Don't walk away too soon

Many of us know the story of the rich man who asked Jesus how he could inherit eternal life. In reply, Jesus listed a number of things: know the commandments, don't commit adultery, don't murder, don't lie, honor your parents -- to which the man said, "I've done all that."

A real over-achiever here.

Then Jesus said, "Go, sell all you have and give to the poor so you will have treasure in heaven, and come and follow me." To this, the rich man became very sad because he clearly was not willing to do so. His riches meant too much to him.

At this point, the story differs depending on whether you read Matthew or Luke. Both say the young man became very sad.

Matthew says he was so sad that he walked away.

But Luke does not say the rich man walked away. So in Luke's account, the rich man may have stuck around for the rest of the story.

The rest of the story is as follows.

The disciples were so aghast at the high standard of works Jesus set for inheriting eternal life that they wondered if anybody could pass muster. To this, Jesus said that it is indeed impossible; that it is only possible with God.

The gift of eternal life is only possible if God grants it to an individual. And of course, God does grant it through precisely the Person speaking, Jesus.

But was the rich man there to hear this?

Matthew recalls that he wasn't.

Luke recalls that he was. At least Luke doesn't say that he wasn't.

Let's hope that he was. Let's hope that the rich man didn't walk away too soon, sad.

Logos2Go

Luke 18.23 ... When he heard this, he became very sad, because he was a man of great wealth.

Matthew 19.22 ... When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth.