Mar 10:17-22
(17) And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?
(18) And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God.
(19) Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother.
(20) And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth.
(21) Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.
(22) And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions.
This young man, who we most often title "the rich young ruler", came running to Jesus as He was leaving a region of Judea. By the fact that he came running we can determine that he was earnestly seeking an answer from Jesus. We can also see that he believed that Jesus was Someone who was capable and worthy to answer his pressing question.
"What must I do to inherit eternal life?"
A very important question for all of us to ask.
Jesus then tests this young man to see what his beliefs were regarding the deity of Jesus.
The young man evidently passes the test because the exchange continues.
Jesus then simply tells him to keep the commandments and then lists a few.
The young man answered that he has kept them all from his youth. He was good here. He obviously was a devout Jew and very zealous in what he thought was righteousness. He was very similar to the apostle Paul in Php 3:6
(6) Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.
But the young ruler pressed Jesus further, Mat 19:20
(20) The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?
Have you ever honestly asked that question?
Is there a feeling within you that there is more than what you are experiencing right now?
Ask the question but prepare yourself - your little world just may be shattered by Jesus' answer.
This young man came to Jesus earnestly seeking an answer but never realized how difficult the answer would be to fulfill. He came as a pious, self-righteous man who had accomplished a great deal in his life. He was zealous to keep the commandments and in his mind he wanted to "up his game a little." Surely there was just one more thing he could do to better his chances at eternal life.
Jesus' answer totally stuns and grieves the young man.
He no longer has any words. He doesn't argue or justify himself. He understood exactly what Jesus said to him and he left speechless and in sorrow. He came to Jesus to see if he could find some new "thing" that he could do that would improve on his righteousness. Perhaps he was thinking of a new law of cleanliness or a different piece of clothing that would give him an advantage over the other self-righteous leaders and possibly help him move up in his social status.
I love the way Jesus answers questions like this! He simply speaks a sentence or two and cuts through all the attitudes and self-righteous justifications and speaks directly to the heart.
Heb 4:12
(12) For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
The words Jesus spoke in answer to this young ruler were amazingly simple to understand. There was no need for an interpreter or theologian to clarify and simplify. There was no need for a preacher to shout the message or a priest to stand between. Jesus spoke the simple words directly to this young ruler and they had a far greater affect than any words uttered by man.
This is where many are today! They are seeking yet one more thing that they may lack. One more "program"; one more new popular Christian leader with his 3 step plan to real Christianity; one more rule or church standard; one more year of seminary.
In all our self-righteous seeking we miss the very simple words of Jesus. "Go and sell."
Get rid of anything that hinders.
"Give to the poor." In all that you do help others.
"Come and follow me." Leave and follow Jesus.
Jesus speaks these words to you and me as well.
Will we walk away full of myself and this world yet empty in our soul?
Or, will we follow our Lord and be empty of this world but full of Christ?
These are the simple yet hard words of Jesus.
Simple to understand but brutally hard because of how deep they cut into our hearts.
They need not be hard; simply surrender your will to Jesus and the conflict is over.
But, that is the everyday Christian battle because the flesh is still alive and seeks control at every decision.
"Go and sell."
"Come and follow."
(17) And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?
(18) And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God.
(19) Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother.
(20) And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth.
(21) Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.
(22) And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions.
This young man, who we most often title "the rich young ruler", came running to Jesus as He was leaving a region of Judea. By the fact that he came running we can determine that he was earnestly seeking an answer from Jesus. We can also see that he believed that Jesus was Someone who was capable and worthy to answer his pressing question.
"What must I do to inherit eternal life?"
A very important question for all of us to ask.
Jesus then tests this young man to see what his beliefs were regarding the deity of Jesus.
The young man evidently passes the test because the exchange continues.
Jesus then simply tells him to keep the commandments and then lists a few.
The young man answered that he has kept them all from his youth. He was good here. He obviously was a devout Jew and very zealous in what he thought was righteousness. He was very similar to the apostle Paul in Php 3:6
(6) Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.
But the young ruler pressed Jesus further, Mat 19:20
(20) The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?
Have you ever honestly asked that question?
Is there a feeling within you that there is more than what you are experiencing right now?
Ask the question but prepare yourself - your little world just may be shattered by Jesus' answer.
This young man came to Jesus earnestly seeking an answer but never realized how difficult the answer would be to fulfill. He came as a pious, self-righteous man who had accomplished a great deal in his life. He was zealous to keep the commandments and in his mind he wanted to "up his game a little." Surely there was just one more thing he could do to better his chances at eternal life.
Jesus' answer totally stuns and grieves the young man.
He no longer has any words. He doesn't argue or justify himself. He understood exactly what Jesus said to him and he left speechless and in sorrow. He came to Jesus to see if he could find some new "thing" that he could do that would improve on his righteousness. Perhaps he was thinking of a new law of cleanliness or a different piece of clothing that would give him an advantage over the other self-righteous leaders and possibly help him move up in his social status.
I love the way Jesus answers questions like this! He simply speaks a sentence or two and cuts through all the attitudes and self-righteous justifications and speaks directly to the heart.
Heb 4:12
(12) For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
The words Jesus spoke in answer to this young ruler were amazingly simple to understand. There was no need for an interpreter or theologian to clarify and simplify. There was no need for a preacher to shout the message or a priest to stand between. Jesus spoke the simple words directly to this young ruler and they had a far greater affect than any words uttered by man.
This is where many are today! They are seeking yet one more thing that they may lack. One more "program"; one more new popular Christian leader with his 3 step plan to real Christianity; one more rule or church standard; one more year of seminary.
In all our self-righteous seeking we miss the very simple words of Jesus. "Go and sell."
Get rid of anything that hinders.
"Give to the poor." In all that you do help others.
"Come and follow me." Leave and follow Jesus.
Jesus speaks these words to you and me as well.
Will we walk away full of myself and this world yet empty in our soul?
Or, will we follow our Lord and be empty of this world but full of Christ?
These are the simple yet hard words of Jesus.
Simple to understand but brutally hard because of how deep they cut into our hearts.
They need not be hard; simply surrender your will to Jesus and the conflict is over.
But, that is the everyday Christian battle because the flesh is still alive and seeks control at every decision.
"Go and sell."
"Come and follow."
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