The rich young ruler (4) - All The Good Seed Daily Devotionals for 2026

Jesus said to him, One thing you lack: go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor., and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.
Mark 10:21

The rich young ruler (4)
The Lord Jesus again took up the false idea that someone can earn eternal life by good works (cf. Romans 3:20). He showed the young man that for all his upright, honest life he was nevertheless missing the mark. He would "fall short of the glory of God" (Romqans 3:23). The young man wanted instruction from Jesus like a pupil from his teacher. The Lord Jesus had done precisely what He expected of the young man! He was rich, and for our sakes He became poor, so that we might become rich through His poverty (cf. 2 Corinthians 8:9). The Son of God left the glory of heaven to become a Man. Here He was poor, despised and finally rejected. On the cross He sacrificed His life to open up the way of salvation for sinners.

The Lord did not speak expressly of Himself here. But the young man's reaction revealed that he did not have the Teacher's perfect mind (cf. Philippians 2:5-8).

The young man was rich; but was he prepared to renounce all and give to the poor? That was going too far, he thought. For all his praiseworthy deeds, he loved his riches more than the poor and preferred treasure on earth to treasure in heaven. Doesn't this convince us of the vast moral difference between the noblest of souls and the Lord Jesus? Given that it were at all possible for anyone to earn himself a place in heaven, he must under no circumstances fall behind the Master's standard.

(to be continued tomorrow)

Today's reading: Joshua 23:14-24:5 · 1 Corinthians 15:51-58