(November 30, 2014 at 2:55 pm)Tonus Wrote: The story tells us that the man had kept "all of the commandments since he was a boy." His wealth did not keep him from living a life in accordance with the law, so Jesus makes up a new rule on the spot. It is stunningly arbitrary and petty, especially from the same man who excused the extravagant waste of a woman who spent a fortune on perfume that she used to anoint his feet. On that occasion, he dismissed the needs of the poor: "you will always have the poor among you." How self-serving!
The whole purpose of the law was to reveal man's sinfulness. We can't be saved purely from obeying the commandments of the law. In order to be saved we must "take up our cross and follow him." This young man was obviously not willing to take that step.
