But Jesus only told one person...

[Budman]

The ENTIRE point Jesus was making to the Rich young ruler was that it was impossible to attain Eternal Life by keeping the Law. That's it. It had nothing to do with money. Jesus tried to illustrate that the man had NOT kept the all the Law evidenced by the fact that he was rich, and yet so many were needy.

There is only ONE way a camel can go through the eye of a needle. And that is to be utterly pulverized to dust. THEN we can fit through that eye. We ARE totally pulverized, that is our flesh, when we are born again.

BINGO! We have a winnaaaah!

 

[RickyZ]

The point being, who says God only said that to one person???

 

[LPT]

Hello LPT,
Jesus was a Jew, sent to Jews, speaking to a Jew, both of whom, are still under Mosaic law.

All scripture is written for us.

Rom 15:4 (A) For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning

Not all scripture is written to us, for our doctrine.

Gal 3:24 (A) Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ

(NOTE: The purpose of the Mosaic law covenant . Was to teach/expose our sin & our need for a savior. It was implemented temporarily, until Christ pay's sin due wage = DEATH. That was 430 yrs after God's faith promise with Abraham. Mosaic law covenant doesn't annual God's faith covenant with Abraham (Gal 3:17).

We are instructed to be cheerful givers. God doesn't change & the law doesn't change.

However, throughout human history. God does change the way he administers the implementation of the law. Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses & the New testament Church/Body of Christ. Who BTW, isn't under the law Jesus & the rich man were under.

Indeed and I’m not harping on the poster for thinking of selling his belongings instead of giving it away. but it is extreme example of how just easily it can be that we can think carnally without realizing our actions and thoughts and words can have a impact.

 

[LPT]

The point being, who says God only said that to one person???

Good point Jesus did many things that are not written.

 

[posthuman]

Hmm I think its giving to the poor that Jesus was emphaising not the selling of everything you have that you friend is taking on board. . But actually there will come a point where you will actually need to sell everything you have, cos you cant take it with you.

See the parable of the pearl of great price..Matthew 13:44-46

oh, that's an interesting connection!

it's Christ who sold everything He had, setting aside His glory, for the joy set before Him, buying us with a price - what's He really telling this man?

 

[Hevosmies]

The OP brings up a question of hermeneutics: how are we to interpret Scripture?

If we are to take Jesus' words to the rich young man as instructive for all, then we must also take his words to his disciples as instructive for all: Go to the next village and get a donkey.

Does this sound rational? No.

Instead, we examine the narrative and look for a principle. Is there a principle for us in Jesus sending the disciples for a donkey? Not that I can see; it was a one-time case. Could the Holy Spirit use that for a specific situation in another person's life? Of course, but in general terms we are not looking for donkeys.

Now let's look again at the rich young man: is there a principle to be found? Yes. Is the principle, "Go and sell your belongings..."? No.

When reading Scripture, make the distinction between narrative that records events, and direct instruction. Many bad doctrines come from people misinterpreting narrative as instruction.

Now... what you are about to do, do quickly.

This is a great post.

They should run a 'how to interpret the Bible correctly' course in every Church.

Btw: Does the Bible itself tell us any tips on how to interpet the Scriptures? Anyone know of something?

 

[RickyZ]

Good point Jesus did many things that are not written.

Actually, with 50 verses all saying the same thing, I think this issue was well written about and covered in scripture

 

[posthuman]

Good point Jesus did many things that are not written.

still, the things that are written are never arbitrary which makes the things left unrecorded not arbitrary either. so pragmatically we can't dismiss singularity of something recorded or interconnections in the text, even though we can't assume it's a complete history - there aren't 'coincidences' in the scripture, right?

ex: there are more records in the gospels of Jesus healing the blind than any other malady. that doesn't mean that in an absolute sense, He actually healed more blind than anything else, lame, deaf, sick, etc. but it remains important that the scripture records more giving sight to those who could not see than other types of physical healing.

 

[RickyZ]

I call them God-incidences

 

[LPT]

This is a great post.

They should run a 'how to interpret the Bible correctly' course in every Church.

Btw: Does the Bible itself tell us any tips on how to interpet the Scriptures? Anyone know of something?

Indeed it does in many ways here’s one example.
Ecclesiastes
16When I applied my mind to know wisdom and to observe the activity that one does on the earth—though his eyes do not see sleep day or night— 17I saw every work of God, and that a man is unable to comprehend the work that is done under the sun. Despite his efforts to search it out, he cannot find its meaning; even if the wise man claims to know, he is unable to comprehend.

