Jesus dealt with the contentious issue of marriage and sent the pharisees away, unable to harm Him. He then got a visit from a successful young man who wanted to follow Jesus. However, the conversation between Jesus, and this man, exposed a big problem his heart.
AN ETERNAL QUESTION
Jesus was approached by a young man who had a question with eternal significance.
Matthew 19:16 – And someone came to Him and said, “Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may obtain eternal life?”
What a great question! This young man (vs. 20) is thinking eternally and he acknowledges that Jesus would be someone with answers regarding eternal life. Did the man know that Jesus was the Messiah? Possibly, but he would have at least considered Jesus to be a prophet, at a minimum. That’s the positive of this question. This guy is asking the right question to the right person.
On the negative side, He clearly has a work-oriented view of obtaining eternal life. When he says “what good thing may I do” he wants to know what other accomplishment to add to his mantle to obtain eternal life.
A CONVERSATION WITH JESUS
Jesus responds to the wealthy young man with both a rebuke and the “answer” that the man would expect.
Matthew 19:17-18 – And He (Jesus) 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.” 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; Honor your father and mother; and You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
Jesus responds to the young man who is standing before Him in a state of pride asking what he must add to his already great position to acquire yet another possession, eternal life. Jesus first makes a statement that is correcting the young man. There is only One who is good, and it’s not you. It’s God. But then He lists six of the ten commandments for him. Of course, this young man would have known these commands and Jesus knew this man’s heart and that he was very work oriented so he would have endeavored to “be a good person” and keep these commands. And that’s exactly how the man responded.
Matthew 19:20 – The young man said to Him, “All these things I havekept; what am I still lacking?”
Bingo. The man proclaims his own righteousness. In the Luke account of this event, he said he had “kept these commandments from birth”. In other words, he is proclaiming himself as deserving of eternal life because of how “good” he believes he is.
Jesus had been teaching for some months by the time He has this interaction. Jesus had taught that there is much more to keeping the law than the outward acts, there is a heart behind them. In the sermon the mount, Jesus takes murder back to the heart and equates hating your brother as the heart behind murder. He does the same thing with adultery in saying that simple lust is the sinful heart that produces adultery. Lust and hate make you guilty before a holy God. It’s likely that this man has heard Jesus teach, but he either didn’t understand or hadn’t heard these concepts. Otherwise, how could he have claimed to have kept all these commands?
A CHALLENGE FROM JESUS
Jesus knows what is truly keeping this man from finding eternal life. It’s his own achievements, wealth and ultimately his pride in his own achievements. So, Jesus issues a challenge to him.
Matthew 19:21-22 – 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.” But when the young man heard this statement, he went away grieving ; for he was one who owned much property.
Jesus knows the issue keeping this man from following Him. Jesus identifies the true love of his heart.
We must be careful not to overstate what is happening here. Jesus isn’t saying that property, or possessions or wealth is bad, or that everyone must do this to follow Him. But we also must be careful not to understate it. Whatever the idol of your heart that keeps you from following God, must go. In this man’s case it was his wealth that was keeping him from eternal life.
The young man’s response tells you everything. He was deeply grieved because he simply couldn’t give up what he loved most. To some degree, he must have believed that Jesus was the Messiah. He must have thought that his teaching was true. Jesus put him in a position where he had to make a choice. And sadly, he did choose, he chose his wealth.
A LESSON FOR HIS DISCIPLES
Jesus then turns His attention to the disciples to make sure they understand for certain what just happened.
Matthew 19:23-24 – And Jesus said to His disciples, “Truly I say to you, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. “ Again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God.”
The disciples just witnessed this entire exchange and must have been amazed at what they just witnessed. They saw a man choose his temporal life over a future eternal life with God. Jesus then warns them about a dangerous reality. Jesus tells them that this is normal. In fact, it’s difficult for people with wealth and earthly accomplishments to enter the kingdom of heaven. The illustration Jesus uses indicates its more than difficult, it’s impossible. There has never been a camel small enough to go fit through the eye of a needle.
Matthew 19:25 – When the disciples heard this, they were very astonished and said, “Then who can be saved?”
The disciples were tracking correctly here. There wasn’t a distinction made by Jesus on what being “rich” was. He didn’t give a qualifier on a specific amount of net worth or annual income. There are many ways to track whether someone is “rich”. The disciples respond to Jesus with a correct assessment. They want to know then, is it impossible to attain eternal life? Jesus answers emphatically.
Matthew 19:26 – And looking at them Jesus said to them, “With people this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
Jesus answers their question in the affirmative. Yes, it’s impossible to attain eternal life, a life with God in the kingdom, on your own efforts. There is no number of good deeds, earthly success, or good intentions that can earn a person God’s favor. And those who have achieved much in their earthly life have a more difficult time accepting their own sinfulness and limitations. The boastful pride of life has consumed their hearts. This is the fourth straight lesson for the disciples about humility.
CONCLUSION
“With God all things are possible”. We cannot miss the end of verse 26. Yes, it’s a difficult message for us to hear that there is not enough goodness in us to achieve eternal life with God. But at the same time, it’s a wonderful message that we have a good and gracious God who can do all things. When we hear “with God all things are possible”, its usually in the context of miracle working or in our own achievements. But in this passage, it’s clear that its in reference to the salvation work of God through Jesus.
Have you ever considered the miracle that a sinful person could ever enter into a right relationship with a Holy God? In fact, it is only in the power of God that makes it at all possible. It took a holy and perfect life by Jesus, the righteous. Then, He had to be the perfect atoning sacrifice on the sinner’s behalf, in His death on the cross. He had to miraculously raise from the dead to conquer death to raise us in the same way to eternal life. It’s truly amazing. And it doesn’t matter if you’re rich or poor, jew or gentile, or what ethnicity you come from. Jesus died for the sins of people that will humble themselves and believe on His name for the forgiveness of their sins!