[HarleyD]

Sure it was a legitimate offer. It is exactly the same offer God makes to everyone. Here's the terms of the contract:

You (the rich, young ruler) sell all that you have and I'll (the Lord) will have you follow me.

This isn't any different than:

You (party of the first part) keep all the Laws and Commandments and I'll (party of the second part) will give you salvation.

or

You (don't eat the fruit) and (I'll) make sure you live.

Our Lord Jesus' offer was meant to exposed the truth to the ruler-that he couldn't keep God's commandments as he claimed he had done.

And we shouldn't be too hard on the ruler. Can any of us keep the commandments? That is why we need grace.

[xzins]

I agree with all you said. The thrust of my comment is the observation that Jesus did at one point make a personal call to at least one person to “Come follow me” and have that person turn Him down.