Now someone came up to him and said, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to gain eternal life?” He said to him, “Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.” “Which ones?” he asked. Jesus replied, “Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honor your father and mother, and love your neighbor as yourself.” The young man said to him, “I have wholeheartedly obeyed all these laws. What do I still lack?” Jesus said to him, “If you wish to be perfect, go sell your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” But when the young man heard this he went away sorrowful, for he was very rich.Interesting how Jesus asks questions first before giving answers. Interesting too how gracious Jesus is. I'd be saying “Which ones???!!! Seriously?? What are you looking for? The absolute minimum rules to keep so that you can max out on breaking all the others? You want to do some good works so that God will owe you something?"
What was that young man really after? He wanted an answer and got one. It wasn't the answer he was expecting. People ask us questions too. Sometimes we're too quick to give answers. And sometimes we're too quick to say a comfortable lie rather than an uncomfortable truth. After all, saying something that's offensive or disappointing is really bad, right?
© Copyright Bruce M. Axtens, 2018
