Explanation: Christ and the Rich Young Ruler

[ccook950]

I shall paste the text below for reference:

The Rich Young Man
(Matthew 19:16-30; Luke 18:18-30)

17And when he was gone forth into the way, a certain man running up and kneeling before him, asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may receive life everlasting? 18And Jesus said to him, Why callest thou me good? None is good but one, that is God. 19Thou knowest the commandments: Do not commit adultery, do not kill, do not steal, bear not false witness, do no fraud, honour thy father and mother. 20But he answering, said to him: Master, all these things I have observed from my youth. 21And Jesus looking on him, loved him, and said to him: One thing is wanting unto thee: go, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me. 22Who being struck sad at that saying, went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.

Proposed Explanation:

During Christ’s time on Earth, Isreal was under the Mosaic Law.

The Mosaic Law, in Christ’s words, could be summarized as:
“Thou shalt love the Lord with thy whole heart, with thy whole soul, and with thy whole mind, and with thy whole strength. This is the first commandment.
And the second is like it: Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. There is no commandment greater than these”
-Mark 12:30-21 (Douay-Rheims)

The rich young ruler approached Christ and asked how he may inherit eternal life (Matt. 19:16).
Preaching the Mosaic Law, Christ recited to the young ruler several of the 10 Commandments: Thou shalt not murder, thou shalt not commit adultery…Love thy neighbor as thyself (Matt. 19:19).

The young ruler at this point self-righteously declared that he had perfectly “Kept all these from his youth.” (Matt. 19:20)

Christ next advises the young ruler how to seek perfection under the Mosaic Law, more specifically how to perfectly “love thy neighbor as thyself.” :

“If Thou wilt be perfect, go sell what thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in Heaven: and come follow Me.” (Matt. 19:21)

Explanation of Christ’s demand of the young ruler to “sell all and give to the poor”:

To perfectly “love thy neighbor as thyself,” (Mosaic Law) it is required to contribute to our neighbors in poverty. For this rich young ruler, under the terms of Christ, this meant forsaking covetousness, selling possessions, and making charitable donations.

“It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God.”

Proposed Explanation of Christ’s above statement:

During Christ’s time on Earth, He preached Mosaic Law.
Under Mosaic Law, it is required that we “Love our neighbors as ourselves.”
Due to covetousness and oppression of the poor, the rich will not inherit the Kingdom of God because of their refusal to demonstrate loving charity towards our poor brethren.

However, after Christ’s death, we are now under the New Covenant. It is encouraged, but no longer required, to keep the law perfectly. Rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin (Romans 3:20), and are driven to seek the mercy of Christ at the foot of the Cross.

Under Mosaic Law, perfect charity was required of the rich to enter the Kingdom of God. Since so many rich were oppressive and out of greed refused to give aid to their poor brethren, they would not enter the Kingdom. In fact, the old law serves to make us conscious of our sin, and by it none will enter the Kingdom, rich or poor.
However, under the New Covenant, the rich may receive the Kingdom by faith and good works. Perfect charity is no longer required to enter the Kingdom but charitable giving is heartily encouraged.

END

Does this all seem correct?
Opinions please…

 

[adf417]

I shall paste the text below for reference:

The Rich Young Man
(Matthew 19:16-30; Luke 18:18-30)

17And when he was gone forth into the way, a certain man running up and kneeling before him, asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may receive life everlasting? 18And Jesus said to him, Why callest thou me good? None is good but one, that is God. 19Thou knowest the commandments: Do not commit adultery, do not kill, do not steal, bear not false witness, do no fraud, honour thy father and mother. 20But he answering, said to him: Master, all these things I have observed from my youth. 21And Jesus looking on him, loved him, and said to him: One thing is wanting unto thee: go, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me. 22Who being struck sad at that saying, went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.

Proposed Explanation:

During Christ’s time on Earth, Isreal was under the Mosaic Law.

The Mosaic Law, in Christ’s words, could be summarized as:
“Thou shalt love the Lord with thy whole heart, with thy whole soul, and with thy whole mind, and with thy whole strength. This is the first commandment.
And the second is like it: Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. There is no commandment greater than these”
-Mark 12:30-21 (Douay-Rheims)

The rich young ruler approached Christ and asked how he may inherit eternal life (Matt. 19:16).
Preaching the Mosaic Law, Christ recited to the young ruler several of the 10 Commandments: Thou shalt not murder, thou shalt not commit adultery…Love thy neighbor as thyself (Matt. 19:19).

The young ruler at this point self-righteously declared that he had perfectly “Kept all these from his youth.” (Matt. 19:20)

Christ next advises the young ruler how to seek perfection under the Mosaic Law, more specifically how to perfectly “love thy neighbor as thyself.” :

“If Thou wilt be perfect, go sell what thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in Heaven: and come follow Me.” (Matt. 19:21)

Explanation of Christ’s demand of the young ruler to “sell all and give to the poor”:

To perfectly “love thy neighbor as thyself,” (Mosaic Law) it is required to contribute to our neighbors in poverty. For this rich young ruler, under the terms of Christ, this meant forsaking covetousness, selling possessions, and making charitable donations.

“It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God.”

Proposed Explanation of Christ’s above statement:

During Christ’s time on Earth, He preached Mosaic Law.
Under Mosaic Law, it is required that we “Love our neighbors as ourselves.”
Due to covetousness and oppression of the poor, the rich will not inherit the Kingdom of God because of their refusal to demonstrate loving charity towards our poor brethren.

However, after Christ’s death, we are now under the New Covenant. It is encouraged, but no longer required, to keep the law perfectly. Rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin (Romans 3:20), and are driven to seek the mercy of Christ at the foot of the Cross.

Under Mosaic Law, perfect charity was required of the rich to enter the Kingdom of God. Since so many rich were oppressive and out of greed refused to give aid to their poor brethren, they would not enter the Kingdom. In fact, the old law serves to make us conscious of our sin, and by it none will enter the Kingdom, rich or poor.
However, under the New Covenant, the rich may receive the Kingdom by faith and good works. Perfect charity is no longer required to enter the Kingdom but charitable giving is heartily encouraged.

END

Does this all seem correct?
Opinions please…

Like! but I do think your last sentence might be a little soft.

And my opinion is we will be seeing more and more verbiage like this coming from Pope Francis in the near future.

Peace!!!

 

[ccook950]

Thanks!

 

[zz912]

Proposed Explanation of Christ’s above statement:

During Christ’s time on Earth, He preached Mosaic Law.
Under Mosaic Law, it is required that we “Love our neighbors as ourselves.”
Due to covetousness and oppression of the poor, the rich will not inherit the Kingdom of God because of their refusal to demonstrate loving charity towards our poor brethren.

However, after Christ’s death, we are now under the New Covenant. It is encouraged, but no longer required, to keep the law perfectly. Rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin (Romans 3:20), and are driven to seek the mercy of Christ at the foot of the Cross.

Under Mosaic Law, perfect charity was required of the rich to enter the Kingdom of God. Since so many rich were oppressive and out of greed refused to give aid to their poor brethren, they would not enter the Kingdom. In fact, the old law serves to make us conscious of our sin, and by it none will enter the Kingdom, rich or poor.
However, under the New Covenant, the rich may receive the Kingdom by faith and good works. Perfect charity is no longer required to enter the Kingdom but charitable giving is heartily encouraged.

I would be real cautious with your wording here, since it can be misconstrued greatly. Perfect charity is still required, but when we fail, we come for forgiveness to the cross, and receive strength through the cross to try yet again to carry out perfect charity.

 

[Gorgias]

Proposed Explanation of Christ’s above statement:

During Christ’s time on Earth, He preached Mosaic Law.

No, He didn’t.

If Jesus had “preached Mosaic Law”, he would have assented to the stoning of the woman caught in adultery. He would have answered the question about divorce with a Mosaic prescription that would have begun, “you may divorce your wife when…”. He did neither of these things. Jesus didn’t preach Mosaic law – He preached the New Covenant.

