The part that I’d like to focus on is the story of the young ruler.

And someone came to Him and said, “Teacher, what good thing shall I do so that I may obtain eternal life?” And He said to him, “Why are you asking Me about what is good? There is only One who is good; but if you want to enter life, keep the commandments.” Then he said to Him, “Which ones?” And Jesus said, “You shall not commit murder; You shall not commit adultery; You shall not steal; You shall not give false testimony; Honor your father and mother; and You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” The young man said to Him, “All these I have kept; what am I still lacking?” Jesus said to him, “If you want to be complete, go and sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” But when the young man heard this statement, he went away grieving; for he was one who owned much property. (v. 16-26)

The young man’s view of the Law is a classic example of a wrong view of the Law. Most people separate the Law and love. Christ said the greatest commandment of the whole Law is love.

And one of the scribes came up and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, asked him, “Which commandment is the most important of all?” Jesus answered, “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.  And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’  The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”  And the scribe said to him, “You are right, Teacher. You have truly said that he is one, and there is no other besides him. And to love him with all the heart and with all the understanding and with all the strength, and to love one’s neighbor as oneself, is much more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.” And when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And after that no one dared to ask him any more questions. (Mark 12:28-34)

We need many rules and guidelines when we have to achieve certain things that are difficult to do. The Pharisees focused on keeping the Law externally without knowing the essence of the Law.

My question is: Can we love someone by works? Can we love someone if we put rules and guidelines? The answer is no. We have no love in ourselves. People often say that a mother loves her child unconditionally. But God showed that it is not true. Parents ate their own children in the OT.

Then you will eat the offspring of your own body, the flesh of your sons and of your daughters whom the LORD your God has given you, during the siege and the hardship by which your enemy will oppress you. (Deuteronomy 28:53)

Then the king asked her, “What is the matter?” And she answered, “This woman said to me, ‘Give up your son, that we may eat him, and tomorrow we will eat my son.’ So we boiled my son and ate him, and the next day I said to her, ‘Give up your son, that we may eat him.’ But she had hidden her son.” (2 Kings 6:28-29)

I will make them eat the flesh of their sons and daughters, and they will eat one another’s flesh in the siege and distress inflicted on them by their enemies who seek their lives.’ (Jeremiah 19:9)

In Matthew 19:16-26, Christ tells us that no one can fulfill the requirements of the Law, that is self-sacrificing love, by merely keeping the Law externally. Although the young ruler kept the Law perfectly in his own eyes, he still lacked something. All his keeping of the Law was not perfect in God’s sight. What is wrong with this man who tries very hard to live a pious life according to the Law? Should we consider him as a hypocrite, or as someone loved by God?

If the man was indeed a chosen man by God, I do not doubt that he later sold all his wealth and gave it to the poor and followed Christ. But the Bible does no longer talk about him. Our focus should be on what Christ teaches us here.

And Jesus said to His disciples, “Truly I say to you, it will be hard for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven. And again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” When the disciples heard this, they were very astonished and said, “Then who can be saved?” And looking at them, Jesus said to them, “With people this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” (v. 23-26)

The issue Christ points out is still relevant today. Many churches preach prosperity gospel. Rich Christians boast that they are blessed by God because of their good deeds. Wealth is often considered as a proof of God’s blessing although the Bible repeatedly says that is not true. Wealth is almost always a stumbling block because it gives much comfort and a false sense of security. Wealth brings pride. Wealth becomes an idol. Christians say wealth can achieve many things including helping the poor. But the rich want to stay rich and do not want their wealth to decrease by helping the poor. Some rich people make a will and they donate money to charities upon their death. Yet, they want to keep their wealth while they are alive. In this matter, no one is innocent. We all want physical comfort and enjoy what the world has to offer. God allows us to enjoy what He provides to us while we are on earth. And we thank Him for providing food for our physical and spiritual needs. However, our sinful human nature loves material things rather than God who gives them.

When interpreting verse 26, we must be careful not to conclude that there are rich Christians who will receive eternal life. Everyone wants to be that rich Christian who enjoy life of prosperity on the earth and in the new Kingdom. When Christ says that it is extremely hard for a rich person to enter the Kingdom, it is so. If we think our own works have brought prosperity, and prosperity is God’s blessing, then we consider God’s grace is from our works. As long as wealth is considered as a result of our good works, we have no place in the Kingdom. All rich people think their own hands have brought wealth or keep themselves wealthy. It is easy to think my own hands brought comfort, respect from people, and prosperity like Job. While saying God has given me everything, it is easy to boast that my good works have brought salvation and earned God’s grace and mercy. This is what the Roman Catholics and Arminians teach. Because their teachings are close to men’s natural sinful ideas, many follow them.  

There is much to talk about regarding this passage. Another thing I’d like to point out is that Christ does not say the conditional covenant comes before the unconditional covenant.

And He said to him, “Why are you asking Me about what is good? There is only One who is good; but if you want to enter life, keep the commandments.” (v.17)

This verse is not against what I’ve been telling. The Father is the source of righteousness and goodness. This goodness is not something that can be earned by works. This young ruler focused on works shown externally and judged others by works. He considered Christ as a good teacher because of miracles. But he did not understand the works of Christ were from the Father. It is because he keeps the Law by his own will and efforts. For those who think their life is depended on works, the Law is a lifeline. The man did not understand that the Spirit does all the good works and gives eternal life. Being united with the Son who became one of us and receiving the Spirit gives eternal life. And no one can earn this by works. Only God can give us obedience to the Law and true understanding of the Law. True obedience of the Law (Agape) comes after being united with Christ through the Spirit.