有一個有錢的少年人來找耶穌，問祂說：「我該作什麼才能得永生？」耶穌的回答有一點奇怪。祂說：「你為什麼以善事問我呢？只有一位是善的。」耶穌的回答乍聽之下像是不屑回答他的問題。但耶穌可能只是像祂往常一樣，用出其不意的回答來吸引聽眾的注意力，然後祂就進入正題：「你若要得永生，就當遵守誡命。」少年人問是什麼誡命，耶穌也舉出了那些當守的試命。少年人說：「這些我都守了。」耶穌於是告訴他，如果他想作完全人，就去賣掉他的財產分給窮人，他便能積財寶在天上。少年人憂憂愁愁的走了，因為他的錢財很多。

         耶穌用這個機會教導祂的門徒說，有錢的人要進天國是難的。門徒希望更深入了解其中的道理。事實上，他們很震驚而問耶穌：「這樣，誰能得救呢？」耶穌說：「從人的角度來看自然是沒有人能得救，但在上帝凡事都能。」彼得說：「看哪，我們已經撇下了一切來跟從您，將來我們能得什麼呢？」耶穌於是告訴他們，凡為主撇下房屋，或是兄弟姐妹、父親、母親、兒女、田地的，必得著百倍，並且承受永生。

         然而，耶穌又插入一句否定話：許多在前的將要在後，在後的將要在前。耶穌說這句話可能是避免門徒，或者我們，企圖把進天國的過程形式化：只要你撇下你的產業，或賣掉你的財寶，就保證能得永生。耶穌說：「不一定如此。」許多看起來已經撇下一切的人，在上帝眼中仍然是失喪的；而許多好像沒有做到這個要求的人，卻將得救。顯然耶穌是在告訴我們，他對那位有錢少年官所說的是針對他特別的情況，不應一概而論。

         主啊，您的道路高過我們的道路。即使您的道路與我們地上的價值觀相衝突，我們仍要感謝您，因您掌管一切，並且知道什麼對我們最好。奉主耶穌基督聖名，阿們！

English

         A rich young man comes up to Jesus and says, “What must I do to get eternal life?” Jesus’ response is a little strange. He says, “Why do you ask Me about what is good? There’s only one who is good.” The initial impression is that this is a bit of a put down. But then again, maybe Jesus is just trying, as he often does, to shock His listener into attention by saying what He least expected to hear. He then gets into the expected answer. “If you want to enter life, obey the commandments.” He asks which ones, and Jesus says such and so. And the young fellow says, “I’ve kept all of these.” Jesus then tells him that if he wants to become prefect, to go, sell his possessions to the poor, and then he’ll have treasure in heaven. Well, the young man left him sadly, because he had a lot of money.

         At this point, Jesus uses the opportunity to teach His disciples that it’s very difficult for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. The disciples want to get a little deeper into this. In fact, they’re greatly astonished and ask, “Well then. Who can be saved?” And Jesus says, “Naturally speaking, in the human realm, it’s impossible to be saved. Only with God is it possible to be saved.” Peter says, “Look, we’ve left everything to follow You. What’s going to be in it for us?” Jesus then tells them that whoever has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields, will receive one hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life.

         Then He throws in a disclaimer. Many who are first shall be last, and many who are last shall be first. This is, perhaps, to avoid any attempt on the disciples part, or on ours, to reduce entry into the kingdom of heaven to a legalism such as” if you leave what’s valuable to you, or sell what is valuable, you’re guaranteed eternal life. Jesus says, “Not necessarily so.” A lot who appear to have done all this, in God’s eyes still will be lost. And many who have appeared to have neglected this, will be found. Obviously, He’s telling us, among other things, that what He said to the rich young ruler was a specific instance and shouldn’t be overly generalized.

         Your ways, oh Lord, are so much higher than ours. Thank You that you’re in control and know best, even when Your ways conflict with our earthly values.