Mark 12:34, You are not far from the kingdom. Yeshua makes this complimentary statement to the scribe who had correctly and succinctly summarized the message of the Torah (both its letter and spirit intent) in verses 32–33.
However, note that Yeshua didn’t say, “You are in the kingdom of Elohim (i.e., you have eternal life).”
What was the one thing that kept the scribe from being in the kingdom? It was doubtless the same thing that kept the rich young ruler from obtaining the eternal life that he sought (Matt 19:16).
After having obeyed the Torah the best he could, the young ruler still needed to surrender all to Yeshua the Messiah, and to follow him unreservedly (Matt 19:18–22).
Not only is it difficult for humans to surrender all to the Master, and then to follow him wherever he leads, but having followed the Torah the best we can, we must still humbly recognize that without the righteousness of Yeshua in the equation, our best efforts at Torah-obedience will still miss the mark of YHVH Elohim’s acceptable standard of righteousness, thus leaving us maybe not far from the kingdom, but definitely not in the kingdom of Elohim.
Great point! As we get closer and closer to The Messiah’s return many of us may have to decide whether to give up our possessions and follow him or cop out when the going gets rough. It will be much easier if we are grounded on His Word and learn to obey His Commandments. Even the tough ones like Sabbath and others that the enemy continues to distort,change, and compel us to conform to worldly standards.