 

[LPT]

still, the things that are written are never arbitrary which makes the things left unrecorded not arbitrary either. so pragmatically we can't dismiss singularity of something recorded or interconnections in the text, even though we can't assume it's a complete history - there aren't 'coincidences' in the scripture, right?

ex: there are more records in the gospels of Jesus healing the blind than any other malady. that doesn't mean that in an absolute sense, He actually healed more blind than anything else, lame, deaf, sick, etc. but it remains important that the scripture records more giving sight to those who could not see than other types of physical healing.

Was it blindness I thought of leper’s, I think I recall ten just in one sitting.

 

[posthuman]

Here’s a write up I found interesting from bible study tools.

Again the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure
By which is meant, not eternal life, the incorruptible inheritance, riches of glory, treasure in heaven; nor Christ, in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge, and all the riches of grace and glory; but the Gospel, which is a treasure consisting of rich truths, comparable to gold, silver, and precious stones; of the most valuable blessings, and of exceeding great, and precious promises; and reveals the riches of God, of Christ, and of the other world; and is a treasure unsearchable, solid, satisfying, and lasting: this is said to be

hid in a field.
The Gospel was in some measure hid, under the former dispensation, from the Old Testament saints; and for a long time was hid from the Gentile world; and is entirely hid from them that are lost, who are blinded by the god of this world; and even from the elect of God themselves, before conversion: this is sometimes said to be hid in God, in his thoughts, counsels, and purposes, and in the covenant of his grace; and sometimes in Christ; who is the storehouse of truth, as well as of grace; and may be thought to be hid under the Mosaic economy, in the types and shadows of the ceremonial law: but here "the field" means the Scriptures, in which the Gospel lies hid; and therefore these are to be searched into for it, as men seek and search for silver and hid treasures, by digging into mines, and in the bowels of the earth:

the which when a man hath found;
either with or without the use of means, purposely attended to, in order to find it; such as reading, hearing, prayer, and meditation: for sometimes the Gospel, and the spiritual saving knowledge of it, are found, and attained to, by persons accidentally, with respect to themselves, though providentially, with respect to God; when they had no desire after it, or searched for it, and thought nothing about it; though by others it is come at, in a diligent use of the above means:

he hideth;
which is to be understood not in an ill sense, as the man hid his talent in a napkin, and in the earth; but in a good sense, and designs his care of it; his laying it up in his heart, that he might not lose it, and that it might not be taken away from him: and

for joy thereof;
for the Gospel, when rightly understood, brings good tidings of great joy, to sensible sinners;

goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth the field:
which is not to be interpreted literally and properly; though a man that knows the worth and value of the Bible, rather than be without one, would part with all his worldly substance for one; but figuratively, and denotes the willingness of such souls, who are led into the glory, fulness, and excellency of the word of God, the scriptures of truth, and of the immense treasure of the Gospel therein, to part with all that has been, or is dear unto them; with their sins, and self-righteousness; with their good names and characters; their worldly substance, and life itself, for the sake of the Gospel, and their profession of it: and may also design the use of all means, to gain a larger degree of light and knowledge in the Gospel. It seems by this parable, according to the Jewish laws, that not the finder of a treasure in a field, but the owner of the field, had the propriety in it; when it should seem rather, that it ought to be divided. Such that have ability and leisure, may consult a controversy in Philostratus F12, between two persons, the buyer and seller of a field; in which, after the purchase, a treasure was found, when the seller claimed it as his; urging, that had he known of it, he would never have sold him the field: the buyer, on the other hand, insisted on its being his property; alleging that all was his which was contained in the land bought by him.

i don't think this interpretation ((that we are the ones who sell all and buy the gospel)) is the most correct.
the whole of scripture is that God bought us at a price, not that we purchase Him. Salvation is the inverse of the commentary quoted here.
as it touches on the OP, since Christ says this parable is a metaphor for the kingdom of heaven, He tells Nicodemus that to see the kingdom of heaven he must be born again. Nicodemus can't buy his own birth; that is something effected by the parents of a person, not the infant. likewise we don't enter the kingdom 'by human desire or effort' ((re: Romans 9:16)) but by His mercy. i think seeing this parable is better understood in this way than the more popular one you quoted, LPT

not to start a big thing about it, just, it will clarify where i'm coming from if we talk about how selling everything here correlates to selling everything and giving to the poor in Luke 18

 

[RickyZ]

There is only ONE way a camel can go through the eye of a needle. And that is to be utterly pulverized to dust.

Just curious, do you know what the eye of the needle actually was? It IS actually possible for a camel to pass thru, it's just extremely difficult.

 

[LPT]

i don't think this interpretation ((that we are the ones who sell all and buy the gospel)) is the most correct.
the whole of scripture is that God bought us at a price, not that we purchase Him. Salvation is the inverse of the commentary quoted here.
as it touches on the OP, since Christ says this parable is a metaphor for the kingdom of heaven, He tells Nicodemus that to see the kingdom of heaven he must be born again. Nicodemus can't buy his own birth; that is something effected by the parents of a person, not the infant. likewise we don't enter the kingdom 'by human desire or effort' ((re: Romans 9:16)) but by His mercy. i think seeing this parable is better understood in this way than the more popular one you quoted, LPT

not to start a big thing about it, just, it will clarify where i'm coming from if we talk about how selling everything here correlates to selling everything and giving to the poor in Luke 18

That’s the beauty of some parables they can have more than one understanding. And indeed to sell all and buy the gospel would sort of be selling my former beliefs and buying a new one.

 

[posthuman]

Instead, we examine the narrative and look for a principle. Is there a principle for us in Jesus sending the disciples for a donkey? Not that I can see; it was a one-time case. Could the Holy Spirit use that for a specific situation in another person's life? Of course, but in general terms we are not looking for donkeys.

if we look into the symbolism of the donkey, the mount of the king of Israel, and the details of them being sent for it and how it was found and brought, finding the testimony of the person and work of God in this 'simple' event, we'll see how by analogy & type, spiritually, we are also sent to do these things in figure, and they are accomplished in us, through Him.
what i'm saying is, there is a principle there; scripture is still teaching us here, but it's maybe harder to see, not as obvious. maybe not the literal foal of a donkey but something related to the idea of a foal of a donkey.

 

[LPT]

if we look into the symbolism of the donkey, the mount of the king of Israel, and the details of them being sent for it and how it was found and brought, finding the testimony of the person and work of God in this 'simple' event, we'll see how by analogy & type, spiritually, we are also sent to do these things in figure, and they are accomplished in us, through Him.
what i'm saying is, there is a principle there; scripture is still teaching us here, but it's maybe harder to see, not as obvious. maybe not the literal foal of a donkey but something related to the idea of a foal of a donkey.

Like maybe Jesus and Mary possibly!

 

[posthuman]

Was it blindness I thought of leper’s, I think I recall ten just in one sitting.

counted by number of accounts rather than number of people --

healing leprosy: 4 accounts, probably 2 instances, 1 of them repeated in 3 of the gospels.
healing blind: 9 accounts, 6 instances

looking at a list on this page, not necessarily vouching for it: http://www.voiceofhealing.info/02history/gospels.html

 

[Miri]

Jesus spoke to each person where they were at. He got to the heart of the
problem, or the crux of the matter.

The rich young ruler was bragging and trying to justify himself. Jesus
showed him he wasn’t quite so sincere as he thought and had other priorities.

The woman at the well had been with a number of men, Jesus exposed that
but was willing to forgive and show her His live not false love.

The Tax collector had robbed many people, he didn’t need telling he was truly
repentant and made amends without being asked.

The women with the issue of blood, bleeding was considered unclean and everything
she touched would become unclean according to laws. She tried to be healed on the
quiet, but Jesus drew her out. Instead of her touch making Jesus unclean, His touch
healed and made her clean.

Nichdemous was a religious leader, he came to Jesus by night and thought he knew
everything. Jesus said he must be born again.

He was simply giving each individual what they needed.

 

[LPT]

counted by number of accounts rather than number of people --

healing leprosy: 4 accounts, probably 2 instances, 1 of them repeated in 3 of the gospels.
healing blind: 9 accounts, 6 instances

looking at a list on this page, not necessarily vouching for it: http://www.voiceofhealing.info/02history/gospels.html

That is the difference I was looking at the people and not the account of it. Thanks on the clarification

 

[RickyZ]

He was simply giving each individual what they needed.

The funny thing is, even when He speaks to an individual, He speaks to all of us