Jesus told the rich young ruler to sell all he had because He was exposing the man’s true heart condition. Though the ruler claimed to have kept the commandments, his wealth had become an idol, and Jesus was calling him to forsake it in order to follow Him wholeheartedly.
The encounter is recorded in Matthew:
“Jesus said to him, ‘If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.’”
(Matthew 19:21)
The man had asked what good thing he must do to inherit eternal life. Jesus first pointed him to the commandments. The man responded:
“All these things I have kept from my youth. What do I still lack?”
(Matthew 19:20)
Jesus then gave a direct challenge that went to the root of the issue, his attachment to possessions. The next verse says:
“But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.”
(Matthew 19:22)
The issue was not that wealth is inherently evil, but that this man’s heart trusted in riches more than in God. He had made wealth his security, violating the very first commandment to have no other gods.
Jesus commented:
“It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”
(Matthew 19:24)
This startled the disciples, but Jesus clarified:
“With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
(Matthew 19:26)
Jesus knew that no one can serve both God and money (Matthew 6:24). By calling the ruler to sell all, He was calling him to freedom from idolatry, to total dependence on God, and to the treasure of eternal life.
The ruler’s sorrow revealed that, though outwardly moral, he inwardly served another master. Eternal life required surrender, something he was unwilling to give.
