The Rich Young Ruler Encounters Jesus

Followed by large crowds, Jesus departed Galilee and came into Judea where He healed and was questioned; he graciously responded and continued to bless others. After much ministry, He was approached by a young man with a burning question (Matthew 19:2–16).

Luke called the young man a ruler (Luke 18:18) implying he was likely a member of an official council or court, a respected member of his community, a man of wealth. Though we know he possessed much (Mark 10:22), when he encountered Jesus, he knew he lacked the “good thing” he needed to do to acquire eternal life, and he was eager to obtain it. “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?” he asked (Matthew 19:16). All legalistic systems promote the idea that there must be some act so outstanding as to ensure eternal life (Luke 10:25). Surely there was something this man could do to gain the one thing he did not possess.

But Jesus responded with a question, and then told the man to focus on Him, not a good thing to do or a good principle to follow. Jesus reiterated that He was, in fact, the only Good One, that all good things come from, and that through him, the man should obey the commandments (Matthew 19:17). Clearly not one to shy away from clarifying questions, the man asked Jesus to break it down for him, and assured the promised Savior that he had in fact kept all of the commands, even since he was a boy. He wanted to know what he could still lack to gain eternal life (Mark 10:18–20). Recognizing the man’s earnestness, Jesus looked at him through the eyes of love (v. 21). That love compelled Jesus to speak to the inner obedience of the young man’s heart, not the outer conformity he had proven through the law.