The Rich Young Ruler and the Question of Ultimate Concern by Jesus

The question about eternal life posed by the rich young ruler manifests the essence of human self-interest.  The rich young ruler assumed that he only needed to complete a formulaic religious ritual in order to receive eternal life.  The encounter with Jesus arrested the hidden arrogance of his self-interest and confronted him with deepest assumption, and reality-his riches!  His question to Jesus was superficial, but Jesus took his question and used it as a surgeon's blade.