.
The rich young ruler was not 'blessed'. He was accursed, as he was not willing to give up everything for Christ, which is itself a manifestation of hatred for Christ. A person either loves Christ or hates Christ (Matthew 12:30; Mark 9:38-41; Luke 9:50). So, loving Jesus with a lukewarm love which is not willing to give up all one has for Christ hates Jesus.
If you are not a Christian, know this. God exists and is the Moral Lawgiver of the Universe. If you have ever lied, stolen anything, looked in lust at any person, fornicated, used God's name in vain, such as by saying 'Oh my G-d', you are guilty before God for your sin. God is good, righteous and just, and so He must punish you. That punishment is eternity in Hell, a place of eternal suffering and torment. But God does not want that for you, for God so loved the world that He gave His Only Begotten Son Jesus Christ, so that whoever shall believe on Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life (John 3:16). God sent Him to die the death you deserve for your sins. You broke God's Law. Jesus paid your fine on your behalf, so that He can dismiss His case against you on the Day of Judgment. It is appointed for a person to once to die, and that this Judgment will come.
So, turn from your sins, and place your faith in Jesus alone. Your so-called 'good works' will not nor cannot make you right with God, because you are condemned by God for your sins. It is like a murderer who seeks to get rid of his guilt for murder by helping the poor. Such does not absolve his guilt. Turn to Christ today while you still have time. Do not delay it for even a millisecond. It is a matter of life and death.
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