The story of the rich young ruler and the disciples' commitment to Jesus highlight different aspects of obedience and its role in following Christ. Both cases reveal important truths about the nature of discipleship, but they also show contrasting motivations and outcomes.
The rich young ruler approached Jesus with a question about eternal life, claiming he had kept all the commandments since his youth. His dependence on obedience was rooted in a legalistic understanding of salvation. He believed that by following rules and maintaining moral behavior, he could earn his way into God's favor. This approach reflects a transactional view of faith, where good deeds are seen as currency to purchase eternal life.
However, the disciples' understanding was not perfect either. They often misunderstood Jesus' teachings and had misconceptions about His kingdom. They expected Jesus to establish an earthly government, with them holding positions of power. This expectation reveals a mixture of genuine faith and selfish ambition in their obedience.
Key Differences and Similarities:
Motivation and Expectations:
Rich Young Ruler: Motivated by self-justification and the desire to earn salvation. His obedience was a means to an end - gaining eternal life.
Disciples: Initially motivated by a mixture of faith and expectation of earthly rewards. Their obedience, while stemming from a relationship with Jesus, was partly driven by the anticipation of positions in an earthly kingdom.
Similarity: Both the ruler and the disciples initially saw obedience as a pathway to a specific reward, whether heavenly or earthly. This reveals how easily our motives can become mixed or misguided, even when following religious practices.
Attachment to Wealth/Power:
Rich Young Ruler: Couldn't let go of his material possessions when challenged.
Disciples: Left their livelihoods but harbored ambitions for power and status in Jesus' supposed earthly kingdom.
Similarity: Both cases show an attachment to worldly benefits, whether present (ruler's wealth) or anticipated (disciples' expected positions of authority).
Willingness to Change:
Rich Young Ruler: Walked away sad when confronted with the true cost of discipleship.#
Disciples: Remained with Jesus, gradually learning and adjusting their understanding.
Understanding of the Kingdom:
Rich Young Ruler: Saw eternal life as a reward for good behavior.
Disciples: Initially expected an earthly kingdom but gradually came to understand the spiritual nature of God's reign.
Similarity: Both started with a flawed, transactional view of following God. The ruler sought to "earn" heaven, while the disciples initially sought earthly rewards.
Outcome:
Rich Young Ruler: The story ends with him walking away from Jesus.
Disciples: Despite their flaws, they continued to follow Jesus and eventually became leaders in the early church.
This comparison reveals that both the rich young ruler and the disciples initially approached obedience with less-than-spiritual motives. The ruler sought to secure his eternal future, while the disciples anticipated earthly rewards. In both cases, Jesus challenged these surface-level, reward-oriented approaches to faith.
The key difference lies in their response to Jesus' challenge: the ruler walked away, unable to let go of his misconceptions and attachments, while the disciples, though initially misguided, remained open to Jesus' teaching and gradually transformed their understanding and motivations.
This parallel underscores the human tendency to approach faith with self-interest, even when appearing outwardly obedient. It highlights Jesus' consistent call to a deeper, more selfless form of discipleship that transcends both earthly and heavenly reward-seeking.
In both cases, Jesus challenged surface-level obedience and called for a deeper commitment. He showed that true discipleship involves more than just following rules or seeking personal gain. It requires a transformation of the heart, a willingness to surrender everything, and a genuine relationship with Him.
CONCLUSION
Understanding this comparison is crucial for Christians as it prompts self-reflection and highlights the difference between surface-level obedience and genuine faith. It reveals that even well-intentioned believers can have mixed motives, encouraging a shift from a reward-oriented approach to a transformative relationship with God. This insight counters legalism and prosperity gospel teachings, emphasizing instead the need for heart transformation and complete surrender to God's will.
It portrays faith as a journey of growth, where initial misunderstandings can, through openness to Jesus' teachings, evolve into mature discipleship. Ultimately, it challenges Christians to cultivate a deeper, more authentic faith that transcends rule-following and self-interest, aligning more closely with Jesus' call to sacrificial discipleship.
About the Author
Dr. Bill Young is an elder at the Danville SDA church and a professor at Eastern Kentucky University. Having a long-term background in prehospital emergency medicine, he has seen the worst that this world has to offer. In doing so, he has found that turning to the scriptures is a very real refuge. He enjoys exploring the history and geography of Israel during the time that Jesus walked the land.
