The Young Man & Jesus – Commandments Questions?

“Did not the man ask what else does he need to do to get into heaven and stated that he followed all of the laws?” (Xander)

Interesting question actually. Maybe the kid didn’t know heaven was a possibility (Sadducee’s didn’t believe it for example)? But what was he asking:

“And someone came to Him and said, “Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may obtain eternal life?” (Matt 19:16)

He wanted to earn his way into heaven or thought there was some trick to this process – like ‘one thing’ he could to do ensure his entrance into eternity.

Jesus’ answer “And He said to him, “Why are you asking Me about what is good? There is only One who is good; but if you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments.” (Matt 19:17)

Jesus makes this crystal clear here: (a) God is the only good One (not himself); (b) keep (follow) the commandments to ensure eternity

The young man admits to following the commandments but then asks “what am I still lacking?” (Matt 19:20)

Jesus’ response ““If you wish to be complete/perfect, go and sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” (Matt 19:21)

If the young man wishes to be ‘complete or perfected’ in his journey – sell it all, give it away (to the poor), and then invites him to join his group that is doing the same. What will he receive if he does this? Treasures/rewards in that eternity.

Matt 19:22 “But when the young man heard this statement, he went away grieving; for he was one who owned much property”

I think the young man knew the trade-off – riches now or later – and this was not worth the risk. In essence, his reaction shows he did not follow the commandments of God – at least – not completely (but partially) and the main one’s he admits to following in the passage may have been the very one’s he was breaking – including: murder, adultery, theft, lying (perjury), dishonoring his parents, and not loving his neighbor.

Why did Jesus pick those laws (has to be a reason)? Maybe this person was ripping off people or hurting them to gather his wealth.

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Two Interpretation Epiphany’s

“Wherever there’s a fight against the blood and hatred in the air, Look for me ma’, I’ll be there.” (Rage Against the Machine – Ghost of Tom Joad)

Compared to…

“‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.’” (Matt 25:40)

It dawned on me after listening to RATM and working out what Jesus was saying the parable of the sheep and the goats. It seems to me Jesus is saying in the helping of the downtrodden ‘he is there’ (or what you did you did it to him). It’s like the Rage line – not that when oppression or suffering are happening that Zack de la Rocha is actually there – but he does the same thing and he supports those causes. Likewise in the sheep and the goats – when you help someone that is in the same conditions, that Rage preach about constantly (poor and broken), you’re helping Jesus because that is what he would do (and did) in the same scenario.

“ But he who received the one talent went away, and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money” (Matt 25:18)

This hit me this morning. The dude with the one talent in the story just hid it and did nothing with it – and was severely reprimanded in the story (cast out even). What went wrong? Selfishness. You see he took what he was good at it and decided to do nothing for those around him at all, in fact he had one talent when some have none, and he’d rather just keep it than help anyone around him. He seen problems and issues in his community and decided that with his ‘gift’ he would use it to move himself forward and not help.

It dawned on me because I was thinking about how charities work and how some people (including myself) have a lot of stuff but do nothing to help others (or not enough I feel). Instead, we keep our talents to ourselves and make a good life for ourselves (which is a good thing in and of itself) but we don’t bless others with what we know and how we got there (or what we have). And that’s like being given a gift and hiding it away – for only yourself to use.