To have eternal life.

Jesus was approached by a young who wanted to know, “what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?” (Matt 19:16)

Oddly enough the Lord had an answer, “but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.” (v17)

If we read this quickly we might think that Jesus was telling the young man to keep the law.  Not so. 

For the “law of Moses” the Bible uses the word towrah in the Old Testament and nomos in the New Testament.  These words refer to the Mosaic Law.

But in Matthew 19:16 we see the word entolē.  What Jesus was saying to this man was that in order to enter life, he needed to hear what Christ was commanding.  Jesus was saying, “Listen to what I tell you.”

It may seem obscure, but Jesus was giving a simple answer to a simple question.  He was saying, in order to gain life true life (that is life in Him) you must devalued the life you have  and value a life in Christ.

Being a Christian is not easy…

But it is worth it.