The Teachings of Jesus

Sermon Seventy-Five

Matthew 19:16-30

(Rich Young Man, part 1)

by

Jim Bordwine, ThD

Introduction

As chapter nineteen of Matthew’s Gospel opens, we find Jesus having come into the region of Judea. Once again, we’re told that large crowds were following Him and He healed many who were afflicted. As usual, some Pharisees make an attempt to discredit Jesus by asking Him what they thought would be a volitile question about divorce. Knowing what the law stated, they asked Jesus if a man could divorce his wife “for any reason at all.” The foolishness of the Pharisees is emphasized by the manner of the Lord’s reply—He simply refers to Scripture and reminds them that from the beginning, the Creator intended that men and women unite in marriage, thus establishing a unique and cherished relationship that surpassed all others.

Understanding that Jesus, therefore, was speaking against divorce, the Pharisees quickly cited Moses who had given a law regulating divorce under certain situations. The Pharisees thought they had trapped Jesus by getting Him to speak contrary to Moses—Moses allowed for divorce and Jesus has just spoken against divorce. But Jesus immediately explained that Moses gave such a provision due to sin; his law was a means of regulating sin among the people. The provision Moses gave was never intended to approve of or encourage divorce. It was a law designed to minimize the sinful practices of the people.

At that point, Jesus explained that a man who divorces his wife, except for immorality, commits adultry. While the Pharisees promoted the easy dissolution of marriages, Jesus restates forcefully the will of God—there is to be no divorce except in cases of immorality. The enemies of the Savior failed again to achieve their goal.

Next, Matthew mentions that some children approached Jesus and were rebuked by the disciples. They thought the children represented a nusaince; they assumed Jesus would not wish to waste time with them. They were wrong. Jesus welcomed the little ones and announced that “the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”

Although I do not intend to concentrate on this part of the chapter, I will say that this is an event on which many Christians in the modern evangelical church should meditate. If, as so many today maintain, only those of mature years are capable of responding rightly to the gospel, how do we explain the Lord’s tender attitude toward youngsters? Why would He set them up as the model for the citizens of the kingdom of heaven? He is, of course, commending child-like trust among those who follow Him. He did this in a previous passage, as well. But when the Savior declares that the kingdom of heaven belongs to children, I think He also means that the blessings of redemption belong to our little ones; in the wisdom and mercy of God, they are included in the wonderful plan to save our race.

Saying children may be included in the blessings of redemption is one thing, but saying that the kingdom of heaven belongs to them is something else, something much stronger. This is in keeping, of course, with the words spoken by God to Abraham, as well as other passges where the blessings of salvation are said to include our children.

This view also helps explain the Lord’s rebuke of His disciples. Those men were not yet thinking covenantally; they assumed Jesus came to deal with adults, not children. Their behavior called for the Savior’s pointed correction. Here, He lays hands on the children, indicating the conveyance of a blessing. As I just noted, you’ll remember that in the previous chapter, the trusting nature of children was cited by Jesus as a characteristic of greatness in the kingdom of heaven. The Savior’s interaction with and comments about children are not without profound meaning.

At this point in his narrative, Matthew introduces an unnamed figure who approaches Jesus with a question of great importance.

The Text

Matthew 19:16 And someone came to Him and said, “Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may obtain eternal life?” 17 And He said to him, “Why are you asking Me about what is good? There is only One who is good; but if you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments.” 18 Then he said to Him, “Which ones?” And Jesus said, “YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT MURDER; YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY; YOU SHALL NOT STEAL; YOU SHALL NOT BEAR FALSE WITNESS; 19 HONOR YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER; and YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.” 20 The young man said to Him, “All these things I have kept; what am I still lacking?” 21 Jesus said to him, “If you wish to be complete, go and sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” 22 But when the young man heard this statement, he went away grieving; for he was one who owned much property.

This story has two parts. First, we have the record of the conversation between Jesus and this young man; second, in following verses, we have the reaction of the disciples to what Jesus says to this young man. Today, we’ll consider the first part, which is the exchange between Jesus and a young man who comes to Him with a question.

The Teaching

Like you, I’ve heard this story many times before; most of us have probably heard sermons on this passage of Scripture more than once. It is one of the most intriguing conversations Jesus had during His earthly ministry. For one thing, it is a conversation with a man who is sincerely seeking knowledge; he is not attempting to embarrass or trick Jesus, like the religious leaders. Moreover, his question is the question every human being should voice at some point in life; it’s a question most do voice, I believe, if only in the privacy of their own minds. It is this aspect of the episode that I think is often overlooked. Let me explain.

