JESUS AND THE RICH YOUNG RULER
(Mark 10:17-18) Now as He was going out on the road, one came running, knelt before Him, and asked Him, "Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?" So Jesus said to him, "Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. (NKJV)
(Mark 10:19-20) "You know the commandments: 'Do not commit adultery,' 'Do not murder,' 'Do not steal,' 'Do not bear false witness,' 'Do not defraud,' 'Honor your father and your mother.'" And he answered and said to Him, "Teacher, all these things I have kept from my youth." (NKJV)
(Mark 10:21-22) Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, "One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me." But he was sad at this word, and went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. (NKJV)
Introduction: As we move through the Gospels, from time to time, we are privileged to observe some of the personal encounters the Lord Jesus had while He walked here on the earth. Most of these personal moments ended gloriously but with our text today this isn't the case.
Jesus startling pronouncement to His disciples that we looked at last Sunday…. (Mark 10:15) "Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it." (NKJV) ...set down for the disciples and all ensuing history that helpless dependence is necessary for entering the Kingdom—that is to be saved. In contrast, the rich young ruler in this passage is the very opposite of a helpless, dependent child.
I would like for us to look into this encounter today and glean truths that we need to consider. I ask that you let the Lord speak to your heart. I want to preach on Jesus and the Rich Young Ruler. I want you to see The Man and His Desire; The Man and His Deception; and The Man and His Decision. Let's look at these truths today.
I. V. 17 THE MAN AND HIS DESIRE
This particular encounter is mentioned by Matthew (Matt. 19:16-22), Luke (Luke 18:18-23) and of course here, in our text, by Mark. All three of the Gospel writers add additional detail concerning this man who has come to be known as The Rich Young Ruler. For the sake of our study, it would be time well spent to get to know him just a little bit better.
A. The Person Who Came - All three evangelists tell us that he was a rich man. Matthew tells us that he was young (19:22) and Luke tells us that he was a ruler (18:18). This probably means that he was a ruler in the synagogue. When all the facts concerning this man are considered, it becomes clear that this young man had many things going for him in his life.
- He has Youth - Youth is a wonderful thing! There is no better time to give one's life to the Lord.
(Ecclesiastes 12:1)
Remember now your Creator in the days of your youth, Before the difficult days come, And the years draw near when you say, "I have no pleasure in them": (NKJV)
If you are young and unsaved, let me challenge you to come to Jesus today! Don't waste your life! Come to Jesus now, while He can use you for His glory and make something special out of your life!
- He has Wealth
[Click Twice]- We gather from the exchange between him and Jesus that he was an aggressive, self-assured young man who went after what he wanted. He was what we call today an "achiever." This young man has plenty of this world's goods, v. 22. Now, there is nothing wrong with having money! Money itself isn't evil; it is when money has you that problems begin to creep in.
(1 Timothy 6:10) For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. (NKJV)
- He has Morality and Religion - This man is living a clean, moral life. Notice that Jesus did not rebuke him when he claimed to have kept the commandments. Outwardly, this man's life was clean and pure. That is a wonderful thing! It ought to be true about every person in this room.
- He has Position - Luke says that he is a ruler, (18:18). As I said a moment ago, this probably means that he is a leader in the synagogue. He is a man of some influence in local religious circles. That too is a good thing!
From every outward appearance, this man was the ideal young person. He was everything a mother might want her son to be. He was clean cut, religious, industrious and morally clean. He was respected by most everyone!
B. The Problem He Carried - In spite of all he has going for him there was something missing. He had found that his youth left him unsatisfied. His money had left him feeling unfulfilled. His morality, his clean living and his religious activity had not been able to satisfy the deepest longing of his soul. His swift climb up the rungs of the social ladder had failed to give him what he wanted most: peace with God. So, he comes with haste to Jesus. He falls down before the Lord and he cries out to Christ.
I believe there are those that from every outward appearance, they have it made. Life has been good to them. They have a little money; they have climbed up the social ladder somewhat. They are well thought of in the community. They are a good person, who has lived a clean, moral life. If they were to run for President they would not have to worry about skeletons in the closet. They may even be a church member, a leader, a teacher, and everyone thinks their life is complete.
But, in spite of all they have, there is still something missing in their life. They know they have what it takes to live, but they also know that they are unprepared to die. They have everything they want and need materially, but they do not have spiritual peace with God. Everything looks good on the outside, but the insides are all messed up. Jesus has the answer!
II. v. 17-21 THE MAN AND HIS DECEPTION
A. V. 17 The Confusion - As this young man comes to Jesus, he gets several things right. Notice:
- He comes to the right Person - He had evidently heard of Jesus and knows that if anyone can help him, Jesus can. We will say more about that in a moment.
- He comes in the right way - He comes running, because he knows the urgency of the situation. (Note: Nothing in life is as urgent as your salvation! Life could end at any moment and you need to be sure that you are saved! Ill. James 4:14; Psa. 90:5-6; Psa. 144:4) If you are saved nothing is more important than maintaining a close relationship with the Father God and He Son Jesus Christ. He also came kneeling. This shows that he recognized that fact that Jesus is worthy and he is not. Again we must come to Jesus as a humble child.
