What Jesus Did! 'Want To Be Perfect?' — Matthew 19:21-22

Wednesday, September 10, 2025

Jesus told [the young man who said he had kept the commands of the law], "If you want to be perfect, go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."

But when the young man heard this, he went away sad, for he had many possessions.

— Matthew 19:21-22 NLT

Key Thought

It's the statement "for he had many possessions" that is most important here. Jesus moved past commands to the heart issue for the young man — he had great wealth and it was what separated him from total loyalty to God. To follow Jesus meant to give up everything for the work of the Kingdom, and the young man could not give up his possessions.

It is easy for us to be trivial with Jesus' demand. We can say, "Wealth was the young man's god, or having many possessions was his problem, but that Jesus doesn't demand that we all sell everything we have." This statement is both correct and dangerous. It is correct in that the observation is true. It is dangerous, because our possessions hold many of us back from Jesus. Many of us are affluent by world standards, but middle class by our affluent culture's standards. Let's not remove the demand of Jesus too quickly from our hearts. Let's let it linger long enough to see if we would react differently from the young man. Let's be honest about the grip that possessions, wealth, convenience, and power have on us.

There was no joy for the rich young man in his decision to keep what he had. There was only sadness: sadness that he had found the Kingdom, but wouldn't pay the price, and sadness that he rejected the Kingdom to keep what he valued most.

The real question for each of us is what do I value most? Do we choose to hold on to it or to follow Jesus?

Today's Prayer

Holy God, I let so many things distract me from an undiluted devotion to you. I don't want to let these things distract me. I want every breath I breathe to be spent serving and honoring you for your incredible sacrifice of Jesus to buy my salvation and to give me your grace. Please forgive my failures, sins, inconsistencies, mistakes, and lapses in passion. Please empower me to live more fully to your praise. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

Related Scripture Readings

  • Matthew 13:44-46
  • Matthew 5:20
  • Philippians 3:4-9

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Illustration

Illustration of Matthew 19:21-22 NLT — "If you want to be perfect, go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."

About This Devotional

What Jesus Did! is a series of one-year devotional guides through each gospel, using one short scripture passage each day and following the Gospel in sequential order. Each devotional consists of a scripture passage and a reflection and a prayer which open up the day's scripture and show how it challenges you to live for Jesus.

What Jesus Did! is written by Phil Ware and is available in book form.

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

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