Please consider that his question reveals a yearning; it is the yearning of a creature alienated from his Creator; this is the inquiry of a lost soul, a man dissatisfied with what he has discovered thus far, a man who believes there is something more to be found. He is not at rest; he is restless. His spiritual condition troubles him and he seeks answers. This young man is, as I’ve noted, much like any human being who seriously ponders the condition in which we find ourselves in this life. Believing that there must be more than what we have and more than what we perceive, we ask about life beyond this life. Does it exist? How do we obtain it?

I believe this young man has wrestled with all those notions and questions before he speaks to Jesus. He is hoping Jesus has the answer; he is hoping that Jesus will be able and willing to bring rest to his troubled soul. He has searched and pondered and listened to opinions again and again; this man has not yet found satisfaction for that yearning I described, that yearning to know he will live past death, to know that he will be at peace with God.

Please understand, as well, that this man is operating with a set of assumptions. For example, he is presupposing that there is such a thing as eternal life; he is presupposing that there is life beyond this world; he is presupposing that this other life may be attained by a man. The uncertainty now troubling him is not the possible existence of life beyond this place; the uncertainty causing him trouble is the issue of how a man gains that life. And there is where another assumption is obvious—and this assumption is disheartening. The young man presupposes that eternal life can be earned. And that, as just noted, is why his heart is restless. He believes there is such a thing as eternal life and he believes he must merit eternal life and peace with God; and yet he has been unable to find what God requires of him.

He has in his mind this wonderful concept of an existence beyond this world. It is a place of peace and blessing, a place where death does not visit. Maybe he heard Jesus talk about it before or maybe he heard of the concept of eternal life from someone else at some point in his life, but he desires to know how that state of existence can be found and he wants to know how he can be assured of eternal life while still in this world. This is, as noted, a point of trouble for him. He knows about something wonderful, but cannot find out how to obtain it. On top of all the other emotions he has experienced, we have to assume he is frustrated, too. Whatever course this young man’s life has taken, it has caused him to ponder most sincerely the topic of eternal life. Once again, then, he is hoping Jesus has the answers.

Is anyone here able to identify with this young man? Have you wrestled with this issue? Have you, at some point in your life, thought seriously about what, if anything, is beyond this life? Some have and have found the answer; others have wrestled with this issue and have not discovered the answer. If you are in this latter category, I urge you to take note of what Jesus does. He does not immediately answer the young man’s question. Jesus could have replied quickly with an explanation of the gospel and His own role in bringing forgiveness and salvation to sinners. Instead, Jesus first demonstrates to the young man the uselessness of that one all-important assumption—namely, that eternal life can be earned. Rather than simply tell the man about the gospel and the free nature of redemption, Jesus leads this man through a thought process designed to show him that his presupposition about eternal life is entirely wrong.

Jesus does this by showing the young man that the notion of doing something to obtain eternal life is an impossible pursuit; eternal life, Jesus will teach, cannot be earned because we are not capable of doing what is necessary to earn it. The Savior will also teach this man that redemption has more to do with the disposition of the heart than the doing of good deeds.

Let’s look now at the young man’s question: “Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may obtain eternal life?” (v. 16) There’s that assumption I spoke of; the assumption that eternal life may be earned through the doing of good. This is what the young man believes; his only problem, he thinks, is finding out what he must do. Once he knows what he must do to obtain eternal life, he intends to do it—or at least that is what he is thinking at the moment. I say this because when Jesus puts him to the test regarding a good deed, the young man falters. Here he is like all human beings; here he is thinking he must earn God’s favor.

Stop and consider what a sad existence that is—to live your life believing there is something blissful, something wonderful beyond description after this life, yet not knowing how to get there. How disheartening must it be to believe in something so desirable, but have to live with the fact that you have not been able to discover the path that leads to this life of blessing. You years unfold in this world and the more you experience the more you realize how empty most pursuits in this world really are—but you believe this world is not all there is, but you cannot find anyone who can tell you how to reach that place. Finally you hear about One who is telling large crowds of people about such things as sin and forgiveness and eternal life. What would you do? You would probably do just what this young man is doing—you would find that One and ask him the question that you consider more important than anything else: “What good thing shall I do that I may obtain eternal life?”

