Matthew 19:18-20
“Which ones?” the man inquired. Jesus replied, “’Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honor your father and mother,’ and ‘love your neighbor as yourself.’” “All these I have kept,” the young man said. “What do I still lack?”
Reflection
Jesus shares with this man that he should follow the commandments. I have a feeling that Jesus was trying to show this man that he really couldn’t keep all the commandments. However he didn’t get it. When Jesus listed the commandments that he needed to keep, the man said that he had kept them all. Really? He had never lied, stolen or been disrespectful to his parents? Obviously, the man had a high view of his own personal goodness. This fact alone would have made him difficult to reach with the gospel because in order for us to truly receive Jesus’ love and forgiveness, we need to have an awareness of
our own sinfulness.
If this man was hard to reach why do you think Jesus even tried? If a person seems to be beyond our ability to reach them should we try anyway?
