Luke 18:18-30

The Wealthy Young Ruler And The Use of Possessions (18:18-30).

Following on the delightful response of these children we have a classic example of one who was not ready to receive the Kingly Rule of God as a little child. For he had become tangled up in his riches. This was in complete contrast with little children, and with the blind beggar in the story that follows. Most would have envied him his riches, but here we are to learn that they were his downfall.

In the chiastic analysis of this whole section this passage parallels that of the rich man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19). There too wealth was the rich man's downfall, while Lazarus, like the Apostles, benefited by the fact that riches, of which he had none, were not around to prevent him from coming to God.

Analysis.

a A certain ruler asked Him, saying, “Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”, and Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? none is good, save one, even God” (Luke 18:18).

b “You know the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honour your father and mother.” And he said, “All these things have I observed from my youth up” When Jesus heard it, he said to him, “One thing you yet lack, sell all that you have, and distribute it to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven, and come, follow me” (Luke 18:20).

c But when he heard these things, he became exceedingly sorrowful, for he was very rich' (Luke 18:23).

d And Jesus seeing him said, “How hard it will be for those who have riches to enter into the Kingly Rule of God!” (Luke 18:24).

e “For it is easier for a camel to enter in through a needle's eye, than for a rich man to enter into the Kingly Rule of God” (Luke 18:25).

d And those who heard it said, “Then who can be saved?” But He said, “The things which are impossible with men are possible with God” (Luke 18:26).

c And Peter said, “Lo, we have left our own, and followed you” (Luke 18:28).

b ‘And He said to them, “Truly I say to you, There is no man who has left house, or wife, or brethren, or parents, or children, for the Kingly Rule of God's sake” (Luke 18:29).

a “Who will not receive a great deal more in this time, and in the world to come eternal life” (Luke 18:30).

Note that in ‘a' the question was concerning how to receive eternal life, and the parallel describes who will receive eternal life. In ‘b' we have the posing of the commandments and the one thing lacking, and in the parallel the contrast with those who did forsake all. In ‘c' the ruler is sorrowful at the thought of losing his riches, while in the parallel Peter rejoices in it. In ‘d' Jesus confirms how hard it is for a rich man to enter under the Kingly Rule of God, and in the parallel He explains that it is possible with God. In ‘e' is the central point stressing the difficulty for the rich in entering under the Kingly Rule of God. Here was direct evidence of the truth at which the Pharisees had laughed (Luke 16:14). Of course, they would never have dreamed of selling all and giving it to the poor. But the failure to be willing to do this was keeping this ruler back from his dream. And the whole point of what Jesus had said was that their obedience to God, and especially their compassion, was similarly lacking.