Has Salvation Come To Your House? Part 2

Yesterday, we considered Yeshua's statement that salvation had come to Zacchaeus's house when he made restitution to those he had wronged. Today, we look at Yeshua's statement to the rich man about eternal life. Mark 10:17-21 reads: "And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life? And Yeshua said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, Elohim. Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother. And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth. Then Yeshua beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me." First, I want you to notice the commandments Yeshua referenced as essential to obtaining eternal life. You won't find anything about taking Elohim's name in vain. Neither is there any reference to idolatry or Sabbath observance. Yeshua answers the question with the commandments that have to do with how we treat each other. Second, I want you to notice that Yeshua connects eternal life with assisting the poor. What passes for salvation in most churches today is not even close to the teachings of Yeshua. Do you not find it strange that those who claim to follow Jesus teach so differently from what He taught?

Consider the events at the Tower of Babel. Genesis 11:4 records: "And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth." The people intended to build a tower that would reach heaven. This action was very disrespectful to Elohim. How does YHWH respond? He confuses their language and scatters them. Was there any loss of life because the people had disrespected Him? The answer is no. However, consider the wickedness of Sodom. Ezekiel 16:49 reads: "Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, fulness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy." How did YHWH respond to the people of Sodom who were guilty of pride, idleness, and neglect of the poor? They were destroyed completely. It seems clear that YHWH responds differently depending who the wronged party is. He is more forceful when the poor are being mistreated than He is when He is being mistreated.

We would do well to consider salvation from YHWH's and Yeshua's perspective. They both connect eternal life with the taking care of others, especially the poor. Perhaps this is why Yeshua taught: "It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of Elohim." Whatever you have, remember the poor. Take care of them; if you have no money, find something to give. When you do, the Scriptures say that salvation will come to your house.