Summary
Jesus said, “… go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” When the young man heard this he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. V.22
Pretend for a moment you don’t know this story. Jesus is approached by man while setting out on a journey. This man wants something from Jesus. One might expect him to request that Jesus heal him or someone he cares about. After all, that has typically been the case so far. This man, however, is looking for something else. He asks Jesus, “Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?” It seems that the stage is being set for an amazing conversion story. Certainly, Jesus is capable of closing this deal, right? In an interesting twist, we learn that this man walks away sorrowful. What happened? How is it possible that someone could come to Jesus asking for eternal life but not receive it? In this near paradox, we see the danger of great wealth and are reminded that the greatest riches on earth are no comparison to what awaits those who submit all of who they are to Jesus Christ.
Bible References
- Matthew 19:16 - 30
Subscribe to podcast