Luke 18:22

My Notes

What Does Luke 18:22 Mean?

A rich ruler has come to Jesus asking what he must do to inherit eternal life. He's kept the commandments since his youth. He's done everything right by the standard metrics of Jewish faithfulness. And Jesus looks at him — Mark's account adds that Jesus loved him — and names the one thing standing between this man and the kingdom.

"Yet lackest thou one thing" — this is simultaneously the gentlest and the most devastating sentence Jesus speaks to anyone in the Gospels. Not ten things. Not a complete overhaul. One thing. But that one thing is everything this man has built his life on.

"Sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor" — Jesus goes straight to the idol. Not because wealth is inherently sinful, but because this man's wealth is the thing he trusts instead of God. Other people Jesus met had different idols. This man's idol was his portfolio. And Jesus won't negotiate with idols. He doesn't say sell some, or tithe more generously, or think about it. All. Distribute. To the poor.

"And thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me" — the invitation on the other side of the surrender is staggering. Jesus isn't asking him to trade something for nothing. He's asking him to trade earthly treasure for heavenly treasure, temporary security for eternal security, and a wealthy life for a life with Jesus. The ruler walks away sad, not because Jesus asked too much, but because the man loved something more than he loved the invitation.

Reflection Questions

• 1.What is your 'one thing' — the thing Jesus could ask you to release that would make you hesitate or walk away?
• 2.Why do you think Jesus gave this specific instruction to this specific man? What does that tell you about how personally Jesus knows you?
• 3.How do you respond to the fact that Jesus let the man walk away without chasing him? What does that reveal about how God handles our freedom?
• 4.What would 'come, follow me' look like in your life if you actually released the thing you're holding onto most tightly?

Devotional

Jesus doesn't give everyone the same instruction. He didn't tell Peter to sell everything. He didn't tell Zacchaeus to give away all his wealth — just half, plus restitution. The instruction to sell all was specific to this man because Jesus saw the specific thing that owned him. The question isn't "does Jesus want me to sell everything?" The question is "what's my one thing?"

Everyone has a one thing. The thing that, if Jesus asked you to release it, would make you walk away sad. It might be money. It might be a relationship. It might be your reputation, your control, your comfort, your plan for how life is supposed to go. You'll know what it is because when you imagine letting go of it, something inside you panics.

What makes this story heartbreaking is that the man was so close. He'd done everything else. He'd kept the commandments. He was earnest, sincere, asking the right questions. He was standing in front of Jesus, receiving a personal invitation to follow Him. And he walked away. Not because he didn't want eternal life, but because he wanted his wealth more. The one thing he wouldn't surrender was the one thing Jesus asked for.

Jesus didn't chase him. He let him walk away. That's the terrifying freedom of the invitation. You can say no. You can keep your one thing and lose everything else. Or you can open your hands and find that what Jesus offers on the other side — treasure in heaven, life with Him — is worth infinitely more than what you released.

Commentary

Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.

Cross References

Related passages throughout Scripture