Unlimited: The Commandment-Keeper
May 27, 2024 20109
This is the story about the Commandment-Keeper, Jesus and false assumptions:
“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, honour your father and mother.]”
“Teacher,” he declared, “all these I have kept since I was a boy” (Mark10:18–20, NIV).
A man ran up to Jesus, and he fell on his knees before him. And what he said to Jesus was revealing. He said, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life.”
It’s a good question, but it’s wrongly phrased. It contains some false assumptions – assumptions that we often make too – and Jesus is about to unpack them for him.
Jesus Challenged the Commandment-Keeper
The first wrong assumption that this man made was that anyone could be good. Of course, Jesus wasn’t a mere man, but this young man didn’t know that. He considered himself good, so he thought that Jesus must be good as well. So, Jesus quoted Scripture to him to challenge him, reminding him that no one is good except God alone. There’s a double whammy in that, because he was in fact God himself.
The second false assumption that this man-made was that he could be a commandment-keeper – perfectly, and it’s very clear that they are talking about the Ten Commandments because Jesus quotes them. In fact, the man thought that you could be good by keeping the commandments.
The third false assumption that this man-made is that the commandments are kept by their external fulfilment. He had never murdered anyone literally, or committed adultery in the flesh, and so on, so he thought that he had done all that the law required. Of course, Jesus taught that the commandments are spiritual, and their fulfilment or otherwise comes from deep within our very hearts.
I wonder why this man came to Jesus? Perhaps he expected Jesus to congratulate him. Or perhaps he still felt unfulfilled in his legalistic religion.
Whatever it was, Jesus went along with the man’s assumptions in his answer. Jesus wanted to expose the man’s false assumptions, to show him that commandment-keeping was not the way to inherit eternal life, because what God required went far beyond external legalistic understandings. Salvation was through trusting, not doing; through faith, and not through works.
One thing Jesus is very good at is challenging false assumptions about God, ourselves, and salvation.
– Eliezer Gonzalez
Eli’s Reflection: I wonder… Are you sure that your assumptions about these things are correct? Are you willing to be challenged by Jesus?
Gift levison
Aug 12, 2024
Seek the Lord's truth so that the truth will also be us
Jane
Jan 19, 2024
I don't know what to say except that I have broken at least one commandment willingly and not, thoughtlessly or unintentionally or both. But there are commandments I will never break - not to 'save myself - physically or in my heart - having said that, I've just realised that long ago out of my pain I have wished someone dead but at the same time known in my heart that I didn't/don't wish that at all. I don't want my heart and mind to be dark although I have seen myself hooked into the edge of someone else's game, prayed for God's help and wriggled out andcaway from it, leaving me to wonder, "How can you pretend to be a good, godly person on the surface but so evil inside that it makes me sick?" I don't want that. God doesn't want that for me. Interesting to hear Eliezer about all these other Jesuses. I know that I am not god, that nothing I do can ever buy me into the Kingdom of God. Nothing. What I do know is that most if not all of my life has been at a loss to understand things and what to do. One day I went to the Doctor. My usual doctor was retiring. I'd been crying and chatting to God about it. I needed to see a doctor and prayed. I made an appointment and begrudingly went. Wondering how I could ever place trust in someone else. Little did I know what God had in store. But thanks to God and the doctor, I'm washing Jesus feet with my tears and trusting Him to challenge and guide me in as He will. I have simply existed by trusting God, by trusting in Him even though I have often stumbled, shut myself away. The day I saw the doctor I later said to someone, "Something's got to change..." I sat in my car sobbing and crying out to God. I left myself in His hands. The day seemed to worsen but out if it my hope was restored, I knew I still trusted in Him even though my worldly situation didn't change, I knew everything was ok. What comes back to me now are these words that I have known since chikdhoid but that I am just knowing in my heart for the first time Trust and obey for there's no other way..
Okurut Martin
Sep 20, 2021
There's a great deal of mockery in this incidence where such a character is trying to show his confidentiality in abiding on the commandments yet indeed he is non compliant to any of God's commandments, so to us today
Olivia
Feb 3, 2021
I feel strongly and deeply about trusting and believe in God that within my heart or within your heart that faith will inherit you eternal life so I feel know need to challenge Jesus on God word on faith Amen?
JASON ANDREW TOPPIN
Feb 3, 2021
JESUS NEEDS US TI FOLLOW HIM ALL THE WAY
Geoffrey Kholly
Aug 17, 2024
I feel strongly and deeply touched by these teachings, Am gradually learning to trust and believe in God , so I feel know need to challenge Jesus on God's word on faith . Amen.