He told the rich man to sell everything and follow him.
He told the tax collectors to be honest with their books.
He told the Roman soldiers not to intimidate people.
Why didn't he tell the soldier to drop his sword and follow him?
Or the tax collector. . .why didn't he tell him the same?
I'm perplexed at this duality. . .can anyone tell me how some get salvation at such a high price, while others get it through common sense and courtesy?
2006-07-20 16:28:50 · 25 answers · asked by ThatGuy 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Some have a higher calling because they proved to be better in the spirit world before we were born. The better you are here the higher degree of heaven you go to. The person who just makes it by the skin of his teeth doesn't deserve to be in the same place and the prophet or the one who is almost like a saint do you think? Jesus said there are many mansions in heaven and I go to prepare a place for you. That is levels he is talking about. Just think about it with an open mind and you will see this for yourself.
2006-07-20 16:38:52 · answer #1 · answered by # one 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The rich man asked Jesus what he must do. Jesus told him to sell everything and follow him because He knew that the rich man would not give up everything for Him. He wants us to make Him the most important person in our lives.
The tax collector and the soldiers were told to treat people right as He also tells us to do..
Salvation is not earned at any price that we can pay nor is it earned through common sense and courtesy.
Salvation was paid for by Jesus' death on the cross. To access this salvation one must accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior, repent (turn away from sin), and follow Him. Salvation is a free gift through God's grace and Jesus' sacrifice.
2006-07-20 23:50:51 · answer #2 · answered by 4HIM- Christians love 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There are no different ways to salvation, but there are different people. What Jesus realized that man so often forgets is that the more we are likely to be tempted the more we have to be on guard. In the case of the rich man, it is much too easy for him to submit to his more base desires and love money more than G*d; therefore, he has to sell his worldly possessions and follow the lord else they ruin him. Furthermore, there is no real reason to be rich in worldly possessions, better to have your riches in the kingdom of heaven. This is how the rich man differs from the tax collector and the soldier, whose professions offer not as much temptation as the rich man. In the case of the latter two what Jesus is saying is that they should do their job, but not abuse their power.
So that is it, I don't really see a duality here as much as I see Jesus just pointing out the pitfalls that we might not be aware of.
2006-07-20 23:49:10 · answer #3 · answered by greatpanisdead 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hi,
When reading the Bible, or any serious literature for that matter, look for harmony rather than contradiction. Serious writers did not intend their writings to be ridiculous. Even when there appears to be contradictions such are treated as exceptions to a general rule. This is how judges--fair and intelligent ones--interpret important documents.
Jesus said that eternal life means knowing the true God, and the one he sent, Jesus. (John 17:3) So what does "knowing" God and Jesus mean? What does it comprise of? The ones you enumerated as "dualities"
1. sell everything and follow him--not to be taken ridiculously but in practical terms. Meaning? Give more importance to preaching God's kingdom than to pursuit of material wealth; giving practical help to the poor, and like manner.
2. To those in authority--like the Roman soldier in your example--not to abuse their authority,
3. Etc.
I hope you got the point.
2006-07-20 23:41:11 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
He was telling them what was holding them back. For the rich man, he was in love with his possesions more than God. For the tax collectors, they were lying and stealing, which is against the commandments. The Roman soldier wasn't loving his neighbor as himself. The three different cases had three different things wrong. As to why those people didn't do what Jesus told them to do, I have no idea. Only God knows what their hearts were thinking. Some sins are harder to let go of than others, and when you are trying to do it on your own, instead of with God's help, it can seem impossible to make the changes He wants you to make.
2006-07-20 23:35:13 · answer #5 · answered by The Apple Chick 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I can't answer for the tax collector or the soldier, unless you tell me a boo chapter and verse so I can see what it actually says.
As for the rich man, he said that he followed all of the commandments. Based on his words, had he actually put god first in his life, he would have been sinless and worthy to enter heaven under his own merit. But He loved money more than God, making money his god rather than God, breaking the first commandment.
Jesus is the only man to ever enter heaven on his own merit.
2006-07-20 23:34:18 · answer #6 · answered by acaykath 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
eph 2:8-9 for it is by grace that we are saved through faith - it is the gift of God, not of works, that none may boast." Salvation is through trust in Jesus as lord and saviour. Jesus used examples each could understand in order that they might realize what things in their own lives were keeping them from eternal life. And, btw, He did tell the tax collector to follow Him - and he became an apostle.
2006-07-20 23:34:27 · answer #7 · answered by excellentneedswork 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Jesus was actually getting men to stop focusing on the material gains and to focus on him by simply obeying him eg the rich man heart was only after his riches.the tax collector was only focusing on how to be more rich by robbing people, the roman soldier was told to be himself.The core of Jesus is to get at the heart of man which was in need of a transformation.The rich man heart was after money,the same thing with the tax collecter so Jesus way is to obey what he said and that is simply to put your faith in him,which is simply beleiving he died for your sins and confessing your sins to him
2006-07-20 23:41:39 · answer #8 · answered by Mellisa A 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
He meets people where they are. The Rich man was told to sell all he had, because Jesus knew he was loved his riches more than he loved God.
The thief on the cross was not asked to do anything. He just asked Jesus to remember him when he entered the kingdom and Jesus said today you will be with me in paradise.
It's all about the heart. If you really believe you will know if you are saved.
Note added:
Gideons don't sell Bibles! They give them away!! :)
2006-07-20 23:32:13 · answer #9 · answered by My Avatar 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Jesus did not disrespect government or people who represented government. Good question.
Remember the ten commandments
Exodus 20:3 “You shall have no other gods before me.
God is a Jealous God and does not want anything to come between the love we should have for Him.
Riches: honest or dishonest
2006-07-20 23:46:50 · answer #10 · answered by rapturefuture 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