'The rich young ruler ' confusion .

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throughfaith

Well-known member
Aug 4, 2020
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#61
the man calling God "rabbi" asks Him what he can "do" to earn eternal life.
so he clearly thinks he's capable of achieving righteousness before God through works.


does this man believe Christ is who Christ is?
That question is brought up in luke 10 and other places" what must I do ........" And notice Jesus doesn't correct him .He answers his question. I believe he answered him correctly under the law . People don't know what to do with this because they want one 'good news 'one unified message to fit all narratives. Rightjy dividing is the answer.
 

posthuman

Senior Member
Jul 31, 2013
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#62
But . And here's the point. Is Jesus not capable of saying what he means.
are we capable of understanding what He means?
remember He taught in parables, and why He taught in parables? because to some it is not given to know the mysteries of the kingdom. if it's not given to someone to know, what does Jesus say to that person?
how about this man? what category does he fall in? is Christ revealing mysteries of the kingdom to him, as He does to the apostles?
that's something we'll have to sort out.

why does He point out only God is good? is He denying His deity? or is He answering this man's question by teaching him?
the man thinks his own works can establish his own goodness before God. he doesn't understand who Jesus is. Jesus tells him that He Himself is God and that no one is good -- question settled. he cannot inherit eternal life through works. see Romans 1-5. exactly the same message.
so why does the man keep talking?
 

posthuman

Senior Member
Jul 31, 2013
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#64
I believe he answered him correctly under the law
if Christ is telling him that righteousness & life is through the Law, and this man really keeps all the commandments, then why does He tell him that one thing is still lacking?
and then give him a command found nowhere in the Law?
 

posthuman

Senior Member
Jul 31, 2013
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#65
What did the Lord have you part with when you got saved? Were you asked to sell everything? I wasn't asked to part with anything or do anything, just believe the gospel of Jesus Christ.
just believe the gospel, yes -- which is the first thing Jesus responds with, 'no one is good but God alone'
but this seems to sail right over the man's head.

so if you reject the gospel, what hope do you have? the law. the man says he keeps it, and Christ tells him he still lacks something.
and gives him a command outside the law, requiring more works from him than the law requires.
 

posthuman

Senior Member
Jul 31, 2013
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#66
There's nothing "wrong" with what Christ says. But Jesus made many enigmatic statements which must be properly interpreted and understood. When He asked this young man "Why are you calling me good?" what Jesus was really saying is "I am not merely good, I am God". Therefore He told unbelieving Jews that if they did not believe that He was I AM (God) they would die in their sins.

So the first thing that this young man needed to do to obtain the GIFT of eternal life was to wholeheartedly believe that Jesus is very God. Christ was correcting this man every step of the way, since He also knew that deep down the Rich Young Ruler would not abandon his wealth for eternal life.
the man ought to have fell on his face looking for mercy when he heard this. but he continued looking for a way to approve himself through what he 'had' in terms of a righteousness through his works. so Jesus gives him half of the decalogue -- why? -- even while we know that isn't the foundation of the law -- and when the man says he's kept them, with the implicit admission that he knows this isn't enough, Jesus loves him. He tells him to rid himself of all his possessions, giving to the poor, & follow Him. love his neighbor and love the LORD his God, the actual basis of the law.

we know that no good works we do are from ourselves, but by God working in us. we cast our crowns at His feet. we seek a righteousness not of ourselves but by faith -- we know Christ is God. what does this man know?
why is Christ telling him to rid himself of ownership?
 

posthuman

Senior Member
Jul 31, 2013
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#67
He also knew that deep down the Rich Young Ruler would not abandon his wealth for eternal life.
i don't know about that.
i have to deal with, why is the man sad?

because he intends to actually get rid of his possessions, and he mourns over losing them?
or because he believes Christ and knows that he will not find in himself the ability to keep this command?
or because he doesn't believe at all, and thinks the '
good teacher' he'd sought out had no real answer for him?
or something else?
 

posthuman

Senior Member
Jul 31, 2013
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#69
Does Jesus say that if he keeps the commandments, sells all he will inherit eternal life ? That seems to be what he said .
why does Jesus add "transfer all your wealth to the poor" to the keeping of the commandments?
that's not part of the law.


why does Jesus mention only half the decalogue? why doesn't Jesus mention the actual basis of the law, to love the LORD and to love ones neighbor? if this man is really keeping all of the commandments, and eternal life could be gained through the law, why does Jesus tell him he lacks something?
 

throughfaith

Well-known member
Aug 4, 2020
10,467
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#70
are we capable of understanding what He means?
remember He taught in parables, and why He taught in parables? because to some it is not given to know the mysteries of the kingdom. if it's not given to someone to know, what does Jesus say to that person?
how about this man? what category does he fall in? is Christ revealing mysteries of the kingdom to him, as He does to the apostles?
that's something we'll have to sort out.


why does He point out only God is good? is He denying His deity? or is He answering this man's question by teaching him?
the man thinks his own works can establish his own goodness before God. he doesn't understand who Jesus is. Jesus tells him that He Himself is God and that no one is good -- question settled. he cannot inherit eternal life through works. see Romans 1-5. exactly the same message.
so why does the man keep talking?
The bible literally tells us its a parable, and why so there's no confusion.
The part where it says only God is good ,is cleared up in the verse ,and thats not the part I'm talking about . Jesus answers that question .
 

throughfaith

Well-known member
Aug 4, 2020
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#71
why does Jesus add "transfer all your wealth to the poor" to the keeping of the commandments?
that's not part of the law.


why does Jesus mention only half the decalogue? why doesn't Jesus mention the actual basis of the law, to love the LORD and to love ones neighbor? if this man is really keeping all of the commandments, and eternal life could be gained through the law, why does Jesus tell him he lacks something?
Jesus does say it here .
Luk 10:25 And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?
Luk 10:26 He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou?
Luk 10:27 And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.
Luk 10:28 And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live
 

throughfaith

Well-known member
Aug 4, 2020
10,467
1,593
113
#72
why does Jesus add "transfer all your wealth to the poor" to the keeping of the commandments?
that's not part of the law.


why does Jesus mention only half the decalogue? why doesn't Jesus mention the actual basis of the law, to love the LORD and to love ones neighbor? if this man is really keeping all of the commandments, and eternal life could be gained through the law, why does Jesus tell him he lacks something?
That would be loving thy neighbour " give to the poor "
 

posthuman

Senior Member
Jul 31, 2013
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#73
Jesus does say it here .
Luk 10:25 And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?
Luk 10:26 He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou?
Luk 10:27 And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.
Luk 10:28 And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live
is this the conversation with the rich young ruler?
why doesn't He tell him this?
why is called this a '
temptation' on the part of the lawyer, rather than an honest inquiry?

if this lawyer is doing the same thing to Jesus that the Pharisees did to Him, isn't Jesus replying the same way?
so how is His answer a rebuke? what's the trap, and what's the condemnation?
 

throughfaith

Well-known member
Aug 4, 2020
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#75
is this the conversation with the rich young ruler?
why doesn't He tell him this?
why is called this a '
temptation' on the part of the lawyer, rather than an honest inquiry?
if this lawyer is doing the same thing to Jesus that the Pharisees did to Him, isn't Jesus replying the same way?
so how is His answer a rebuke? what's the trap, and what's the condemnation?
The point is what Jesus answer is . Of course that will be the truth regardless.
 

throughfaith

Well-known member
Aug 4, 2020
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#77
was everyone under the law required to give all their possessions to the poor?
or only a tithe?
To love thy neighbour ect. To forgive to be forgiven ect . We see Jesus give the full definition/ extent of the law with " you heard it said , but i say ...
."