Not a challenge, just a little trivia. I find this passage interesting. Also, I don’t think this passage is saying what most people think it’s saying.
Now someone approached him and said, “Teacher, what good must I do to gain eternal life?”
Note the rich man asks only what he must do to gain eternal life.
He answered him, “Why do you ask me about the good? There is only One who is good. If you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments.”
Seems to me Jesus is laying out a teaser for what he ends up saying more clearly a few verses later. Noone is good enough to earn their way into heaven. That is, it is a gift to sinful man. However, man could reject this gift through his actions. Such as, not adhering to the commandments, at the least.
[i]He asked him, “Which ones?” And Jesus replied, " 'You shall not kill; you shall not commit adultery; you shall not steal; you shall not bear false witness;
honor your father and your mother’; and ‘you shall love your neighbor as yourself.’"
The young man said to him, “All of these I have observed. What do I still lack?”
[/i]
Now, remember he’s already told him what is required simply to enter eternal life. But, the rich man is seeking more. Perhaps he’s looking for treasures in heaven? Status?
Jesus said to him, “If you wish to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to (the) poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
Now this suggests that not only would he be able to enter heaven, but may even be rewarded in heaven. Treasures in heaven comes up again.
[i]When the young man heard this statement, he went away sad, for he had many possessions.
Then Jesus said to his disciples, "Amen, I say to you, it will be hard for one who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven.[/i]
Again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for one who is rich to enter the kingdom of God."
Now this is the part that takes some thought. Jesus has already said that the man must simply keep the commandments. But now, it seems that he’s saying simply because the man is rich, it would be close to, if not completely impossible, for the man to enter heaven.
When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and said, “Who then can be saved?”
This to me is the telling part of this whole thing, the disciples’ reaction. They’re astonished! They come off mortified that not even a rich man can get into heaven. “Who then can be saved?”
Why would that be? I’ve read, and it seems to fit, that many then would’ve assumed earthly riches were a blessing by God on one that he was satisfied with. So if one who had been favored with riches can’t even get his way in, what about everyone else?
Jesus looked at them and said, “For human beings this is impossible, but for God all things are possible.”
And there you go. It is impossible for human beings, period. Not just the rich, but human beings. Which also makes a literal needle more likely.
[i]Then Peter said to him in reply, “We have given up everything and followed you. What will there be for us?”
Jesus said to them, "Amen, I say to you that you who have followed me, in the new age, when the Son of Man is seated on his throne of glory, will yourselves sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
And everyone who has given up houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands for the sake of my name will receive a hundred times more, and will inherit eternal life.
But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.[/i]
And the last bit comes back to treasures and places of honor in heaven for those who’ve devoted themselves fully to the church, the word, etc. Possibly clery, holy orders, missionaries, martyrs, and those who’ve been made outcasts, etc.
A longish post for me, but I like this passage, and thought you might enjoy it at least on a literary level. But, don’t take what I’ve said to be definitive. In fact, I’d like to run this by my RCIA group if we get to this passage.