On Our Best Behavior Luke 18:18-27
Here we have a ruler asking Jesus a question. Luke usually uses the word “ruler” to denote a synagogue leader or a civic official. Either way, this man is influential. And by his question, we can see he has some insight into the ways of God, because he recognizes that having earthly authority doesn’t equate to having eternal life with God. He recognizes the position he is in. He recognizes the knowledge Jesus has, so he goes out to find Jesus. Our world is full of people who don’t recognize the position they are in in relation to salvation. Too many around the world have heard Jesus’ name, but don’t seek him out, don’t seek his offer of grace.
Verse 18, “A certain ruler asked him, ‘Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?’” A very good question. This man appreciates the attributes of Jesus. He thinks of Jesus as spiritually knowledgeable, maybe even Godly, but definitely as just another man, not the Messiah. And since Jesus is being questioned as just another man, he responds in a strictly human way. Jesus could have answered in a Godly way, “I am the Messiah, believe in me.” “I am God, follow me.” But as a man, he responds in verse 19, “Why do you call me good?” Basically, he is saying “No one is truly good except God.”
We know Jesus is God on earth, wholly God and wholly human at the same time. But as you read scripture, you can see how at times Jesus separates the two in his responses to those around him. In John 10:30 he responds as God, “I and the Father are one.” Here he responds strictly from his human side, “Why do you call me good?” By this narrow human response, Jesus does two things. First, he is sweeping away the shallow human flattery given in the term “good teacher.” Second, Jesus pushes the ruler toward God.
“Good teacher, what must I do…” This man probably thought or was hoping that flattering Jesus would gain him some special information, a fast track to salvation. Watch how Jesus quickly turns it back on the ruler, telling him he already knows the answer; verse 20, “You know the Commandments…” Jesus affirms in this statement that his audience already knows the Law. He thereby, reenforces his audience to their history and religious culture.
“You shall not commit adultery, you shall not murder, you shall not steal…” By listing the Commandments, Jesus doesn’t say anything new, he’s just reminding this rich ruler of what he already knew. Jesus is repeating to this man what God expects, revealing for him that he already has the answer to his question. Jesus is politely telling this man, “You may not like it, but you already know what to do.”
And as we’ve seen before in scripture, here we have an unnamed man, and this allows him to represent the whole of humanity. When people talk to me about salvation, I hear things like; “I try my best, God wouldn’t punish me, I believe there is a God, isn’t that enough, I do the best I can, God can see that, he knows I’m trying.” Like our ruler, they’ve heard of Jesus, they’re looking to Jesus. They know what to do, accept Jesus as savior, they just don’t like it, so they make excuses. They try to say all they’ve done, hoping to avoid what they have to do, just like our young ruler; verse 21, “All these I have kept since I was a boy…”
Verse 22, “When Jesus heard this, he said to him, ‘You still lack one thing. Sell everything and give it to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come follow me.’”
Through his response Jesus let’s the man know he heard his words, but he also sees his heart. This man thought he was doing good, but we know no one can keep the Law as it is intended. He’s looking at his small accomplishments and not where he fell short.
I have a young friend who says he’s a great Christian because he’s against abortion. Ok, I don’t see this as the benchmark, but I have pointed out to him that he’s been living with his girlfriend for years without being married. He’s trying to justify what a great Christian he is, but like our ruler, he fails to see where he falls short.
In our story, Jesus tells the man to sell everything he owns because to the man, money has become his god. It’s what he devotes his energy to, therefore, Jesus confronts it head on.
In Matthew 6:24 Jesus says, “No one can serve two masters.” I think for us, this is a little misleading because this man is not serving two masters, he’s only serving one, money, while trying to justify his not serving the other, God. Now, truth be told, even the best of us can do this at times. Hopefully our whole life is lived this way.
“Sell everything you have and give it to the poor…” I believe this man with his money, with his fine house, probably gives little to no thought to the desperate around him. Jesus is redirecting his attention in the direction God wants, to the needy, to all those who are in frantic need of his concern and involvement.
Proverbs 19:17, “Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord…” Jesus uses the poor here because this man’s god is money. However, his aim is to direct all mankind to notice, to have empathy for, to offer help to any who needs it from us. Jesus is telling all humanity; all humankind is your concern. As the tormented ghost of Jacob Marley told Ebenezer Scrooge, “All mankind is our business!” And Jesus is telling his followers; discipleship is ultimate goal. This is what he meant in Luke 9:23 when he said, “Whoever follows me must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.”
The last thing I want to touch on is the question I inevitably get asked when talking about this scripture, “Why does Jesus tell this man to sell everything, Do I have to be poor to be a good Christian?”
Deuteronomy 28:11, “The Lord will make you abound in prosperity…” Being well off is not a sin, being poor isn’t either. Jesus knows money is this man’s aim. And he knows if he tells him to give to the poor, the man will give one coin and think he’s doing well. Jesus doesn’t want us to give just our spare change. Jesus doesn’t want us to give half an hour of time only when nothing better comes along. Jesus doesn’t want us to visit the sick or elderly for a quick ten minutes between work and dinner with friends. Jesus wants us to be sacrificial, to truly give of ourselves and our blessings to others, and to show God’s grace and love to others. I admit there are times I waffle with this, I can give time, effort, money without giving a second thought, and then there are times I just want to be left alone. This is something I need to be cognizant of as I try to live closer to how Jesus tells me to.
Today, in his interaction with a young ruler, Jesus strengthens for all humanity the first Commandment; “You shall have no other God above me.” (Ex 20:3) He also points us to his second of the two greatest Commandments; “Love your neighbors as you love yourself.” (Mat 22:39)
Jesus tells all his followers that the fate of others is as important to you as your own, that the condition of the least is as important as the condition of the highest, and that our work among men requires more than a token effort.
This account in Luke tells us that God has given us much, and he expects much from us.
Amen.