The Rich Ruler

The novelist Upton Sinclair once wrote, “It is difficult to get a man to understand something, when his salary depends on his not understanding it.” As we have observed throughout Luke’s gospel, money can be a blinding force and a great threat to spiritual life. Luke, in particular, refers to wealth four times as often as Matthew and Mark. Already we have seen Jesus warn about the dangers of wealth in various parables and illustrations, but this story reveals the real life effects of what he taught. Unlike many of Jesus’ detractors, a rich ruler approaches him in earnest and asks “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” However, the question itself betrays a faulty presumption about the nature of what is truly and ultimately good.

In response to Jesus, the man replies that he has kept the commandments from his youth. The ruler wasn’t lying - he likely had a sterling reputation among his community - morally upright, successful, theologically astute, a model citizen. But Jesus says he lacks one thing and issues a shocking command: Sell ALL that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” This is an extraordinary challenge, but it’s not primarily about the money. Although the man had kept the Commandments, he was disobeying the first: "You shall have no other gods before me." An idol is anything we love, trust, and obey supremely; it is our ultimate Good. Though challenging, Jesus is not trying to harm the man, but set him free to pursue the greatest good.