Take note of the unusual way Jesus responds. As I said earlier, He doesn’t go straight into an explanation of the gospel; rather, He says: “Why are you asking Me about what is good? There is only One who is good . . .” (v 17) I believe Jesus is saying that the young man need not ask this question. If he really wants to know about doing good, where should he turn? If he wants to know about doing that which is good, he should look to the One who is truly good and that is God. God has already told mankind what is good and what He has revealed is found in His law.

There we discover the standard by which God judges; and there we find stipulations that flow from the character of God Himself. Therefore, to state what should have been obvious, Jesus adds: “but if you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments.” The commandments of God tell us what is good, Jesus teaches; so, if you want to know what good thing you must do to dwell with God in peace, the answer is clear—you must keep the commandments of God.

This is such a simple idea, you must wonder why the young man had not already reached this conclusion himself. Why ask anyone about what is good when God Himself has given to us a set of laws describing what good means? This young man thinks obtaining eternal life is a matter of doing some good, but for some reason, he had not made the simple connection between goodness and the law of God—which is the connection Jesus now makes for him. The Savior is telling him that there is a standard of good, so if the young man really wants to know what good a man must do to please God and gain a blissful existence after this life, he should live by those commandments.

Amazingly, the young man responds: “Which ones?” (v. 18) Do you see how confused he is in his thinking? If eternal life is based on doing good and if God has given us a set of laws defining good, why would this young man assume God only requires us to keep certain laws and not all of His laws if we wish to have eternal life? You see, he is still looking for that one thing, that one duty, that one effort that will result in eternal life. He does not understand to be truly good in the eyes of God, all of His law must be kept perfectly. You cannot keep one and ignore another.

In spite of his denseness, Jesus accommodates that last question. The young man wants to know which of God’s laws he must keep to obtain eternal life, so Jesus refers to several: “You shall not commit murder; you shall not commit adultery; you shall not steal; you shall not bear false witness; honor your father and mother; and you shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (vv. 18, 19) To his credit, the young man is able to say he has kept all these laws. He hasn’t murdered anyone, he hasn’t committed adultery, he hasn’t played the part of a thief, he isn’t a liar, he honors his parents, and he shows regard for his neighbor. He has lived according to these laws, yet has not found the peace he is seeking. Take note of his words: “All these things I have kept; what am I still lacking?” (v. 20)

That is such a sad statement. The young man claims he is a keeper of God’s law, he claims he is guiltless in all those areas just mentioned by Jesus, yet he has no peace, no assurance that he has done enough. We know why, don’t we? We know why he still lacks confidence—it is because eternal life is not obtained through the keeping of the law. We know this, but the young man did not know this, so he is perplexed. In essence, he says to Jesus: “I’ve lived as God commands in regard to the things you mention, Jesus, but I do not have the peace, the assurance of eternal life, that I seek. Something is missing; please tell me what is missing. Please tell me what I still need to do.” He’s done everything he knew to do to please God and gain eternal life. But he now admits that he still lacks that which he wants so desperately.

What this young man does not understand is that he is flawed. He does not understand that there is something wrong with him—in his heart, in his disposition, in his desires and loyalties. He does not understand that he is a sinner by nature and, therefore, no amount of keeping God’s law can ever change what he is; he is guilty before God because he is a member of a race in rebellion against God. He does not understand that he inherited a corrupt and condemned nature from Adam. He thinks he can earn a place with God, but doesn’t realize God is thoroughly offended by him and his efforts to win God’s love.

How many people, do you suppose, have had such an experience in life? How many people have said to themselves “I’ve done everything I know to do. I’m a good person. I treat others with kindness. I go to church. I feel bad when I see tragedy on television. I am saddened when I hear about suffering. I don’t take revenge on my enemies. I’ve been faithful to my spouse. I love and provide for my parents. I tell the truth. Why am I still lost? Why am I still without peace? Why do I still feel condemned? Why do I not have the assurance of God’s favor? What do I have to do to know that God loves me and will give me a place in His heaven when I die?”

My friends, there is much anguish in the consideration of our soul’s state if we believe we must earn eternal life. There is much anguish because eternal life cannot be earned and the more we try, the more we realize we have not found the way. We may be like this young man—we can honestly say we are law abiding people and we have lived a life marked more by doing good than by doing wrong, but that still brings us no comfort. This young man has fooled himself. He has fooled himself into thinking he is truly good. Because the laws Jesus just cited did not condemn him, he is thinking he is a good person and must only find that last key ingredient.