Under Mosaic Law, it is required that we “Love our neighbors as ourselves.”

Under the new covenant, too…

However, after Christ’s death, we are now under the New Covenant. It is encouraged, but no longer required, to keep the law perfectly.

Jesus said, “be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect” (Mt 5:48). I think ‘perfection’ is still on the table.

Under Mosaic Law, perfect charity was required of the rich to enter the Kingdom of God. Since so many rich were oppressive and out of greed refused to give aid to their poor brethren, they would not enter the Kingdom.

Perfect charity was required of Christians in the Bible, too. Recall the story of Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5. Christians gave all they had to be held in common, and used for the good of the community and its members. Ananias and Sapphira, however, held back some of the proceeds of the sale of their property, and only gave a portion to the Church community. In other words – no perfect charity. Did they enter the Kingdom? If so, then why did they die at the moment that Peter called them to task for their lack of charity?

Does this all seem correct?

I would disagree with your take on this passage. Rather, I might suggest that Jesus proceeds from the generally applicable to the specific requirements for this particular man. For him, Jesus says, “give up everything and follow me.” This doesn’t imply that all must live a life of poverty; just that Jesus asked it of this man.

 

[sallybutler]

You might want to read The Live of Christ, by Fulton Sheen, chapter 16 about this.

You will note that the young man went away saddened because he would not do what Christ asked of him. While Christ may not ask each of us to give away all our materials, He does ask us to give our selves over to Him. For one, it may be their possesions, for another their health, for another marriage and children for another a particular career, etc. It is the turning over of what was standing between him and Christ that was important.

Christ requires more from us than the Mosaic Law did, not less.

 

[zz912]

Perfect charity was required of Christians in the Bible, too. Recall the story of Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5. Christians gave all they had to be held in common, and used for the good of the community and its members. Ananias and Sapphira, however, held back some of the proceeds of the sale of their property, and only gave a portion to the Church community. In other words – no perfect charity. Did they enter the Kingdom? If so, then why did they die at the moment that Peter called them to task for their lack of charity?

That’s not why they were killed. They were killed because they lied. They weren’t required to give all the money to the Church. But when they lied directly to the Church, and directly to the Pope and Apostles, they were committing a great sin. They claimed to be donating all of the proceeds from the sale to the Church, when they were only giving a portion. They were free to do so, but lying about it was a grievous sin.

Acts 5:1 But a man named Anani′as with his wife Sapphi′ra sold a piece of property, 2 and with his wife’s knowledge he kept back some of the proceeds, and brought only a part and laid it at the apostles’ feet. 3 But Peter said, “Anani′as, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back part of the proceeds of the land? 4 While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? How is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? **You have not lied to men but to God.” **5 When Anani′as heard these words, he fell down and died. And great fear came upon all who heard of it. 6 The young men rose and wrapped him up and carried him out and buried him.

7 After an interval of about three hours his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. 8 And Peter said to her,** “Tell me whether you sold the land for so much.” And she said, “Yes, for so much.” **9 But Peter said to her, “How is it that you have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? Hark, the feet of those that have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.” 10 Immediately she fell down at his feet and died. When the young men came in they found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. 11 And great fear came upon the whole church,[a] and upon all who heard of these things.

 

[Gorgias]

That’s not why they were killed. They were killed because they lied.

I would assert that it’s immaterial to the OP’s discussion: he claimed that ‘perfect charity’ was required under the Mosaic law, but not under the new covenant. I demonstrated a case in which a lack of ‘perfect charity’ (which the OP claims is OK in the Church) led to disastrous consequences for the Christians who exhibited this behavior…

 

[fhansen]

I shall paste the text below for reference:

The Rich Young Man
(Matthew 19:16-30; Luke 18:18-30)

17And when he was gone forth into the way, a certain man running up and kneeling before him, asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may receive life everlasting? 18And Jesus said to him, Why callest thou me good? None is good but one, that is God. 19Thou knowest the commandments: Do not commit adultery, do not kill, do not steal, bear not false witness, do no fraud, honour thy father and mother. 20But he answering, said to him: Master, all these things I have observed from my youth. 21And Jesus looking on him, loved him, and said to him: One thing is wanting unto thee: go, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me. 22Who being struck sad at that saying, went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.

