Should the rich strive to become beggars ~ Cross reference of Matthew 19:16 to Exodus 20:12
1st century is understood to be a time when the messianic expectations were very high and everyone believed that very soon the messianic age will begin and the messiah will rule over Israel. Josephus / Talmud record at least three men who came before Jesus claiming they were the messiah and each of them was killed. The Essenes lived a very pious life in the dessert of Kumaran and thought they would usher in the messianic age by being pure and praying for the messiah to come. I always wondered if the John, Jesus, Jesus's disciples, early followers of Jesus & Paul thought that the end of times was at hand. You see John and Jesus preach "repent, the end is near" John seeing no redemptive actions from Jesus asks Jesus if he is the "one" or they should look for another. Disciples getting restless not seeing the messianic age repeatedly ask him when he will restore Israel? Jesus & his disciples did not have any livelihood & lived out of the food given t...