But he is not truly good. And this is what Jesus is about to tell him. And this revelation is going to sting and it will cause him more anguish than he has known previously. His image of himself is about to be shattered. He may come to wish he had never asked Jesus that question: “What good thing must I do to obtain eternal life?” The answer he is receiving declares that he is not good, that he cannot be truly good, and that eternal life, therefore, can never be obtained by following his plan. He’s about to learn that there is something fundamentally wrong with him as a human being. The challenge Jesus puts before him will show that rather than truly desiring eternal life, this young man loves this world.

“Jesus said to him, ‘If you wish to be complete, go and sell your possessions and give to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.’” (v. 21) The word translated “complete” (teleios) refers to the state of needing nothing for wholeness. The young man has just confessed that he lacks something; he is not complete, in other words. He knows something is missing in his quest for eternal life. So Jesus tells him that if he really wants to be complete or without need of anything else, there is something he can do. He can surrender everything he owns for the sake of helping the poor. This isn’t just one more law to keep; this is a test of the soul. This is a test that reveals the nature within; this test will give the young man an awareness that there is something wrong with him at the deepest level of his being.

I’ll also add that here is where Jesus reveals two monumentally important truths. First, He reveals to the young man, as I just said, that he is not perfect. When Jesus says “if you wish to be complete,” He is implying the young man is not complete or perfect yet. The test Jesus gives shows this young man that, contrary to his thinking, he is not willing to do whatever is necessary to be truly good.

Second, Jesus reveals a truth that is stated throughout Scripture, yet it is a truth sinners consistently ignore or forget—God is perfect and He only dwells with perfection. Unless God considers you perfect, you cannot be at peace with Him, you cannot go to heaven, you cannot know eternal life. The Word of God is crystal clear on this matter. There is no unrighteousness in God and He tolerates no unrighteousness in those who dwell with Him. If you have the slightest moral blemish, you cannot be with God.

The young man was not yet ready to be with God because he was not yet perfect; moreover, Jesus is showing him that he cannot be perfect. That comes out when the young man hears the condition Jesus establishes and then realizes he cannot, or will not, comply. The condition for completeness required this man to sell all his possessions and give the money to the poor. He then had to give up everything in life and follow Jesus. Give him another law to keep and he would do it. Tell him there was one last commandment to obey and he’s ready to obey it. But tell this young man that he must manifest absolute selflessness and a regard for those in need and a willingness to forsake everything in his world to become a servant to Jesus Christ—tell him that and he will walk away. “But when the young man heard this statement, he went away grieving; for he was one who owned much property.” (v. 22)

Jesus did not present this challenge in order to help the young man gain eternal life; He presented this challenge because it would reveal the disposition of the young man’s heart. He was not prepared to do what Jesus said. His heart, he is now learning, was corrupt and he had a love for things, a love for comfort, a love for worldly adulation that meant more to him than treasure in heaven. On this day, the young man was forced to make a choice and he chose to love this life more than God. This is not what he expected. This is not the position he expected to be in when this day began. Jesus has shown him that he is imperfect and that his belief in his own goodness is based on self-deception. The young man now knows he is flawed deep down within, deep down within his soul. He chooses temporal riches over eternal life and I’m sure he walked away in shock finding it very difficult to believe what he has just learned about himself.

In fact, Matthew writes that the young man departed in grief. Do you understand why? He walked away in grief because now he knew what he lacked and it was something he could not produce on his own. He needed a restored heart, he needed a renewed disposition and a changed will and that was out of his control.

Application

What choice would you have made? We’d all like to think we would have done what Jesus said. We’d all like to think we would have given up everything we owned in order to become a follower of Christ and gain that treasure in heaven. But we would not have made such a choice. We would have done exactly what the young man did because we are suffering from exactly the same ailment of the soul. Every man, woman, young person, and child on this planet has exactly the same affliction. We are all alienated from God and we all have a sinful nature from conception and we all would choose worldly treasure over heavenly treasure in our unregenerate state.

The only reason some of us here this morning are not in the same miserable state as this young man is because God had mercy on us and did for us what we could never do for ourselves—He perfected us in Christ Jesus. In describing the ministry of Jesus Christ, the writer of Hebrews says that He “perfected” us for all time (10:14). John writes that God’s love is “perfected” in us, meaning that our salvation is the end for which God love us (1 John 4:12). Peter writes that God, who called us to eternal glory in Christ, will “perfect” us (1 Pet. 5:10). Do you see the theme? In Jesus Christ, God has completed us or made us fit for His presence and for His blessings. That required that something be done about our guilt and something be done about our lack of obedience. Again, what we could never do for ourselves, God did for us by sending a Savior to pay for our transgressions with His own life.

