Jesus And A Rich Man
JESUS AND A RICH MAN
MARK 10:17-22
Respectable, religious and charming people can be lovers of money … and be lost.
The rich man addressed Jesus in an unusual manner by calling him “Good Teacher”—a term never used for a rabbi. It could be regarded as flattery giving a man a higher status than is his due, for true goodness is the prerogative of God. Jesus’ question was designed to test whether the man really knew what he was saying. Is there here a veiled claim to divinity?
This, however, was incidental to the main theme. The questioner was concerned about the future destiny of the individual as he sought after the experience variously called “inheriting eternal life,” “entering the kingdom of God” or “being saved.” All these expressions refer to entering the bliss of the age to come instead of being condemned to punishment. The orthodox Jewish answer was simple: salvation was for circumcised Jews who kept the commandments. Jesus’ reply to the rich man was at first entirely orthodox. He cited the so-called second table of the Ten Commandments not because the first table is unimportant, but because obedience to the second table is more easily tested by a man’s outward conduct. The rich man claimed, like Paul (Philippians 3:6), that he had obeyed them perfectly. There was here evidence of religious devotion, of an apparently sincere desire to serve God truly, and Jesus’ heart went out to his questioner. But a two-sided commandment still remained! On the one hand, Jesus bade the rich man to realize his assets and give the proceeds to the poor. Here he failed. Why? he loved himself and his money more than he loved the poor. He was breaking the first commandment of all, for he had made an idol of himself and consequently could neither worship God truly nor love his neighbor fully.
On the other hand, Jesus, who is significantly described at the beginning of the story as “setting out on his journey” to Jerusalem and crucifixion, called him to follow him. This is the condition for inheriting eternal life, discipleship. Here too he failed. He was not ready for total commitment to God. This was his fundamental error.
Does Jesus call all rich men to give up their riches if they would be saved? No: it is not the possession of riches but the desire for them that keeps a man from salvation. But is this a complete interpretation of Jesus’ words? Is there in fact any New Testament evidence that Christians may enjoy their riches themselves instead of sharing them fully and freely with the needy?