Why did Jesus tell the young rich man he could be saved by keeping the commandments?

Beloved in Christ, the interlocution between our blessed Lord and the young rich man is an interesting one. There are deep spiritual truths we can learn from their dialogue for our own good. Let us look at the passage itself.

Matthew 19: 16-23

Now behold, one came and said to Him, "Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?" So He said to him, "Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments." He said to Him, "Which ones?" Jesus said, "'You shall not murder,' 'You shall not commit adultery,' 'You shall not steal,' 'You shall not bear false witness,'. 'Honor your father and your mother,' and, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' "The young man said to Him, "All these things I have kept from my youth. What do I still lack?" Jesus said to him, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me. "But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.  Then Jesus said to His disciples, "Assuredly, I say to you that it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.

The young rich man came to Jesus and he addressed him as good teacher, and Jesus asked him, why do you call me good?, No one is good but One, that is, God. Unlearned skeptics often uses what Jesus said to the young man as an occasion to utterly deny the truth about his deity. Jesus wasn't denying his own deity, but he wanted the young man to understand what it truly means for him to call him good. He wanted him to understand that by calling him good, he was in fact declaring his deity, because there is none good, save God alone.

This Man came to Jesus with the sincere desire to know the way of eternal life. Jesus responded to him: But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments." He said to Him, "Which ones?" Jesus said, "'You shall not murder,' 'You shall not commit adultery,' 'You shall not steal,' 'You shall not bear false witness,'. 'Honor your father and your mother,' and, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' "The young man said to Him, "All these things I have kept from my youth.

The fact that the rich young man came to Jesus to ask him about the way he could be saved, is an indication that money cannot not truly satisfy our innermost desires, and cannot be used to buy eternal life. This Man knew God's commandments and proudly boasted by saying, that he has kept the law from his youth. But he was simply ignorant of how many times he has fallen short of it, for none could perfectly meet the requirements of the law. The man asked Jesus, "What do I still lack?" "Jesus said to him, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me. "But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. 

The law hinges on the two great commandments, to love God with your whole heart, soul and body and to love your neighbor as yourself (Matthew 22; 36-40). The man failed to love God wholeheartedly and to love his neighbor as his own self. He chose his great possessions over human lives, thereby forfeiting eternal life. Jesus used the law to expose his weakness, and for him to come to the realization of his need of a savior, for this is the whole function of the law.

Jesus revealed the man's true state, a sinner who has a deep love for money. He would rather have his dollars secure than to follow after Jesus. Many rich people are like the rich young man, they feel they have money, hence, they do not need Jesus. They will always choose Mammon than to follow after Jesus. Their money serves as an hindrance to them from obtaining the free gift of eternal life.

Faith in Jesus Christ and not the keeping of the law is the only way to receive the free gift of eternal life (John 3; 16, 17; 3). Salvation and eternal life are grace based gifts which God gives to those who come to him through faith in his only begotten Son. Come to Jesus now and thou shalt be saved. God bless you 

A thought to ponder 🤔 

Salvation and eternal life are grace based gifts which God gives to those who come to him through faith in his only begotten Son

We defend and exposit the truth of the gospel

Comments

  1. AnonymousDecember 8, 2025 at 12:58 AM

    Are we ready to leave everything for christ ???

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Donaldson BoamahDecember 8, 2025 at 1:49 AM

      This is an important question. As believers we should be willing to forsake all things for Christ sake

      Delete

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