THE GOSPEL OF LUKE: - Vital Christianity

187"You know the commandments: 'Do not commit adultery, do not murder, do not steal, donot give false testimony, honor your father and mother'” (v. 20).The young man responded immediately,“All these I have kept since I was a boy" (vv. 20-21).Such an answer is not so surprising since this young man was sincere in his religiousdevotion. He had been taught that the law could be kept in its entirety, which was only true whenthe commandments were defined by the Pharisees. Jesus' view of keeping these commandmentswent beyond mere legalistic interpretations to the spirit of the commandments (Mt 5:17-48).THE COST OF ETERNAL LIFE (18:22)If this young man had kept all the commandments, as he claimed, why bother going toJesus? He instinctively knew something was still missing. Such recognition gives Jesus anopportunity to speak of his need:"When Jesus heard this, he said to him, 'You still lack one thing. Sell everythingyou have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come,follow Me'" (v. 22).This young man had to let go of his idol—what was most precious to him—his greatwealth. If the man does this, Jesus assures him, he will have treasure in heaven.Instead of telling this young man that he should buy his way to heaven by contributing tothe building of some religious building, He tells him to sell everything he owns and give theproceeds to those who are least able to reciprocate—the poor.This is in keeping with James’ definition of true religion:"Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look afterorphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being pollutedby the world" (Jas 1:27).