The Rich Young Ruler
One day a young ruler came to Jesus and fell on his knees before him.
He said, "Good teacher, what must I do to get eternal life?"
Jesus told him to keep the commandments. "Which ones?" the man asked.
Jesus started quoting some of the 10 commandments; "Do not murder, do
not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honor
your father and mother."
Then he mentions a commandment, not one of the 10 commandments, but one
from the book of Leviticus, "Love your neighbor as yourself." In
Leviticus 19:18 the people were told to not seek revenge, or to bear a
grudge against one of their people, but instead they were to love their
neighbor as they loved themselves.
The young man said he had kept all these commands from the time he was
a boy. He had lived a good life. The Bible says that Jesus looked at
him and loved him, but Jesus looked into the man's heart and saw
something that was keeping him from becoming a follower.
Jesus told him that he still lacked one thing; he must sell the things
he owned and give the money to the poor. Then he would have treasure in
heaven, and he could follow Jesus.
The young man's face fell and he sadly went away because he had great
riches that he would not part with.
After the young man left, Jesus talked to his disciples about how hard
it is for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. "It is easier", he
said, "for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, but with God all
things are possible."