The condemnation under which we all existed was satisfied when the Son of God surrendered His life in our place. That death was sufficient to appease the God of all righteousness. And the absolutely perfect record of obedience to the will of God, which Jesus established while on this earth, is credited to us. In Him, we are perfect. And we kept no law to be perfect; and we gave nothing away and we dedicated ourselves to no one. What happened to us was a manifestation of God’s grace. The undeserving, the offenders, have been pardoned and made fit for eternal life through no effort of their own; it has been done for them by a God who is abundant in compassion and by a Savior whose love for them knows no bounds.

That is the gospel. The gospel is the answer to the question of all questions: If eternal life cannot be earned, how is it obtained? The gospel tells us eternal life is given to us by God. The gospel alone is the answer the young man in our passage actually needed; and the gospel alone is the answer to every question ever conceived regarding death, judgment, forgiveness, heaven, and eternal life. If you have believed this gospel, rejoice because your sins are forgiven; rejoice because a place awaits you in heaven; rejoice because God smiles upon you; rejoice because He is pleased with you; rejoice because He will warmly receive you into His presence one day. In humility rejoice because Jesus put Himself in your place under the wrath of God and He received what truly belonged to you. There is no room for pride or boasting in our lives when we consider how we came to have eternal life.

But if you have not believed this gospel and have not cast yourself upon the mercy of God, then mourn for your lost soul, for you have no cause for rejoicing; your sins are not forgiven, judgment awaits you, heaven is a place you will never see. I would plead with you, therefore, whether you are an adult, a young person, or a child, understand that salvation is a gift, it cannot be earned; all you must do is believe to be true what God has declared to us. Do not continue on the path of thinking you can win God’s forgiveness; do not continuing thinking God will have regard for your good deeds when that day of reckoning comes. If you do not appear in the perfection gained for sinners by Jesus Christ, then you are forever lost.

And, once again, I say to those who are saved, give thanks to God for what you have received. You didn’t earn it, you didn’t deserve it, you could never have found it. God so loved you that He gave His only begotten Son and having believed in Him, you shall not perish, but shall enjoy eternal life. Hallelujah! This is the mindset with which we come to worship God and that is why we should come eagerly. And this is why we should speak loudly and this is why we should sing with conviction and passion. And this is why the declarations of the great truths of our faith should be met with your “Amens” echoing off these walls like holy thunder.

People of the covenant, let God hear your praises. Household of God, let the hosts of heaven turn and look in our direction when we make our Biblical declarations. Saints of the Most High God, let the forces of darkness tremble when we assemble for worship. We know who we are, we know who saved us, we know the One we serve; we know His victory is ours, we know we are untouchable. We know the gospel and it is glorious and thrilling and brings us peace which will never pass away.

We must pray…

Communion hymn…

Conclusion

Whenever a family sits down to share a meal, several things are implied. A bond of love is implied; a common interest is implied; acceptance of each member in the larger family is implied. When the family of God comes to the Table of the Lord, several things are implied. As we take the food of this Table together, we testify to our shared love of God—love from Him to each of us and love from each of us to Him. We testify, as well, to the nature of our redemption—we each have been saved by the same means; we each owe our presence at this Table to our common Savior; and though we are individuals, we each realize our identity includes membership in the family of the redeemed.

This meal assures us that we are welcome in the presence of God; it assures us that what we have heard today is true for us; it assures us that we will never be cast out of God’s household. The bread and the wine declare to each of us that we will never be forsaken, but shall enjoy the provisions of God in this life and the next.

Participation in this meal says no one of us is greater than another; there is no partiality with God. And the meal declares to us that we have been elevated together into heavenly places in Christ Jesus. To the world, this meal proclaims our citizenship in heaven and our loyalty to our King. In His name we eat and drink; for His glory we remember the life given for us and the blood spilled for us.

Enjoy all that is implied as the family of God eats together.

Once again today, I’ll use the words of Paul as he explained the meaning of this sacrament to the Corinthians:

1 Cor. 11:23 For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus in the night in which He was betrayed took bread; and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “This is My body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” In the same way He took the cup also after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until He comes.