|
Post by John on Jul 18, 2018 18:15:58 GMT -5
Thank you Abby, and I appreciate your input. Of course Jesus is God and God is good. When I have read that, I took it to mean that mortal men are not good, only God, but that would go hand in hand with what you are saying, as well as what Lights is saying. Certainly, if that individual didn't believe Jesus was God, it would make sense that he would ask him that question in that way. That would also make what Lights said accurate in her conclusion that this particular man was not a true believer. Perhaps he was seeking to trip Jesus up?
Thanks Abby. I really appreciate your thoughts on this. Sometimes it is a matter of how someone words things. Two people can be saying the same thing, but one words it in a way that brings it out a little better. Perhaps not better for everyone, but for certain people reading it.
|
|
|
Post by 2fw8212a on Jul 18, 2018 19:15:14 GMT -5
Brother, I feel there is a clue in the statement before that where Jesus asked, "Why callest thou me good? there is none that is good but one, that is, God."
Jesus was/is God - the Son - and yet, His answer may seem to some to indicate that Jesus was saying that no one should call Him good because only God is good (implying that Jesus was/is not God). One explanation for this, I believe:"He who speaks from himself seeks his own glory; but He who seeks the glory of the One who sent Him is true, and no unrighteousness is in Him." - John 7:18
"If I bear witness of Myself, My witness is not true. There is another who bears witness of Me, and I know that the witness which He witnesses of Me is true." - John 5:31-32
"For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me." - John 6:38
"And he who sees Me sees Him who sent Me." - John 12:45
"For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich." - 2 Corinthians 8:9
"Let Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men." - Philippians 2:5-7God bless you in Jesus' name!
|
|
|
Post by Sister on Jul 18, 2018 21:34:01 GMT -5
Hi Butero, I understand it like this;
When Jesus spoke to this man, the Jews were still under the 10 commandments, this was a fact.
The very first commandment is that Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, soul and thy mind, and that thou shalt not serve other gods before me.
This man who spoke to Jesus, thought that he was keeping all the commandments serving God justly according to the Law.
But Jesus beholding that man with love (mercy) knew he was unaware that he was breaking even the very first commandment, the most important one.
For the man was serving two masters.
Matthew 6:24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
This first commandment never changes. It remains along with the second commandment, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
Matthew 22:40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
The whole law was built upon these two commandments. They remain forever. If we follow this, we are fulfilling the whole law. These cover everything.
This is why Christ came, to give us the light, and show us in more depth through his teachings, that the love of money, or material things can become another God in our heart without us even knowing.
|
|
|
Post by John on Jul 18, 2018 21:42:18 GMT -5
I have always taken it that he was sincere too Sister, but a bit prideful in his keeping the commandments. It is like he came to Jesus to get his praise. Jesus gave him the answer he wanted at first, but when the man pressed Jesus, he showed him that he had a fault, covetousness. By revealing this to the man, not only did it reveal that sin, but the man no longer had anything to boast in.
Was the man a sincere follower of God before he encountered Christ? I am not sure. I can see it both ways. Lights and Abby-Joy make good sense about how the man may never have been right, but your conclusions are closer to my original ones. I think I will need to spend a bit more time meditating on this story. I do appreciate your input. The more the better in coming to the truth.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jul 20, 2018 7:21:07 GMT -5
Good thoughts on this thread. The story of the rich young man reminds me of a couple of parables:
Mat 13:44-46 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.
Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.
The idea being that it costs us all we have to follow Jesus and obtain eternal life. I really believe Jesus set something in motion with His words to that young man, planting them like seeds in his heart...to grow something that with him alone it would be impossible, but with God all things are possible. The rich young man was now between a rock and a hard place if he wanted to obey the Lord and obtain eternal life....he would have to count the cost and seek the Lord's help to battle his flesh because without God it would be impossible. It seems like Jesus was in this way directing his heart out of the old covenant way of external things into the spiritual (inner) realm of the kingdom of God, because He was requiring of the rich young man something that he simply could not do of his own, without God by His Spirit.
|
|
|
Post by John on Jul 20, 2018 7:33:59 GMT -5
Good thoughts on this thread. The story of the rich young man reminds me of a couple of parables: Mat 13:44-46 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it. The idea being that it costs us all we have to follow Jesus and obtain eternal life. I really believe Jesus set something in motion with His words to that young man, planting them like seeds in his heart...to grow something that with him alone it would be impossible, but with God all things are possible. The rich young man was now between a rock and a hard place if he wanted to obey the Lord and obtain eternal life....he would have to count the cost and seek the Lord's help to battle his flesh because without God it would be impossible. It seems like Jesus was in this way directing his heart out of the old covenant way of external things into the spiritual (inner) realm of the kingdom of God, because He was requiring of the rich young man something that he simply could not do of his own, without God by His Spirit. We really don't know what happened to that man down the road do we? We assume he died lost, but we really don't know if he repented. With God, it is possible.
|
|
|
Post by frienduff on Jul 20, 2018 8:23:19 GMT -5
OH those parables show the beauty . That the kingdom of heaven TRULY is RECIEVED with THE WHOLE HEART , or it was not received at all. Their is no such thing as the mind and heart being in two places . And the double minded are unstable in all their ways . Sin will harden a heart . So its why by HIS grace we do all to correct any who does err . For the sake in hopes of repentance and to keep the leaven from rising hold in the place .
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jul 20, 2018 9:31:56 GMT -5
We really don't know what happened to that man down the road do we? We assume he died lost, but we really don't know if he repented. With God, it is possible.
Amen. I'm sure we are left in suspense on purpose....because elsewhere in scripture the Lord has no difficulty in telling of the sin or error of other people in the bible, and there are no "accidents" in the word of God, so I believe it is safe to take it that it was left open-ended deliberately in the will of God. For one thing, because the rest of the story hadn't been walked out or "decided" yet in the young man's life, and for another, to test our hearts as to how we would look at the story..
|
|
Cletus
Senior Member
Posts: 2,517
|
Post by Cletus on Jul 20, 2018 14:03:17 GMT -5
well the man did... walk away.
|
|
|
Post by John on Jul 20, 2018 14:10:42 GMT -5
well the man did... walk away. There is no question he had made his choice. We just don't know if he could have repented before he died, though that is unlikely. It is about counting the cost.
|
|