As Jesus continued His journey a very rich ruler came running up to Jesus and kneeled before Him and asked Him,
‘Good Teacher, what good thing can I do to inherit eternal life?’
Jesus said to him,
“Why are you calling me good? There is none good, except God.
Why are you using the word ‘good?’
If you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.”
The rich young ruler asked,
‘Which commandments?’
Jesus said to him,
“You know the commandments,
Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and your mother, Love your neighbor as you love yourself.”
The man answered,
‘Teacher, I have kept all these commandments since I was a child, what am I missing?’
And Jesus, when He heard it, looked at him and loved him, and said to him,
“One thing is missing, if you want to inherit eternal life, go sell everything that you have and distribute it to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven. And then come and follow me.”
When the man heard this, he became discouraged and depressed and full of sorrow, for he was very rich and had great possessions.
Jesus saw His demeanor change and looked around at His disciples and said,
“How difficult it is for a rich man to enter in the kingdom of God.”
And the disciples were amazed at these words.
Jesus answered again and said,
“Children, it is very hard for those who trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God!
It is easier for a camel to go through a needle’s eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.”
The disciples were astonished and said to Jesus,
‘Then who can be saved?’
Jesus looked at them and said,
“With men this is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God. The things that are impossible with man are possible with God.”
