July 15, 2018
Scriptures: Matthew 19:16-24, Mark 10:17-27, Luke 18:18-27
In looking at this story several things we should remember. The LORD knows what is in the heart of man. When Jesus encountered people, He dealt with each different but with the same purpose: that being to fill the need in their life. There was Nicodemus, the Woman at the well, the Nobleman, Zacchaeus, and others. He is able to put His finger on that which each person needs.
- This man did some good things: "he came running and kneeled down". There was a sense of urgency! You don't see a sense of urgency for preparation of eternity. The majority of people are caught in the things of life, thinking they are in control but we are not.
- There is no promise of tomorrow. Live your life and make your decisions seeing eternity. Do today the things you will not regret if tomorrow never came! Make the decision today that will determine at which Judgment you will stand if tomorrow never comes. Tomorrow may not come!
- Covetousness could hinder you from receiving eternal life. It did in this man! I believe to know you have eternal life must be your greatest concern. I believe it should be that which you secure at the cost or the loss of all other things. What have you prospered if you gain all but have not eternal life?
- The key verses of this story are Matt. 19:23-26. The disciples said, "….Who then can be saved? Who would include people in general and not just this man. They understood He was talking about things. In other words, we all have things, also!
"Not the salvation of rich men, but salvation in general. It is in answer to the question, who can be saved? Man cannot save himself nor his fellow. God only can save him."Vincent, M. R. (1887). Word studies in the New Testament (Vol. 1, pp. 109–110). New York: Charles Scribner's Sons.
It is further clarified when Peter said in Mark 10:28 "…."Lo we have left all, and followed thee." See v.29,30. The disciples understood He was talking about possessions.
- Then there is the eye of the needle and the camel passing through the eye of the needle. (Found in the manners and customs of the Jews)
"A traveler to Cairo, Lady Duff Gordon, wrote to me saying, 'Yesterday I saw a camel go through the eye of a needle, namely, the low-arched door of an enclosure. He must kneel, and bow his head to creep through, and thus the rich man must humble himself.' "Freeman, J. M., & Chadwick, H. J. (1998). Manners & customs of the Bible (p. 447). North Brunswick, NJ: Bridge-Logos Publishers.
Riches neither further nor hinder salvation in themselves but it is the will to be rich, 1Ti 6:6 But godliness with contentment is great gain. 1Ti 6:7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. 1Ti 6:8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. 1Ti 6:9 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. 1Ti 6:10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
- He wanted to know how to receive eternal life. He was lacking peace with God. The LORD knows what is in man and He answers each with what is needed in their life. He brings to the forefront of our thinking, that which is an obstacle to believing or surrender to Him. I think it is important to see how Christ answers this man. If he had been in some churches they would have secured a profession and had him baptized on the spot. We should always keep in mind: "Eternal Life is what Christ has promised; eternal life is received by believing Him for what He promised
- I believe this man represents a vast majority of the population: He was a sincere man, no doubt a good person; living for the present, 1 Cor. 4:18; living with a misunderstanding of the way of eternal life; assuming he was righteous; searching for peace.
"We look at His Claim"
The young man claimed to have kept the law. In the legal sense, that might be true; but in the spiritual sense, I don't think it was true. Why would Jesus just cite these five commandments if he was keeping them? Answer: he thought he was keeping them but you know the LORD sees the heart. This man and I am not sure of his age, for Matthew, calls him a young man and young is a relative term. When Mr. Hammon, at 91 addresses me, he says, young man. My point: And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth. For some time, he had observed the commandments. It was not something he had just started.
The LORD sent a message to him by these commandments. The LORD referenced these five (5) commandments from the last half of the Ten Commandments and of the five He put one out of order to the last of the five (5). Why? No doubt He had a reason! He knows all things and works in our lives for a purpose.
Exo 20:12 Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.
Exo 20:13 Thou shalt not kill.
Exo 20:14 Thou shalt not commit adultery.
Exo 20:15 Thou shalt not steal.
Exo 20:16 Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.
The LORD put Honour thy father and mother last in order to the Ruler. So the last commandment given to the Ruler was to Honour his father and mother.
Keep in mind the Ruler said "Which" Commandment". In the New Testament it says, Jas 2:10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.
