Now when Jesus heard these things, he said to him, Yet lack you one thing: sell all that you have, and distribute to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me.
one.
Luke 10:42 But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.
Psalm 27:4 One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to inquire in his temple.
Philippians 3:13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
sell.
Luke 12:33 Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth.
Luke 16:9 And I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when ye fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations.
Matthew 6:19,20 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: …
and come.
Luke 9:23,57-62 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me…
Matthew 19:21,27,28 Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me…
“You still lack one thing:
Despite the young man's outward obedience, Jesus identifies a deficiency in his spiritual life. This highlights the biblical principle that salvation is not achieved through works alone but requires a heart fully surrendered to God. It echoes the teaching in James 2:10 that failing in one point of the law makes one guilty of all.
Sell everything you own and give to the poor,
Jesus challenges the man to relinquish his material wealth, which had become an idol in his life. This command underscores the biblical theme of detachment from earthly possessions, as seen in Matthew 6:19-21, where believers are instructed to store up treasures in heaven. The call to give to the poor aligns with the Old Testament emphasis on justice and care for the needy (Proverbs 19:17).
and you will have treasure in heaven.
This promise of heavenly treasure contrasts with earthly wealth, emphasizing the eternal value of spiritual riches. It reflects the kingdom principle that true wealth is found in a relationship with God and in living according to His will. This is consistent with Jesus' teachings in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7).
Then come, follow Me.”
The invitation to follow Jesus is central to discipleship, requiring a complete commitment to His lordship. This call to follow is a recurring theme in the Gospels, as seen in Jesus' invitation to His first disciples (Matthew 4:19). It signifies a life of obedience, sacrifice, and transformation, aligning with the call to take up one's cross (Luke 9:23).
• The rich ruler had just claimed to have kept every commandment since youth (Luke 18:21). Jesus’ immediate response shows that He fully heard and understood the man’s heart—just as “The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their cry” (Psalm 34:15).
• By noting Jesus’ attentive hearing, we see His relational approach: He is no distant judge but an engaged Savior (Mark 10:21).
• Jesus speaks with divine authority. Luke previously said, “They were amazed at His teaching, because His message was delivered with authority” (Luke 4:32). Here, that same authority exposes the ruler’s spiritual blind spot.
• When Jesus speaks, obedience is the only safe response (Matthew 7:24; John 14:24).
• Outward morality cannot complete us; we all fall short (Romans 3:23).
• Jesus pinpoints the single issue keeping the man from eternal life. James 2:10 reminds us that failure in one point makes a person “guilty of all.”
• In Mark’s parallel account, Jesus “looked at him and loved him” (Mark 10:21). Love motivates the hard truth.
• Wealth had become the ruler’s functional god. Jesus confronts idolatry head-on: “You cannot serve God and money” (Matthew 6:24).
• Luke 12:15-21 illustrates the danger of storing up earthly riches while being “poor toward God.”
• Paul later echoes this heart shift: “Whatever was gain to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ” (Philippians 3:7).
• Surrendered wealth is redirected to bless others. Proverbs 19:17 says, “Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord.”
• Early believers practiced this generosity: “They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need” (Acts 2:45).
• Genuine love “does not withhold compassion” (1 John 3:17).
• Jesus replaces temporal security with eternal reward. “Store up for yourselves treasures in heaven…for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:20-21).
• True wealth is “a firm foundation for the coming age” (1 Timothy 6:19) and “an inheritance imperishable, undefiled, and unfading” (1 Peter 1:4).
• Discipleship is the ultimate goal. After renouncing rival masters, the ruler is invited into personal fellowship with Christ.
• “If anyone would come after Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow Me” (Luke 9:23).
• Following Jesus means ongoing relationship and obedience: “My sheep listen to My voice; I know them, and they follow Me” (John 10:27).
Luke 18:22 reveals that eternal life is not earned by flawless rule-keeping but received through wholehearted surrender to Christ. Jesus lovingly exposes whatever rivals God in our hearts, calls us to radical generosity, promises heavenly treasure, and invites us into daily, obedient fellowship with Himself.
(22) Yet lackest thou one thing.--It may be noted that the words almost imply the previous question, which has just been referred to.And come, follow me.--St. Luke, with St. Matthew, omits the "taking up thy cross," which is found in many, but not all, MSS. of St. Mark.
Verse 22. - Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing. St. Mark (Mark 10:21), who had St. Peter's memories to draw from, adds here a very touching detail. "Jesus beholding him [looking earnestly at him] loved him." There was something noble and true in that life, struggling in the imperfect light of the rabbinic teaching after eternity and heaven, and feeling that in all its struggles some element was surely wanting; and Jesus, as he gazed on the young earnest face, loved him, and proceeded to show him how far removed his life was as yet from the perfect life he dreamed of attaining to. He would show him in a moment how selfish, how earthly, were his thoughts and aims; how firmly chained to earth that heart of his, which he thought only longed for heaven. Sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me; "Well," the Master said, "I will test you. You say you have from your child-days kept your whole duty to your neighbour; you say that you hunger after the higher righteousness. Do you really? Will you indeed be perfect (Matthew 19:21)? Then I will tell you what you lack. Go, sell those great possessions which I know you love so dearly, and give all to the poor, and come, take up the cross (Mark 10:21), and follow me, the homeless, landless Teacher whom you call by the Divine title 'good.'" The "cross" of St. Mark only Jesus understood then in all its dread significance. It was coming then very near; and the great Teacher saw that his true servants, if they would indeed follow him, must follow him along that lonely road of suffering he was then treading. "Via crucis, via lucis." The young ruler, with his great wealth, thought he had from his youth done his whole duty to his neighbour. The Galilaean Master, whom he so reverenced and admired, reminded him that out of those wide domains, those stored-up riches, out of the mammon of unrighteousness, he had forgotten to make to himself friends who, when he died, should receive him into the eternal tents of heaven. This is what he lacked, lie had probably heard the Lord's teaching in the parables of the unjust steward and of Lazarus.