What Do You Need to Sell In Order to Follow Jesus? Matthew 19:16-22

The Rich and the Kingdom of God

16 Just then a man came up to Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?”

The young man asks a question that a lot of peoplel ask.  Everybody for the most part wants to receive eternal life, but want to know what they need to do to get it.  The man respectfully calls Jesus "teacher", which means "rabbi".

"All three gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke) tell us this man was rich. Matthew tells us he was young (Matthew 19:22), and Luke tells us he was a ruler." (Guzik)

17 “Why do you ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, keep the commandments.”

Jesus gives the man a very surprising reply.  He defines goodness as only to be found in God alone.  Notice he doesn't even attribute this kind of goodness to himself, though we know he is good.  So right away Jesus dispels the young ruler's notion of what goodness is.  

To make his point, Jesus tells him that if he wants to enter life (probably meaning eternal life), he must keep the commandments, which is usually interpreted as the ten commandments Moses gave to Israel. 

"Jesus’ answer to the man’s question was straightforward. If you want to gain eternal life by your doing, you must keep the commandments – all of them, and keep them in the fullest sense." (Guzik)

18 “Which ones?” he inquired. Jesus replied, “‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, 

Whether sincere or not, the young man asks Jesus which ones he should keep.  Jesus starts with the commandments which deal with how to treat one another, the most important one being not murdering someone.  

In the other gospels Jesus says, "You know the commandments", pointing to the fact that he was raised in a Jewish home.  It is assumed since he was not a Roman ruler, he was a ruler in the Jewish synagogue.

19 honor your father and mother,’ and ‘love your neighbor as yourself.’”

Though the order of the commandments is different than the original ones given by Moses, Jesus moves to the commandments of loving one's parents and one's neighbor as themselves. (though technically this is not one of the ten commandments, Jesus calls it the greatest commandment to love God with all of your heart, soul and mind; and love your neighbor as yourself.")

20 “All these I have kept,” the young man said. “What do I still lack?”

Clearly based on the young man's response, he is referring to the "letter" not the "spirit" of the law, which Jesus expounded upon in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7).  Regardless, the man is seeking an answer.  In Mark's version it says in response to this question, "Jesus loved him." Jesus sees his sincere of heart.  

Though the man thinks he is doing well by observing the letter of the Law, he knows something is missing when he says, "What do I still lack."  This is often referred to the hole in one's heart that can only be filled by God.

“The exemplary life plus the dissatisfaction meant much…‘I am on the right road, according to your teaching; why then do I not attain the rest of the true, godly life?’” (Bruce)

21 Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

Jesus tests the man by challenging him to sell his possession and give to the poor.  When he says "perfect", he means completely and lacking nothing.  And, in a sense, he would experience this if he gave up all he had to help those less fortunate.  

But importantly Jesus gets to the heart of the matter when he says, "Follow me".  It is in following Jesus that the man will find eternal life and be lacking in nothing.  He will receive the gift he was looking for, eternal life. 

Note Jesus is not saying this as a rule for all people, but it is applying it to the man and in his specific situation.  He knows the man's heart, as we will see in the next verse. 

22 When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth.

This is somewhat of a depressing statement.  We see the promise in the young man, his sinceritythe  and the influence he might have, but it is all for nought when he declines Jesus' invitation to follow him.  And specifically he went away sad becasue of his great wealth.  I.e. His wealth was more important to him than following Jesus. 

“And what were these in comparison of peace of conscience, and mental rest? Besides, he had unequivocal proof that these contributed nothing to his comfort, for he is now miserable even while he possesses them! And so will every soul be, who puts worldly goods in the place of the supreme God.” (Clarke)

What might Jesus be asking you in order to determine where your heart is in regard to giving up everything to follow him?  What do you have trouble giving up in order to know the peace that comes from following Jesus?  What is the difference between sincerity and action?  Where might Jesus be challenging you today to follow him in a deeper way?  What would you have to "sell" in order to do this?