There was a Jewish custom, a custom of the Pharisees, that allow one to get around this commandment in their mind but not in the eyes of God:"They dodged this command of God about the penalty for dishonouring one's father or mother by the use "Corban" (korban) as Mark calls it (Mar_7:11). All one had to do to evade one's duty to father or mother was to say "Corban" or "Gift" (Do¯ron) with the idea of using the money for God." From Robertson Word Pictures on e sword
Five mistakes he made and they are common mistakes
He did not understand that the Good Master was the Son of God. Who is Jesus? He is the Son of God, Joh 11:27 She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world. He is the Lamb of God, John 1:29... Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. He is your substitute, 1 Pe 2:24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
But who is Jesus to you? Here is what Jesus said, Joh 6:51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world. Eat means to partake of Christ personally, you partake of Christ by believing Him for saving you in His death, burial, and resurrection. You notice I said believing Him! Have you believed Christ for the salvation He secured for you by His Work,( death, burial, and resurrection). In other words, no one can eat for you and no one can believe for you. You don't believe by proxy; you believe for yourself! Jesus asked this young man in all accounts, Why are you calling me good? Mar 10:18 And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God. He was asking, "Who do you say I am"? He never answered Jesus!
Second, He did not understand he was a sinner, The ruler said, "What good things shall I do, that I may have eternal life? Matt. 19:16
Jesus answered, "…if thou will enter into life, keep the commandments." You must keep in mind, The LORD knows what is in man and He answers each with that which is needed in their life. He brings to the forefront of our thinking, that which is an obstacle to believing. I think it is important to consider how Christ answers this man. If he had been in some churches they would have had a profession of faith and a baptism.
In Mat. 19:18, He saith unto him, Which? Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Mat 19:19 Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. He said, "All these have I kept from my youth up". He did not love his neighbor as himself or he would have already given to the poor. He did not love the LORD more than his possessions or he would have given to the poor and followed Christ.
Third, He did not understand that salvation is by God's goodness and grace to us. Luk 18:18 And a certain ruler asked him, saying, Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? The only thing, and it is a good thing, that one can do is to believe Christ for Eternal Life. John 6:47.
Every person is without excuse because of the Grace of God. Rom_4:16 Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all. Rom_11:6 And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work. Jesus said, Joh 12:32 And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me. Joh 12:33 This he said, signifying what death he should die.
It is important that all know the Word of God, Here is what Paul said to Timothy in 2Ti 1:5 When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also.
Grace has but one name and this is that name "Whosoever"
Fourth, He did not understand to lose all was to gain all, Jesus said, "Follow thou me"! Luk 14:26 If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. Luk 14:27 And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple. The meaning is this: Do you love them more than me, Mat. 10:38-39. He loved things more than Christ! After speaking with the LORD, this man was content with what he had. I will keep what I have - He looked to his possessions. The urgency of knowing he had eternal life took second place to the comfort of his life.
The LORD is never indebted to man. He gives you back more in this life than you give Him. Mark 10:29-30.
Fifth, He walked away, Jesus never condemned him, never argued with him but pointed out: you say you are perfect but you lack one thing! Strange as it seems, when you are trying to earn salvation you always lack one thing! When you lack the one thing (faith in Christ), you have nothing, Luk 9:25 For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away? . "If thou wilt be perfect - ?e?e??? e??a?, To be complete, to have the business finished, and all hinderances to thy salvation removed, go and sell that thou hast - go and dispose of thy possessions, to which it is evident his heart was too much attached, and give to the poor - for thy goods will be a continual snare to thee if thou keep them; and thou shalt have treasure in heaven - the loss, if it can be called such, shall be made amply up to thee in that eternal life about which thou inquirest; and come and follow me - be my disciple," copied from Clarke e sword
Jesus loved him but He let him go his way. And he suffered a great loss: he lost the treasure of a home in Heaven, he lost the treasure of Christ here in this life, and he lost the treasure of a life he could have lived here and reaped eternal rewards at the JSOC. It could be the Words of Christ and the love Christ had for him soften his heart and brought forth fruit in him: eternal life and eternal rewards. See Mar 10:26 And they were astonished out of measure, saying among themselves, Who then can be saved? 10:27 And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.
In closing compare this man with Cornelius, Acts 10:1-2. They both had the same need: How to receive eternal life! They both evidently were very rich. Cornelius prayed (Christ was not on earth). The Ruler spoke to the LORD. Cornelius believed the words spoken to him. The Ruler walked away. Your possessions are only a snare when you love yourself more than Christ.
You must believe Christ for eternal life. Then you are to follow Him daily. I love the story of Peter in John 21:14-22. In the last exchange with Peter "Do you love me?" Christ changed His word for love to the same word for love Peter was using! He came down to Peter's love! In doing so Christ said, Peter, will you take what you have and serve me?
<