He did not want to give up the evidence of God’s grace upon him, especially not to those whom he felt were undeserving.
And the man himself, now that he was penniless, would be viewed by others as being under the judgment and condemnation of God. By telling the man to give all his wealth to the poor, Jesus was essentially telling him to give up all his evidence of God’s love and grace, and give all that evidence of love and grace to those who the man considered to be wicked and rebellious. The man viewed his wealth as evidence of God’s grace upon him, and viewed the lack of wealth among the poor as evidence that they were rebellious sinners. Instead, Jesus is concerned with how the man views himself as a result of his wealth, and how he views the poor as a result of their lack of wealth. Though this is the way this passage is often taught, it is not the point of Jesus. Jesus is not really concerned with what the man does with his wealth. He tells the rich young ruler to sell all he has and give the money to the poor. It is only after the man claims to have kept the whole law that Jesus turns the tables on him. After all, look how much God has blessed them! We tend to believe that if a church become large and wealthy, it is evidence that God’s grace is upon them, and they must be doing most things right. Again, this is much like today in our churches. But from a Jewish perspective, the evidence was clear: Look how rich he was! God’s grace was irrefutably upon him. So when Jesus told the rich man to keep the entire law, it seems arrogant and preposterous to us today for the man to respond as he did, that he had kept the entire law since he was a boy.
If, however, someone did not have all these things, then it was a sign that they (or their ancestors) were sinful and had rebelled against God, and so God was punishing them (Deut 28:15-68). The Mosaic Law promised that if a person obeyed God and followed the Covenant, then God would bless them with land, crops, cattle, peace, prosperity, and health (Deut 28:1-14). In Jewish ways of thinking, much like today, money and wealth was a sign of God’s grace and blessing.
Despite how this passage is sometimes used in sermons and books as an attempt to get the rich to give more money to the church, the point of this passage actually lies elsewhere.
#Rich young ruler how to#
But when the young man heard the saying his countenance fell, and he went away exceeding sorrowful: for he was one that had great possessions.When a rich, young ruler comes to Jesus to ask how to inherit eternal life, Jesus tells him that he must sell all he has and give the money to the poor (Luke 18:18-23). And the young man said unto him, Master, all these things have I observed from my youth up: what lack I yet? And Jesus looking upon him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest yet: if thou wouldest be perfect, go, sell all that thou hast and distribute to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me. He saith unto him, Which? And Jesus said, Thou shalt not kill, 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. But if thou wouldest enter into life keep the commandments. Good Master, what good thing shall I do that I may inherit eternal life? And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? and askest thou me concerning that which is good? None is good save one, even God. Riches a hindrance.Īnd as he was going forth into the way, a certain ruler ran to him, and kneeled to him, and asked him, saying.
0 kommentar(er)
