When the young man heard this saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. The sorrowful departure communicates the tragedy: the young man came earnestly seeking eternal life and went away having heard what it required — and choosing not to take it. The great possessions are the specific thorny-ground obstacle (Matthew 13:22: the deceitfulness of riches chokes the word). The sorrow communicates that he knows what he is choosing, and it grieves him — but not enough to change his choice.

COMMUNITY REFLECTIONS

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