"The bible test" Answered.

[Aractus]

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This is a strange argument from silence, that since Jesus does not quote the table of the law applying to God, he accepts that the young man obeys these commands, but since he does quote much of the table applying to fellow men, he is saying that the young man lacks love for his neighbor. Seems like tortuous logic to me.

The fact is the young man says that he has obeyed the commands to love his neighbor and Jesus does not contradict him.

Neither does Jesus imply, as you seem to suggest, that the Scribes and Pharisees came close to fulfilling the law, but no one can fulfill it so perfectly as to deserve eternal life. On the contrary, he says that they did a very bad job of fulfilling the law: they were very good at the minor details but ignored the major duties: "You pay a tenth of mint, dill, and cumin, yet you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy, and faith. These things should have been done without neglecting the others."

He does tell the young man to sell all that he has and give it to the poor. That's quite an extreme demand, but by your logic total sacrifice to help your neighbor is the only way to obey God's law.

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Okay, well:

• When the young man heard this he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.
  
  And Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly, I say to you, only with difficulty will a rich person enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished, saying, “Who then can be saved?” But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Then Peter said in reply, “See, we have left everything and followed you. What then will we have?” Jesus said to them, “Truly, I say to you, in the new world, when the Son of Man will sit on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for my name's sake, will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last first.

The text makes it clear that the rich young ruler's fault is not with his faith and love in God, but that of his neighbours. Compare to this:

• And he said to them, “When I sent you out with no moneybag or knapsack or sandals, did you lack anything?” They said, “Nothing.” (Luke 22:35)

The Lord will provide. However, with that said, the point of his conversation with the ruler isn't that the Lord will provide - Jesus himself makes the promise that he will provide:

• “If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.”

But the point is to test his love for his neighbour against his love for his posessions. If he will not sell what he has for the good of those around him living in poverty, then he loves his money and his posessions more. In fat he cannot be justified by the law, the law justifies no one and it only condemns.

• Romans 2:12-24
  For all who have sinned without the law will also perish without the law, and all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law. For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law who will be justified. For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them on that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus.
  
  But if you call yourself a Jew and rely on the law and boast in God and know his will and approve what is excellent, because you are instructed from the law; and if you are sure that you yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness, an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of children, having in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth—you then who teach others, do you not teach yourself? While you preach against stealing, do you steal? You who say that one must not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? You who boast in the law dishonor God by breaking the law. For, as it is written, “The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.”

And:

• Romans 4:1-8:
  What then shall we say was gained by Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh? For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.” Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due. And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness, just as David also speaks of the blessing of the one to whom God counts righteousness apart from works:
  
  • “Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven,
    and whose sins are covered;
    blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not count his sin.”