The Rich Young Ruler

Mark 10:17 And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?

18 And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God.

19 Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother.

20 And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth.

21 Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.

22 And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions.

23 And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto his disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!

24 And the disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God!

25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.

26 And they were astonished out of measure, saying among themselves, Who then can be saved?

27 And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.

The young ruler came to Jesus running and bowed at His feet, calling Him Good Master.  Jesus questioned the young man as to why would he call Jesus Good and reminded the young man that only God is good.  This response was of a two-fold nature.  1.  "Do you really understand that I am God, come to earth to pay the price for mankind?"  2.  If only God is good (righteous); then the following questions regarding the young man’s ability to keep the law perfectly are pointless except to prove that young man’s estimation of his own ability to keep the law (both letter and spirit of the law) was false.  When Jesus next questions the young man about his keeping the commandments, the young man is very quick to assure Jesus that he had known and kept the law since his youth.  At least, he believed himself to have kept it and trusted in his own righteousness.  He had not come to Jesus to lay his sin at the feet of the Messiah and to ask for mercy; instead, he came to have his own righteousness confirmed by the Jesus.  Had he understood any of the old testament prophets who had foretold the need for the Messiah to take upon Himself the wrath of God against sin so that mankind might be saved, because no one could keep the law?  The law only proved man’s guilt.  Christ knew that the young man’s own self righteousness would not stand up against the test.   The first two commandents, he had failed.  Deuteronomy 6:" The Lord our God is one Lord:

5 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. and Exodus 20:2 Thou shalt have no other gods before Me. "   When Christ asked him to sell everything and to give it to the poor, the young man went away sad–his possessions were the god that was more important to him than the Lord God.  And so the young man was much like the one referred to another parable of Jesus where he refers to the seed of the Word (Jesus is the Word) is choked out by the cares and desires of this world causing those to hear to cast it aside and walk away.  Mark 4: " 18 And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word,

19 And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful."   So, if you have money can you be saved?  In the words of Christ Himself, "with God all things are possible."  Yet, for the rich and the self-righteous it is more difficult; because they trust in their riches and their own "righteousness" to be enough.  Their only hope is to recognize that they are indeed sinners in need of a Savior.  Only then may they lay aside their love for their possessions and fall in love with the one who is their only hope of Salvation–Jesus Christ. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xX-a_ibnHB0