Today I want to share with you one of Jesus' most challenging encounters called the Parable of the Rich Young Ruler. While not technically a parable in the traditional sense, this powerful story shows what can happen when our possessions possess us.

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This encounter appears in three of the gospels Matthew, Mark, and Luke, showing its importance to the early church. It reveals some difficult truths about what it means to truly follow Jesus and the obstacles that can stand in our way.

The Parable of the Rich Young Ruler

Chapter 1: An Eager Approach

The story begins with an unusual scene: a wealthy young man running to Jesus and kneeling before Him. "As Jesus was starting out on his way to Jerusalem, a man came running up to him, knelt down, and asked, 'Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?'" (Mark 10:17).

This wasn't an ordinary person. Matthew tells us he was young (Matthew 19:20), Luke says he was a ruler (Luke 18:18), and all three gospels mention he was very rich. For a person of his social standing to run publicly and kneel before a traveling teacher was remarkable. It showed genuine eagerness and humility.

His question revealed a spiritual hunger, he wanted to know how to obtain eternal life. Despite his youth, wealth, and position, he sensed something important was missing. He had achieved worldly success but still felt spiritually unfulfilled.

The manner of his approach suggested sincerity. He wasn't trying to trap Jesus with a trick question as religious leaders often did. He truly wanted an answer to his deep spiritual question.

Chapter 2: The Surprising Response

Jesus' first response wasn't what we might expect: "'Why do you call me good?' Jesus answered. 'No one is good except God alone'" (Mark 10:18).

Rather than immediately addressing the man's question about eternal life, Jesus challenged his casual use of the word "good." This wasn't just a minor correction but a profound point: true goodness belongs to God alone. Jesus was prompting the young man to consider who he believed Jesus to be.

After this thought-provoking introduction, Jesus gave what seemed like a straightforward answer: "You know the commandments: 'You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, you shall not defraud, honor your father and mother'" (Mark 10:19).

Jesus listed several of the Ten Commandments, specifically those dealing with how we treat other people. Interestingly, He didn't mention the commandments about our relationship with God, like having no other gods or avoiding idolatry. This selective focus would prove significant as the conversation continued.

Chapter 3: The Confident Claim

The young man's response revealed his religious dedication: "'Teacher,' he declared, 'all these I have kept since I was a boy'" (Mark 10:20).

He claimed to have perfectly observed these commandments since his youth. Whether this was truly possible is another question, but he genuinely believed he had fulfilled the moral requirements of God's law. He had lived a disciplined, moral life, avoiding major transgressions.

Yet his original question suggested he still felt uncertain about his spiritual standing. Despite his religious observance, something told him he was missing something crucial for eternal life.

What happened next is one of the most touching moments in the gospels: "Jesus looked at him and loved him" (Mark 10:21a). Before challenging this man with difficult truth, Jesus first felt love for him. The young man's sincerity and spiritual hunger moved Jesus' heart.

Chapter 4: The Challenging Command

With love as the foundation, Jesus delivered a challenging response: "'One thing you lack,' he said. 'Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me'" (Mark 10:21b).

Jesus identified the "one thing" missing in this young man's spiritual life. Despite his moral living, there was something holding him back from complete commitment to God—his attachment to wealth. Jesus prescribed a three-part remedy:

1. Sell everything he owned
2. Give the proceeds to the poor
3. Follow Jesus

This wasn't a universal command for all believers but a specific prescription for this particular man's spiritual condition. Jesus identified that wealth was this man's idol, the thing he truly worshipped and trusted in, even more than God.

By asking him to give away his possessions, Jesus was addressing the commandments He hadn't mentioned earlier especially the first commandment about having no other gods. Jesus was testing whether this man loved God with all his heart, soul, mind, and strength.

Chapter 5: The Sorrowful Departure

The young man's reaction revealed that Jesus had accurately diagnosed his spiritual problem: "At this the man's face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth" (Mark 10:22).

He couldn't bring himself to follow Jesus' instruction, even though he wanted eternal life. His wealth had such a grip on his heart that he couldn't let it go, even in exchange for what he claimed to want most.

Mark tells us specifically that "he had great wealth," connecting his inability to follow Jesus directly to his abundant possessions. This man was willing to keep moral rules, but not to surrender his primary source of security and identity, his money and possessions.

