Context No. 2769 of 4322 · Luke

Luke 18:21-25: in context

21He said, “I have observed all these things from my youth up.” 22When Jesus heard these things, he said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell all that you have and distribute it to the poor. Then you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.” 23But when he heard these things, he became very sad, for he was very rich. 24Jesus, seeing that he became very sad, said, “How hard it is for those who have riches to enter into God’s Kingdom! 25For it is easier for a camel to enter in through a needle’s eye than for a rich man to enter into God’s Kingdom.”

A man who has kept the commandments since his youth asks Jesus what he still lacks. Jesus names one thing: sell everything you have, give it to the poor, and then come and follow me, and you will have treasure in heaven. The man hears it and goes away very sad, because he was very rich. Watching him, Jesus says how hard it is for the wealthy to enter God's kingdom, easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle.

Notice that the man is not told to give up his morality but his security. He had kept the rules, but his wealth was the one thing he could not lay down, which means it owned him rather than the other way around. Jesus puts his finger exactly on the place where this man's heart is anchored somewhere other than God. What he lacked was not a missing virtue. It was a rival treasure he would not release.

What is the one thing I could not bear to be told to give up, and does that reveal where my treasure really is?

Sources

Luke 18:22: "Sell all that you have, and distribute it to the poor. Then you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me."
Matthew 6:21: "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."
1 Timothy 6:10: "For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil."