Dylan569
Active
- Joined
- Nov 4, 2024
- Messages
- 438
The record of the rich young ruler is found in three gospels: Matt. 19:16-26; Mk 10:17-17 & Lk 18:18-27. It is usually seen as an example of a rich man who dies in his sin, because he loved his wealth. But, do we really know that is the end of the story?
Mark records "Jesus beholding him loved him" and that is usually seen more as Jesus looking kindly upon him, he having an appearance of a good young man, but not seen as the eternal love of God for his elect. But, do we know that for a fact, as it is written in the three gospels? The Greek "loved" in Mark is the same as God so loved the world in John 3:16 and it is also used in the following:
"Now before the festival of the Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart from this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end." (Joh 13:1 NRSVue)
After Jesus gave the illustration of the camel going through the eye of the needle, and indicating it was as hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God, the disciples then asked: "Who then can be saved?" Jesus replied:
"He replied, 'What is impossible for mortals is possible for God.'” (Luk 18:27 NRSVue)
Consider the following parable of Jesus:
“What do you think? A man had two sons; he went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work in the vineyard today.’ He answered, ‘I will not,’ but later he changed his mind and went. The father went to the second and said the same, and he answered, ‘I go, sir,’ but he did not go. Which of the two did the will of his father?” They said, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are going into the kingdom of God ahead of you. For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him, and even after you saw it you did not change your minds and believe him." (Mat 21:28-32 NRSVue)
Does that parable give us a right to consider the possibility that in like manner, the rich young ruler also changed his mind? I believe it at least keeps us from dogmatically believing the rich young ruler died in his sins. Why should this be an encouragement for us?
When we have a loved one, or a close friend, who has turned a deaf ear to the gospel; do we not have the right to continue praying with faith in God, for whom all things are possible? I believe that we do.
Mark records "Jesus beholding him loved him" and that is usually seen more as Jesus looking kindly upon him, he having an appearance of a good young man, but not seen as the eternal love of God for his elect. But, do we know that for a fact, as it is written in the three gospels? The Greek "loved" in Mark is the same as God so loved the world in John 3:16 and it is also used in the following:
"Now before the festival of the Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart from this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end." (Joh 13:1 NRSVue)
After Jesus gave the illustration of the camel going through the eye of the needle, and indicating it was as hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God, the disciples then asked: "Who then can be saved?" Jesus replied:
"He replied, 'What is impossible for mortals is possible for God.'” (Luk 18:27 NRSVue)
Consider the following parable of Jesus:
“What do you think? A man had two sons; he went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work in the vineyard today.’ He answered, ‘I will not,’ but later he changed his mind and went. The father went to the second and said the same, and he answered, ‘I go, sir,’ but he did not go. Which of the two did the will of his father?” They said, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are going into the kingdom of God ahead of you. For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him, and even after you saw it you did not change your minds and believe him." (Mat 21:28-32 NRSVue)
Does that parable give us a right to consider the possibility that in like manner, the rich young ruler also changed his mind? I believe it at least keeps us from dogmatically believing the rich young ruler died in his sins. Why should this be an encouragement for us?
When we have a loved one, or a close friend, who has turned a deaf ear to the gospel; do we not have the right to continue praying with faith in God, for whom all things are possible? I believe that we do.