Proposed Explanation:

During Christ’s time on Earth, Isreal was under the Mosaic Law.

The Mosaic Law, in Christ’s words, could be summarized as:
“Thou shalt love the Lord with thy whole heart, with thy whole soul, and with thy whole mind, and with thy whole strength. This is the first commandment.
And the second is like it: Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. There is no commandment greater than these”
-Mark 12:30-21 (Douay-Rheims)

The rich young ruler approached Christ and asked how he may inherit eternal life (Matt. 19:16).
Preaching the Mosaic Law, Christ recited to the young ruler several of the 10 Commandments: Thou shalt not murder, thou shalt not commit adultery…Love thy neighbor as thyself (Matt. 19:19).

The young ruler at this point self-righteously declared that he had perfectly “Kept all these from his youth.” (Matt. 19:20)

Christ next advises the young ruler how to seek perfection under the Mosaic Law, more specifically how to perfectly “love thy neighbor as thyself.” :

“If Thou wilt be perfect, go sell what thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in Heaven: and come follow Me.” (Matt. 19:21)

Explanation of Christ’s demand of the young ruler to “sell all and give to the poor”:

To perfectly “love thy neighbor as thyself,” (Mosaic Law) it is required to contribute to our neighbors in poverty. For this rich young ruler, under the terms of Christ, this meant forsaking covetousness, selling possessions, and making charitable donations.

“It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God.”

Proposed Explanation of Christ’s above statement:

During Christ’s time on Earth, He preached Mosaic Law.
Under Mosaic Law, it is required that we “Love our neighbors as ourselves.”
Due to covetousness and oppression of the poor, the rich will not inherit the Kingdom of God because of their refusal to demonstrate loving charity towards our poor brethren.

However, after Christ’s death, we are now under the New Covenant. It is encouraged, but no longer required, to keep the law perfectly. Rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin (Romans 3:20), and are driven to seek the mercy of Christ at the foot of the Cross.

Under Mosaic Law, perfect charity was required of the rich to enter the Kingdom of God. Since so many rich were oppressive and out of greed refused to give aid to their poor brethren, they would not enter the Kingdom. In fact, the old law serves to make us conscious of our sin, and by it none will enter the Kingdom, rich or poor.
However, under the New Covenant, the rich may receive the Kingdom by faith and good works. Perfect charity is no longer required to enter the Kingdom but charitable giving is heartily encouraged.

END

Does this all seem correct?
Opinions please…

No, it sounds like you’ve allowed the “get-out-of-the-need-for-righteousness card” theology to taint your own. The rich young ruler did well in his observing the law, and the Church teaches that we must observe it, BTW, even as she teaches that the law, by itself, justifies no one. But we’ll still be judged by the law (Rom 2) because the law spells out basic behavior that love compels us to comply with. Matt 25:31-36 spells out more.

The rich young ruler went away sad because our “stuff” is an obstacle in the way of our attaining full peace and happiness. God doesn’t hate the rich, rather the rich continue to rely on their wealth and possessions for their security, happiness, and fulfillment; they have a hard time coming humbly before God, acknowledging their need for Him. The rich young ruler more then likely would achieve is perfection after this life, in purgatory, if his perfection was never attained here.

 

[ready]

I think that men are bound to help the poor equally under both the old and the new covenants. For Jesus warns us about our reckoning on the day of judgment when He says: When I was hungry you did not give me to eat, when I was thirsty you did not give me to drink, etc., and then He goes on to say that we will be cast into the everlasting fires of hell (for not helping the least of our brethren). God bless you.