160. Instruction to a Rich Young Man—Give Up All. Mt. 19:16–26; Mk. 10:17–25; Lk. 18:18–27

As the Lord was setting out on his journey, a certain man of wealth (a young man) ran up to him and, falling on his knees before him, asked him: “Good Teacher! What must I do to inherit eternal life? What good deed must I do to have eternal life?” The Lord Jesus said to him: “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. And if you wish to enter into eternal life, keep the commandments.” The young man said to him: “Which ones?” The Lord Jesus said: “You know the commandments: You shall not murder; you shall not commit adultery; you shall not steal; you shall not bear false witness; do not defraud; honor your father and mother; and, you shall love your neighbor as yourself” (Ex. 20:12–16; Lev. 19:18). The young man said to him: “Teacher! I have kept all these things from my youth. What else do I lack?”

Hearing this, the Lord Jesus loved him and, looking at him, said to him: “One thing you still lack; if you wish to be perfect, go, sell all that you have, give it to the poor, and come, follow me, taking up your cross; and you will have treasure in heaven.” Hearing this word, the young man became sorrowful and, troubled by this saying, went away grieving, for he was very rich and had great possessions.

The Lord Jesus, seeing that he was sorrowful, looked around and said to his disciples: “How hard it is for those who have wealth to enter the Kingdom of God! Truly, I say to you, it is hard for the rich to enter the Kingdom of Heaven.” The disciples were amazed at his words. But the Lord Jesus, answering this, said to them again: “Children! How hard it is for those who trust in riches to enter the Kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for the rich to enter the Kingdom of God!” Hearing this, his disciples were greatly astounded and said to one another: “Then who can be saved?” But the Lord Jesus, looking at them, said to them: “With man this is impossible, but not with God; for all things are possible with God. What is impossible for men is possible for God.”