Why did Jesus ask the rich young ruler about obeying the commandments? Can salvation come through obedience to commands?

from the old testament

• Jesus’ conversation with the rich young ruler occurs in the New Testament.

from the new testament

• The account of the rich young ruler is found in Matthew 19:16–22, Mark 10:17–22, and Luke 18:18–23.
• In each gospel, the rich young ruler asked Jesus how to receive eternal life. Jesus told him to keep the commands (Matthew 19:17). Clearly this ruler was Jewish as seen by his knowledge of the Ten Commandments from his youth. Yet, Jesus knew that the rich young ruler did not obey all the commandments and was revealing that perfection in keeping the entire Law was impossible, even to one who tried.
• Jesus addressed the rich young ruler, noting that "no one is good except God alone," an Old Testament reference to God's perfection (Mark 10:18).
• When Jesus told the rich young ruler to keep the commandments, He set him up to understand the fault in his thinking and view of himself. When Jesus told him to keep the commandments, the rich young ruler replied, "Which ones?" (Matthew 19:18). Jesus mentioned several of the Ten Commandments by name, including commands against murder, adultery, theft, bearing false witness, honoring father and mother, and then ending with the additional command of loving your neighbor as yourself. To this, the rich young ruler stated, "All these I have kept. What do I still lack?" (Matthew 19:20). Jesus gave him an answer that revealed he was not truly keeping the command to love his neighbor as himself, nor putting God first in his life. Jesus said, "If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me" (Matthew 19:21). In response, the man left in sorrow, for he had many possessions.
• Jesus used the conversation with the rich young ruler as a teaching moment for His disciples. He revealed that riches make it more difficult to choose to follow Christ (Matthew 19:23–30; Mark 10:23–31; Luke 18:24–30). The principle was not salvation by obeying commandments but one of choosing Christ above all else. In fact, verses like John 3:16, Ephesians 2:1–10, and Galatians 3:1–9 emphasize that salvation comes through believing in Jesus, not by obeying the commandments.
• Obeying God's commandments is good and right, but we do so as a result of relationship with Him, not to earn it (1 John 1:5—2:6; 1 Peter 1:3–25; Galatians 5:1–25; Ephesians 4; Philippians 2:12–13; Colossians 3:1–17). External obedience can never provide a right relationship with God. Instead, faith in Jesus as Lord is required (Ephesians 2:8–9; Romans 10:9–10; Hebrews 11:6). Those who truly believe must be willing to give up anything necessary to follow Him. In this man's case, his barrier was his wealth.

implications for today

The application of this passage to our lives today is not to seek eternal life through obeying the Old Testament, or any other, laws. Romans 3:20 notes, "For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin." Galatians 2:16 also clearly teaches, "we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified."

Instead, eternal life is found in Jesus Christ. He offers it by grace through faith: "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast" (Ephesians 2:8–9). Those who follow Christ will die to self and seek Him above all else (Matthew 16:24).