“What must I do to inherit eternal life?” is a great question. It just might be the most important question ever asked. Unfortunately, when various persons asked Jesus that question their motive was often impure.
Their duplicity was immediately identified and treated appropriately. Answers were provided with minimal editorializing and yet many Christians create doctrines around the answers.
Another similar question, “Teacher, what is the greatest commandment in the Law,” is often given an inordinate amount of pastoral attention.
Each instance will be addressed in this brief post.
I refuse, however, to bury the lead. There is nothing that you or I can do to inherit eternal life. We can’t do enough good things. Our “good” is contaminated and our bad is abhorrent.
Only by grace through faith can we inherit eternal life.
The Greatest Commandment
Context always matters. Jesus is talking with Pharisees in the next passage. The Pharisees were still under the law and accounted Jesus as a heretic.
Matthew 22:34-40 Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
The Pharisees just witnessed Jesus taking the Sadducees to the woodshed. They most certainly would not make the same bush league mistakes as their denominational competition.
One of the Pharisees decided to “test” Jesus. Think about that for a moment. A finite, religious person testing the Creator of Heaven and earth. Interesting idea. Good luck with that.
Elementary My Dear Watson
The question was elementary. For centuries, Jews recited the Shema three times per day. Jesus simply answered the question that was asked. He indicated that all of the Law and Prophets depended on Deuteronomy 6:4-5 and Leviticus 19:18.
A certain purpose-driven pastor peddled over 30 million books tacitly informing Christians that they remain under the law. Churches continue to teach this works-based idea today.
If only Paul would have written a letter to the church of Galatia about this idea…
We are unable to love God with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength. Our failures are apparent on a daily basis. Anyone who believes that they truly love their neighbor as themselves needs to reexamine the ninth commandment.
Your Money and Your Life
Preachers perpetually pick on the rich young ruler. He rushes to Jesus in absolute excitement asking about eternal life. “What must I do?” he asks. Jesus provided the legal answer for the day but this guy wasn’t really paying attention.
Most pastors and believers would have given him a Hallmark-style prayer before he changed his mind.
Not Jesus. His ways are higher than our ways.
Mark 10:17-22 As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. “Good teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. You know the commandments: ‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, you shall not defraud, honor your father and mother.’” “Teacher,” he declared, “all these I have kept since I was a boy.” Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” At this, the man’s face fell. He went away sad because he had great wealth.
Jesus previously brought the hammer down concerning the ten commandments. He compared murder to anger and adultery to lingering looks during the Sermon on the Mount.
Imagine if the young man would have replied by saying, “Jesus, your expectations are impossible!” I can’t keep these commandments! No one can meet your standards!”
That’s kind of the point.
It Ain’t About Wealth Redistribution
This Bible text had nothing to do with wealth redistribution. This is how Jesus helped the man see the idols in his life. Instead of reaching out for help from the Master, he walked away in defeat.
Jesus identified the idol in his life. We all have them. Jesus demands absolute surrender. We can’t sandbag any thought, sin, or behavior.
It’s impossible to straddle the Kingdom and the world.
Who Is My Neighbor?
Another pedantic and prideful putz decided to “test” the King of kings. It’s important to keep the spirit of the question in mind when reading the Parable of the Good Samaritan.
Luke 10:25-29 On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?” He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.” But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”
Ostensibly, this expert in the law was persuaded that the law could be kept. His pride was off the charts! Loving God with all of his heart, soul, mind, and strength was a piece of cake. He must’ve never had even a bad thought about the Most High God.
His only real concern was who to consider a neighbor. Jesus took this nincompoop through a wild story to answer the question. Again, many preachers absolutely miss the spirit of the original question and the spirit in which Jesus answers the question.
Play It Again, Sam
It is worth repeating: there is nothing that we can do to inherit eternal life. It’s impossible. James further clarified the point with this statement: For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.
Horseshoes and Hand Grenades
Mark 12:28-34 One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?” “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’
The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” “Well said, teacher,” the man replied. “You are right in saying that God is one and there is no other but him. To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding, and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.” When Jesus saw that he had answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And from then on no one dared ask him any more questions.
Churches spend a ton of time on this text. They provide dozens of activities and works-based machinations to “prove their faith” to the King.
While we certainly strive — by the grace of God — to love God with every fiber of our being we simply will fall short on a moment-by-moment basis. Please don’t tell me that you love your neighbor as yourself, Pinocchio.
Would You Like Leather?
When is the last time that you took out a car loan or mortgage for your neighbor? Kind of what I thought. See, we can’t do it every moment of every day. Even when we do something super special for a “neighbor” it still is corrupted with the stench of pride, self-righteousness, and arrogance.
I’ve heard many believers get super stoked when reading through this text. “THIS is what the church should be doing,” they excitedly profess! Yet, the last statement spoken by Jesus is totally disregarded:
“You are not far from the Kingdom of God.”
That doesn’t sound too promising to me. Close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades, y’all! Preachers often act as though this guy answered “THE QUESTION.” All he did was compliment Jesus on His answer.
His Grace Is Sufficient
Feel free to earn your salvation but you will fail miserably. Jesus paid it all. We are incapable of properly living out the Great Commandment and there is nothing that we can do to inherit eternal life.
Yes, we need the “crutch of religion” to sustain us. I try to be and to do good but fail multiple times per day. I’m not into antinomianism. I have great respect for imputed righteousness and the shed blood of Christ and continue to fail.
Luke 18:13 But the tax collector, standing some distance away, was even unwilling to lift up his eyes to heaven, but was beating his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, the sinner!’
Self-righteousness is destructive.
Take some time and dig into these verses.