Reto

Endla Nature Reserve, Estonia (by Abrget47j, License)

According to Jesus, how does one “enter the kingdom of heaven” or “have eternal life”?

Behold, one came to him and said, “Good teacher, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?” He said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good but one, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.” (Matthew 19:16-17)

Jesus requires the keeping of the “commandments” from this guy (apparently a ruler as it is said in Luke) who approaches him and asks basically how he can be saved. This story is very well attested, it is part of Matthew (as quoted above), Mark (from 10:17 on) and Luke (from 18:18 on).

But what are the “commandments” really? How are they to be kept? What is the way to life according to Jesus?

Therefore whatever you desire for men to do to you, you shall also do to them; for this is the law and the prophets. Enter in by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and many are those who enter in by it. How narrow is the gate, and restricted is the way that leads to life! Few are those who find it. (Matthew 7:12-14)

The way that leads to life (or “eternal life”) is hard to find. Most people do not follow this way as Jesus points out. One has to observe the Golden Rule, “treat others as you would like others to treat you”.

When the ruler from above is confronted with the answer of Jesus, “keep the commandments”, he asks again, “which ones?” and Jesus says:

“‘You shall not murder.’ ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ ‘You shall not steal.’ ‘You shall not offer false testimony.’ ‘Honor your father and mother.’ And, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’” (Matthew 19:18-19)

The highest law, the saving principle, the way to life, Jesus repeats it again and again, “love your neighbor as yourself”:

“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the law?” Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. A second likewise is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments.” (Matthew 22:36-40)

God is part of the equation, but the Golden Rule is required as well. Ending the sermon on the mount, after telling the people all they should do and not do, Jesus reiterates who will enter into the kingdom of heaven and who will not:

Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven; but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will tell me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in your name, in your name cast out demons, and in your name do many mighty works?’ Then I will tell them, ‘I never knew you. Depart from me, you who work iniquity.’

“Everyone therefore who hears these words of mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man, who built his house on a rock. The rain came down, the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat on that house; and it didn’t fall, for it was founded on the rock. Everyone who hears these words of mine, and doesn’t do them will be like a foolish man, who built his house on the sand. The rain came down, the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat on that house; and it fell—and great was its fall.”

(Matthew 7:21-27)

You can start building that stable foundation today. It isn't very difficult, just start to treat everyone like you would want to be treated. Good luck!