Matthew 19:16-22
16 Now behold, one came and said to Him, “Good[a] Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?”
17 So He said to him, [b]“Why do you call Me good? [c]No one is good but One, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.”
18 He said to Him, “Which ones?”
Jesus said, “‘You shall not murder,’ ‘You shall not commit adultery,’ ‘You shall not steal,’ ‘You shall not bear false witness,’ 19 ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ ”
20 The young man said to Him, “All these things I have kept [d]from my youth. What do I still lack?”
21 Jesus said to him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”
22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.
- A parallel story can be found also in Mark 10: 17-22 and Luke 18:18-23
- The rich young ruler came running and kneel (Mark) to Jesus, he was a young ruler and wealthy, we see his desire to learn about eternal how he can prepare for it, unlike the other pharisees who came to Jesus for wrong motives.
- The rich young ruler have what most don't have. He has the money (rich), the energy and the time because he's still young. But most people the illustration about "The system of life" holds the truth.
- The young ruler was a Pharisee since he believes in eternal life like Martha (John 11:24) who believes in the resurrection of the dead.
- He believes that eternal life can be earned or worked-out by doing things or good things, and he wants to make sure that he gets it.
- Not only he is rich, young and have power, but lives his life in obedience to God's law's, that's why when Jesus told him to keep the commandments, he's response was "which ones"? verse 18
Application:
1. Perfect righteousness is the key to salvation, but nobody is perfect in the eyes of God,
Romans 3: 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
that's why we need Jesus Christ perfect righteousness.
Salvation is God's grace through faith in Jesus Christ. You can't earn it by doing good works.
2 Corinthians 5:21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
2. The rich young ruler thinks that he's perfect because he has done all of God's commanded but he didn't realize the sins in his heart:
a. Idolatry - his riches and possessions
b. covetousness)
- He hoards earthly and not heavenly things
Matthew 16:26 ESV
For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?
