Why did Jesus tell the rich young ruler to sell all that he had, and not Peter, who owned at least one house? Jesus had other wealthy followers as well -- Joseph of Arimathea, Lazarus, Zacchaeus and perhaps even Matthew. We read nowhere of them being told to liquidate their assets. So why the rich young fellow? Jesus did not specifically say why, and so we can only speculate. But, we are given a few clues in the following parable where we are told that being wealthy can make eternal life impossible.
So what does this tell us about our salvation versus that of someone else? One thing that it does tell us is that our paths to the kingdom of heaven are individually tailored. We naturally tend to judge people based upon their material accoutrements and their perceived status. However, we cannot do so. God may require one to give up everything and not another, based upon their individual spiritual needs. Perhaps some few are indeed able to have great wealth, and not let it distract them from a "full, undivided commitment to Jesus in discipleship." (Hagner, D. A. (2002). Vol. 33B: Word Biblical Commentary : Matthew 14-28. Word Biblical Commentary (562). Dallas: Word, Incorporated.)
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