- He comes for the right purpose - This young man came to Jesus pondering the issues of eternity. He had the most important things on his heart. Here is a man who has it all, yet with all his power, his possessions and his privileges, he still does not know the answer to the greatest of all questions. He knows a lot of things, but he is forced to admit that he does not know the way to Heaven!
Note: We live in the midst of one of the most sophisticated and intellectually advanced cultures the world has ever known, yet so many people still do not know the answer to the most basic and important question of all—they do not know how to be saved. Man can split atoms, put men on the moon, harness the power of the sun, wind and rain, but he does not know how to get to Heaven! Thankfully, Jesus had the answer for this young man and He still has the answer we all need today. So, if thoughts of eternity and Heaven and how to get there are bothering you, then hang on, because Jesus tells us exactly what we need to know in this passage!
- He comes at the right time - He came when Jesus was nearby! Many think they can come to Jesus at any time. They think they can come whenever it fits into their schedule. The truth of the matter is somewhat different. Man doesn't come to the Lord whenever he wants; he comes to Jesus when Jesus is passing close to him. You come when He is calling you. You come when He is passing by!
(Isaiah 55:6) Seek the LORD while He may be found, Call upon Him while He is near. (NKJV)
(John 6:44) "No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day. (NKJV)
While this man gets several things right, he gets the main thing terribly wrong. Notice his question in verse 17. "Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?" Matthew's account puts it this way, "Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?" (Matt. 19:16).
This man knows he has a lot of good things stacked up in his corner. He seems to think that if he can just add some other good thing, then he can have salvation as a reward. There are two basic problems with his question:
1. He thinks salvation can be earned - In other words, he is looking for a "Do" oriented salvation. He wants to have a hand in it. He wants to be involved. He wants to get his salvation like he has gotten everything else in his life: he wants to earn it for himself. Note: Many people still believe that salvation is based on "do". They've got to do something to get it—be it join a church, get baptized, teach Sunday School, preach, give, become a moral person and stop sinning and the list could go on forever! The Bible tells us in no uncertain terms that salvation is never about "Do." Salvation, through Jesus Christ, is always about "Done!"
(Ephesians 2:8-9) For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. (NKJV)
(Titus 3:5) not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, (NKJV)
When Jesus died on the cross, He said "It is finished!" He did it all and there is nothing you and I can do you to add to it or to get it on our own. Salvation was achieved by Jesus when He died on the cross and rose again. It is received by us when we accepted what He did by faith! Salvation has never been about what we can do, but it has always been about what He did!
The Philippian Jailer had the same questions for Paul and Silas in Acts 16:30, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" Paul's answer to him was that there was nothing more to do but to believe, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ", Acts 16:31! Nothing has changed! If you want to be saved, you must rest in "Done!" and forget about "Do!"
2. He thinks salvation is a reward - He seems to think that if he can just do enough good things, then God will give him eternal life as a reward. Friend, salvation is not a reward for faithful service; it is the free gift of God's grace! We could never do enough to reach a place where God would reward us with salvation. Heaven does not have a "Green Stamps" plan! Salvation is not a reward for service, but it is the gift of grace, John 10:28!
Now the Bible does teach there are rewards to be received by God's Children. They are rewards for faithful service but nowhere does the Bible teach that we "earn" or that salvation is given to us as a "reward."
B. V. 18-20 The Confrontation - When Jesus hears what this man wants, He responds in an unusual manner. He confronts this young man in two specific areas.
1. He confronts him regarding the Person of the Savior - When this young man called Jesus Good, Jesus reminded this young man that no one was good but God. This was designed to make this young man consider how he viewed Jesus Christ. Was Jesus just an elevated "teacher" as the words "good teacher" implies, or did this young man say that he believed Jesus to be God in the flesh? Obviously, this man only believed that Jesus was a great teacher.
That is one of this man's problems! Before he, or anyone, for that matter, can be saved, they must come to the place where they have a correct understanding of who Jesus Christ is. He is not just a good moral man, a teacher sent to show us the way. No! He is far more than that! He is God in the flesh! He is not a way-shower, He is the Way. He is not a truth dispenser, He is the Truth. He does not point out the path to life, but He Himself is the Life!
(John 14:6) Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. (NKJV)
Every person who will be saved must know Who Jesus is. He isn't just another stop on the scenic road to Heaven. He is the only hope you have of salvation, 1 John 5:11-15; John 8:24. Understanding Who Jesus is…..is one of the primary, elementary steps in coming to know Him!
2. He confronts him regarding the Problem of Sin - When Jesus reminds this young man that only God is good, He is trying to get this moral young man to see that he is a sinner. When Jesus rattles off this list of commands, it isn't to imply that salvation comes by keeping them. Jesus is trying to get this man to see that he is a sinner. He wants to extract a response from this young man that shows he understands what salvation is all about.
Apparently, this young man believed that salvation was just something else he could add to his resume. But, Jesus wants him to see that he is a sinner and as a sinner he has no ground upon which to stand before the face of God. Jesus wants him to see that regardless of what he may possess materially, he is morally and spiritually bankrupt.
