Why didn't Jesus tell the rich young man about saving by grace?

[tonychanyt]

Mt 19:

16 Behold, a man came up to him, saying, “Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?” 17 And he said to him, “Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. If you would enter life, keep the commandments.” 18 He said to him, “Which ones?” And Jesus said, “You shall not murder, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness, 19Honor your father and mother, and, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 20The young man said to him, “All these I have kept. What do I still lack?” 21 Jesus said to him, “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.” 22 When the young man heard this he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.

Why didn't Jesus tell the man plainly about saving by grace as Paul did later?

1. Jesus met the man where he was spiritually, using the law to expose his sin and self-righteousness.
2. Jesus’ teaching style often involved indirect revelation, inviting people to wrestle with their own hearts.
3. Grace was implicit in Jesus’ invitation to follow Him, though the man failed to accept it.
4. Grace is best understood when we recognize our inability to save ourselves.
5. The full revelation of grace through faith was still unfolding and would be more fully explained after Jesus’ resurrection.

Jesus didn’t explicitly mention grace in this conversation because He was addressing the man’s self-reliance and love of wealth. The encounter ultimately highlighted the impossibility of earning salvation and the necessity of divine grace. The rich young ruler needed to acknowledge his spiritual poverty before he could receive the free gift of salvation (Matthew 5:3). Jesus’ method here aligns with His broader teaching that one must "deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me" (Matthew 16:24)—a call that demands humility and dependence on God’s grace.

 

[timothyu]

Jesus was clear about the Kingdom which was gracefully given to mankind by the Father. Do the will of the Father and act in servitude to all in order to be a part of it. Just as He told the rich young man, it came with stipulations.

 

[d taylor]

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He was already a believer, the rich young ruler was asking Jesus about rewards in Heaven. Jesus tells the rich young rule he will have treasure in heaven. Jesus does not say you will go to heaven if you do what Jesus says.

Jesus said to him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”

In this account from Mark, the rich young ruler ask what must he do to inherent eternal life. Which is again asking about rewards in heaven, not entering heaven.

Now as He was going out on the road, one came running, knelt before Him, and asked Him, “Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?”

 

[timothyu]

Jesus does not say you will go to heaven if you do what Jesus says.

He said there were stipulations to receive the gift of eternal life in the Kingdom.

 

[d taylor]

He said there were stipulations to receive the gift of eternal life in the Kingdom.

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I do hope you will come understand one day.

 

[timothyu]

I do hope you will come understand one day.

I do understand we do not go to Heaven but the Kingdom comes down from Heaven, I do understand that the grace of God gave us this Kingdom, whereas before there was no eternal life for fleshy beings. I do understand that if we wish acceptance into the Kingdom we must do as commanded and put God's will first which is love all as self, or we are merely unrepentant Lord Lords who will be rejected. God's grace of His Kingdom was not eternal life for all but for those who do His will and reverse what was done in the Garden. What Jesus told the young man fit with these stipulations. I do hope you will come understand one day. Not everyone who believes in Jesus will get in. Even a demon can do that. Only those that do God's will get in by the gate.

 

[Ivan Hlavanda]

The young man claimed that he kept the law from his youth. I am sure he was shocked Jesus did not praise him for it. The young man was convinced that he deserves praise and acceptance from God. He was unaware of the great trespass against God, he ignored the true essence of the law. The reason Christ did not preach to him about grace, is that he needed to hear the law, because the young man never felt the true weight of the law. He did not believe he was lost.
Mark 2:17 “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”

The Gospel has nothing to say to those who are satisfied with their own righteousness. For those who think like this, the good news does not exists. Many thought they were righteous by keeping the law, but the law only shows our sin. It cannot save. Christ showed the young man the impossibility for us to keep the law and to justify our sin, and our inability to save ourselves. It was meant to push the young man into realizing he needs a Saviour, he needs God's grace and forgiveness. Sadly, the young man rejected that.

 

[timf]

Why didn't Jesus tell the rich young man about saving by grace?​

There were two gospels (the gospel of the kingdom for Israel and the gospel of grace for individuals).
Gal 2:7 But contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter;

The gospel of grace was revealed to Paul later for several reasons.
Eph 3:2 If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:
Eph 3:3 How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words,

There was a theoretical possibility that Israel might have received the offer of the kingdom and the time of grace need not be given.

The gospel of grace might have provoked the Jews to jealousy.
Rom_11:11 I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy.

The revelation that the death of Christ would be the means for the forgiveness of sins had to be kept hidden (mystery) otherwise the demonic powers that run the world would not have allowed Jesus to be killed.
1Co_2:8 Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

To answer your question, salvation by grace was not offered, because it was not yet available.

 

[Ivan Hlavanda]

Why didn't Jesus tell the rich young man about saving by grace?​

There were two gospels (the gospel of the kingdom for Israel and the gospel of grace for individuals).
Gal 2:7 But contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter;

The gospel of grace was revealed to Paul later for several reasons.
Eph 3:2 If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:
Eph 3:3 How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words,

There was a theoretical possibility that Israel might have received the offer of the kingdom and the time of grace need not be given.

The gospel of grace might have provoked the Jews to jealousy.
Rom_11:11 I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy.

The revelation that the death of Christ would be the means for the forgiveness of sins had to be kept hidden (mystery) otherwise the demonic powers that run the world would not have allowed Jesus to be killed.
1Co_2:8 Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

To answer your question, salvation by grace was not offered, because it was not yet available.

This is wrong on so many levels. Please delete this, before you confuse someone.

Keeping the law did not save anyone. The law was not given to Israel to be saved, but to show their sin and need of a Saviour.

Everyone in OT was saved the same way as in NT. By grace alone, by faith alone. 'Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.'

There was only one gospel and one gospel alone.

 

[timothyu]

There was only one gospel and one gospel alone.

And it all revolved around the Kingdom of God, His will first, not ours

 

[timf]

If those of Israel in the Old Testament were saved by grace, please explain the following;

Eze 18:21 But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed, and keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die.

 

[NBB]

I think He did tell him, "follow me", he preferred his riches, like a lot of people seem to get entrapped in the deception of money and the world and reject the gospel. Just imo may be wrong.