Jesus's command struck a chord with the man. A fierce inner struggle ignites within him. He is revealed to have a strong attachment to his vast possessions. Completely abandoning them is very difficult for him. Is this really necessary? Why must Jesus ask so much of him? Deep sadness overtakes him. Mark records: "Disheartened by the saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions” (Mark 10:22).
It becomes clear that, when it comes right down to it, he is unable to relinquish his wealth. Ultimately, that carries more weight than Jesus' command. Yes, than Jesus himself. This rich, serious man does not follow Jesus now that the latter is on his way to Jerusalem (Luke 9:51). Jesus knows what terrible things await him there. Nevertheless, I must go on my way today and tomorrow and the day following, for it cannot be that a prophet should perish away from Jerusalem
(Luke 13:33). It must have grieved Jesus that such a faithful and searching person did not want to come with him. God the Father could have moved that rich man to do the one thing that was now demanded, but instead he makes Jesus lonely and causes his Son to suffer by withholding this harvest from him now.
Wealth can be life-threatening. Think of Lot's wife (Genesis 19:26). Jesus urgently warned that a person cannot serve both God and mammon (an Aramaic word meaning money
or wealth
; see Luke 16:9, Luke 16:11, Luke 16:13; Matthew 6:24).
23 Lorsqu'il entendit ces paroles, il devint tout triste; car il était très riche.