When this man responds to Jesus, he declares that he has kept the Law and has not broken it. It is interesting that Jesus doesn't disagree with him. It may be that he is clean outwardly, but Jesus is trying to get him to see the condition of his heart! And, this young man never does! As far as he is concerned, he has arrived spiritually.
Also the commandments Jesus listed dealt with our relationships with one another. Jesus said nothing about the commandments that deal with our relationship with God.
Note: This is where most people are isn't it? They take an external, superficial, inventory of their lives and think they are alright. They say, "I don't beat my wife. I don't abuse my children. I don't run around. I don't drink. I provide for my family. I am a pretty good person. And, after all, compared to some people, why, I am almost a saint!"
Do you know what's wrong with that? The problem with people and their relationship with God is not what they are outwardly; it's what they are inwardly! The heart of the problem is a problem with the heart! Man is born a sinner, Rom. 3:10-12, 18, 23. He can clean up the outside all he wants to, but he is still a sinner!
You can wash a pig, perfume him and put a ribbon around his neck and he looks clean. But, you turn him loose and he'll head straight to the wallow. Why? He is a pig and that is what pigs do! A sinner may turn over a new leaf and look good outwardly. He may be a moral, clean, hard working person, but he is still a sinner at heart and he needs a Savior. That is what Jesus wanted this young man to know and that is what He wants you to know as well.
C. V. 21 The Clarification - Notice the love and compassion in the heart of Jesus for this young man. Jesus still loved him regardless of his sins and regardless of his improper understanding of the things of God. And, friend, no matter where you are today, He loves you too. As proof of His love, Jesus tells this young man that he was still lacking one thing. Jesus tells him the one thing he needs to do which includes three things.
1. Sell his possessions and give the money to the poor
- Jesus isn't implying that salvation is earned by giving away our material possessions. He is merely placing His finger on the root of this man's problem. He loved his money more that he wanted God in his life. Jesus is saying, "If you want to be perfect, you can place nothing else ahead of Me!" Jesus says, "If you aren't willing to turn your back on everything for me, then you can't be My disciple!"
(Matthew 6:24) "No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon. (NKJV)
2. Take up the cross - The cross was symbolic of death. To take up one's cross was to go to one's death. Jesus is saying, "If you want me, then you have to die to yourself!" In other words, your loves, your goals, your desires, your plans, everything you have, must not come before Jesus.
There are those in the modern church world who says, "Come to Jesus on your terms and live as you please." Jesus says, "If you want to come to Me you have to die to yourself, and if you will do that, then I will live through you!" Which describes the salvation you have today?
3. Follow Jesus - Here is the crux of the matter! This young man has been following power, prestige, position and possessions. Jesus says, "You turn your back on all that and you follow me. That is how you get eternal life!" This is still the call of the Gospel. God says, "Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God and there is none else", Isa. 45:22.
The demands of the Gospel are clear. You must forsake your sins through genuine repentance and embrace the Savior by faith and follow Him. This and this alone, will save your soul.
(Romans 10:9) that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. (NKJV)
III. V. 22 THE MAN AND HIS DECISION
Here is the saddest part of this entire encounter. This young man makes his decision, but it is a tragic decision. Let's notice what he did.
A. He Made An Earthly Decision - He chose his possessions over Jesus! He loved his money more than he wanted to be saved. (Note: Jesus will allow you to make the same choice. It may not be money. It may be pleasure, some sin, your family, your independence, etc. If you want it, He will let you keep it! But, ask yourself this question: "Is it really worth more than my soul?" Friend, nothing is worth your soul, Mark 8:36-37!
B. He Made An Eternal Decision – We never read in the Bible of this young man again. One can only hope that he later came to Jesus. One day, this man's youth faded and was gone. He retired from his prestigious position down at the synagogue. Finally, age and disease overtook him and even his vast wealth couldn't prolong the inevitable, and he died. When he did, he found out that his religion and his moral lifestyle were not enough. If he did die lost, he found himself in Hell, lost forever, because he had walked away from the only hope he had ever had: Jesus Christ.
C. What you do with Jesus in this life, will determine what He will do with you in the afterlife! Has He called you to follow Him? What was your response? Did you forsake all to go after Jesus, regardless of the cost? Is He calling you now? What will you say? Will you come to Him and be saved, or will you go away from Him to continue to live without Him and one day to die without Him? It is decision time, what will you do?
Conclusion: In verse 21, Jesus summed up this young man's dilemma with these words, "One thing you lack." This man had everything, but the most important thing. He had everything but he lacked Jesus! Does that describe you? Do you have money? Position? Youth? Beauty? Health? Education? Or anything else you can name, but still lack Jesus? You don't have to go another minute without Him. Today is a time of personal encounters. Is Jesus speaking to your heart right now? Don't walk away from Jesus, come to Him now!
Let me say to those of you (which is most everyone) who have accepted Jesus as your Savior. You have made the commitment to follow Him. If you remember after Jesus was arrested the Bible says that Peter "followed Him afar off." Later than night Peter ended up denying the Lord three times. Are you following the Lord at a distance? Or are you following Him closely?
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