The story poignantly ends with his departure. He came running to Jesus with eagerness but left walking away in sadness. His great wealth, rather than being a blessing, became the very thing that kept him from following Jesus wholeheartedly.

Chapter 6: The Difficult Truth

After the young man departed, Jesus used this encounter to teach His disciples an important lesson: "Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, 'How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!'" (Mark 10:23).

When the disciples expressed astonishment at this statement, Jesus reinforced it with a vivid image: "'Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God'" (Mark 10:24-25).

This striking metaphor comparing a camel passing through a needle's eye to a rich person entering God's kingdom illustrated the extreme difficulty wealth creates for spiritual commitment. The disciples were shocked because in their culture, wealth was seen as evidence of God's blessing.

"The disciples were even more amazed, and said to each other, 'Who then can be saved?'" (Mark 10:26). If even the blessed rich couldn't be saved, what hope was there for anyone?

Jesus' answer redirected their focus from human effort to divine grace: "Jesus looked at them and said, 'With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God'" (Mark 10:27).

This crucial statement revealed that salvation is ultimately God's work, not something humans can achieve through moral perfection or any other means. The rich young ruler's problem wasn't primarily his wealth but his reliance on himself and his possessions rather than on God.

Chapter 7: The Greater Reward

Peter, perhaps thinking about what they had given up as disciples, responded: "Then Peter spoke up, 'We have left everything to follow you!'" (Mark 10:28).

Unlike the rich young ruler, the disciples had left their livelihoods and possessions to follow Jesus. Peter seemed to be asking what reward they might expect for this sacrifice.

Jesus assured them that surrendering things for His sake would bring greater rewards: "'Truly I tell you,' Jesus replied, 'no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age: homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields—along with persecutions—and in the age to come eternal life'" (Mark 10:29-30).

Jesus promised both present and eternal rewards for those willing to sacrifice for Him. The "hundred times as much" would come primarily through the new family of faith—the community of believers who share their lives and possessions with each other.

Jesus concluded with a statement connecting back to the rich young ruler: "But many who are first will be last, and the last first" (Mark 10:31). The wealthy and privileged who seem "first" in this world may end up "last" in God's kingdom if they cannot surrender their treasures, while those who seem insignificant but follow wholeheartedly may be honored as "first."

What Can We Learn About The Parable of the Rich Young Ruler?

1. Moral behavior alone is not enough - The young man had kept commandments since childhood, but still lacked something essential. True discipleship involves more than following rules.
2. Possessions can become idols - For this man, wealth had become his primary source of security and identity, making it impossible for him to fully commit to following Jesus.
3. Jesus meets us with love - Before challenging the young man, Jesus "looked at him and loved him." Even difficult spiritual truth is given from a foundation of divine love.
4. God asks for our primary allegiance - Jesus identified what held first place in this man's heart and asked him to surrender it. For each person, the "one thing you lack" might be different.
5. Salvation is God's work, not ours - When the disciples asked "Who then can be saved?" Jesus pointed to God's power, not human effort. What's impossible for us is possible with God.

5 Trivia Quiz about The Parable of the Rich Young Ruler for kids

In which three gospels can we find the story of the Rich Young Ruler?

The story appears in Matthew 19:16-30, Mark 10:17-31, and Luke 18:18-30. Each gospel includes slightly different details, but they all tell the same basic story about a wealthy man who couldn't give up his possessions to follow Jesus.

How did the rich young man approach Jesus?

According to Mark's gospel, the man came running to Jesus and knelt before Him. This was unusual behavior for a wealthy person of high status and showed his eagerness and respect.

Which commandments did Jesus list when the man asked about eternal life?

Jesus mentioned several commandments from the Ten Commandments: do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, do not defraud (Mark adds this one), and honor your father and mother. These focus on how we treat other people.

What was the "one thing" Jesus said the rich young ruler lacked?

Jesus told him, "One thing you lack," and then instructed him to sell his possessions, give to the poor, and follow Him. The "one thing" was his willingness to surrender his wealth and follow Jesus completely.

What famous metaphor did Jesus use about wealth and entering God's kingdom?

Jesus said, "It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God." This vivid image illustrates how difficult it is for wealth focused individuals to fully surrender to God.

If you enjoyed learning about the Rich Young Ruler, next time I'd love to share with you the Parable of the Good Shepherd and His Sheep, a beautiful story Jesus told about His deep love and care for each of us, showing how He guides and protects us just like a shepherd does for his sheep!