Introduction
The story of the rich young ruler as given in Matthew chapter 19 from verses 16 to 30 reveals that the various persona in the text have different powers. In this text, Jesus is giving a critical lesson about the Kingdom of God. Jesus does not imply that the rich will not be saved, because in the Old Testament several rich people became pillars of the Jewish faith. However, at the time, people had developed a notion that wealthy people would have an automatic place in God’s kingdom because it was believed that their riches were God’s blessings. On the other hand, those living in poverty were believed to experience punishment for their sins. However, Jesus reveals that it is hard for a rich person to enter and inherit God’s kingdom with the limited human power.
Main body
The text reveals different levels of power among various players in the event. The rich young ruler is powerful and has enormous wealth. His possessions seemed insufficient, and he sought something more satisfying than what he had. The young man’s power made him feel that he could get everything he wanted, which is why when he was asked to sell his possessions and give the proceeds to the poor, he got angry. He had expected that Jesus would consider his power and influence and would give him a more pleasing response than the one he got. Jesus’s answer also revealed the innate power of the young man. When Jesus told the young man that he should share his possession with the less fortunate, He reveals that the young man had the power to inherit God’s kingdom.
The story of the rich young ruler puts the rich people on the margin of the story. Jesus’s answer reveals what had not been open to the eyes of the Jews regarding the rich. Christ was angry with the response He received from the young man, which may have been the reason He spoke with His disciplines and told them how hard it is for a rich man to enter heaven. Jesus’ words were deeper, pointing to the error that escaped humanity. However, to some extent, Jesus placed all the rich people at a critical point concerning inheriting the kingdom of God. Having possessions should not be associated with missing eternity, because wealth is a gift from God. The response the young man gave was personal and may not have necessarily been because of his wealth status, as other rich men would have done exactly as Jesus instructed.
Jesus mentions that the young man should sell his possessions and give them to the poor. The ministry to the less fortunate has been seen as an act of kindness, which would grant one the possession of God’s kingdom. This context, therefore, teaches the opposite of what the Jewish people believed about the poor; that it is God who gives wealth to the good and bad people as He pleases. Consequently, those who share their possessions with the less fortunate are ministering to their needs, as a means for God to reach them. The poor are at the margin of the story because ministry to them occupies a critical position in the entry to God’s kingdom.
The account of the Rich Young Man gives God His powerful position in the universe. Jesus was angered with the response the young ruler gave and made a remark that it would be difficult for the rich to enter the Kingdom of heaven. Jesus compares a wealthy man inheriting eternal life to a camel going through the eye of the needle. While this looks impossible to humans, Jesus quickly reveals that it is possible with God. The eye of the needle has been a small gave in Jerusalem where the camel had to kneel to pass through. Some scholars have attributed this to the necessity of humility among the rich if they should inherit the kingdom of God. However, God is all-powerful and does not require humans to formulate ways to understand how He can make an impossible occurrence happen.
The story does not directly show the presence of Satan, especially in the lives of the disciples. A quick look into the future reveals that Satan was present in the story. For instance, Jesus speaks about the twelve being among those who will judge the world. However, when Judas betrays Jesus, Christ says that the man should not have been born for he faces a sharp judgment for killing the son of God. Satan was later revealed in Judas, making his offer himself as the instrument to show the captures of Jesus who he was so they would seize him. It is not directly clear how Jesus did not see that Satan was with Judas and that he would be the one to hand him over to be captured and crucified. It is therefore critical to argue that when Jesus talked about the first being last and the last being first, he might have referred to Judas being close to Him yet miss the same position at the end.
The conversation is a critical way to impart heavenly lessons to the listeners. It forms the basis for imparting truth regarding ordinary things and how they relate to the infinite heavenly provisions. The questions the young man gave Peter formed the basis on which Jesus developed His discussions, allowing readers to immerse themselves in what Jesus wanted to say. However, the historical context is crucial to the understanding of what Christ taught His disciples. The Jews of Jesus’s time believed that keeping the commandments was the only way to enter the kingdom of God. However, Jesus uses the opportunity to impart an eternal concept, that entering the eternal life requires a complete surrender to do God’s will. Jesus asked the young ruler to sell his possessions not because doing so would warrant his salvation, but because it would show his true affection for God. At the same time, works have their share as they are evidence of living faith.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the story of the rich young ruler invites conversations and critiques, as several instances conflict with other teachings and experiences in the Bible. For instance, the Bible in Deuteronomy chapter eight and verse 18 says that one should remember that it is God who gives humans the power to make wealth and to fulfill His promises to forefathers. Therefore, one would desire to understand if wealth is good or bad for salvation. The passage also leaves the question of whether or not Judas would be among the twelve judging the world. One would desire to know the extent to which Jesus knew the future, as Jesus was supposed to know what Judas would do to Him. Moreover, the text begs the question as to whether the writers spoke their own words or were wrote the exact words of Jesus, especially in this context.