Topical - Discipleship - Follow Me #2
“Follow Me—Pt.2”
“The Rich Young Ruler”
Matthew 19:16-22
Introduction:
My Passion is Matthew 5:1-2
And seeing the multitudes, He went up on a mountain, and when He was seated His disciples came to Him. Then He opened His mouth and taught them… "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations…"teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you (Matthew 28:19-20)
1. John 1:35-51
a. Andrew followed Jesus (v.37)
b. Andrew found his brother (v.40-42).
c. Jesus found Philip (v.43).
d. Philip found Nathanael (44-45).
Most people who regularly witness for Christ would admit that it is relatively easy to get people to profess faith.
Getting them to follow the Lord is a much more frustrating experience.
We have known people who want salvation, but never really follow the Lord. Why?
I. Jesus’ Call to Discipleship
A. The Meaning of the word “disciple.”
1. Disciple is used consistently as a synonym for believer throughout the book of Acts
(Acts 6:1-2, 7; 11:26; 14:20, 22; 15:10)
2. Disciple is also sometimes used is Scripture in a general sense, to describe those who like Judas, outwardly followed Christ. It certainly is not restricted to some higher level of believers.
B. Every Christian is a Disciple
1. The Lord’s Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20)
Go into all the world and “make disciples…teaching them to observe all that I commanded you”
a. The goal of the church & mission of evangelism is to make disciples.
b. Disciples are those who believe, and who’s faith motivates them to obey all Jesus commanded.
2. It is also apparent that not every disciple is necessarily a true Christian (John 6:60-66)
a. In verse 64, Jesus challenged the faith of those who called themselves disciples.
b. In verse 66 says many of His disciples walked with Him no more.
c. In verse 67 Jesus turned to the twelve and said, “do you also want to go away?”
3. Why did so many of Jesus’ so called followers turn away?
a. Jesus repeatedly made difficult demands.
b. Jesus does not want casual followers, but people willing to give their lives to Him.
II. The Rich Young Ruler
A. He Challenges the Eager Seeker – Matthew 19:16-22
1. The truth of this entire passage in a single statement (Luke 14:33)
Jesus gave this man a test to choose between his possessions and Jesus Christ. He failed the test.
a. He was unwilling to turn from what he loved the most, therefore he could not be a disciple of Christ (Luke 14:33)
b. Salvation is only for those who are willing to give Christ first place in their lives.
c. The issue here was this mans salvation, not some higher level of Christianity.
2. (v.16) – The term eternal life refers to conversion, evangelism, and the new birth—the entire salvation experience.
This man was unwilling to forsake what he loved the most in this world & commit himself to Christ as Lord.
a. Instead of taking him from where he was and getting him to “make a decision for Christ”
b. Jesus laid out terms that were unacceptable to him.
c. In a sense, Jesus drove him away.
3. Jesus began preaching law to this man not even mentioning faith or the aspects of redemption.
4. Today’s gospel is preoccupied with statistics, isle walking, gimmicks emotional manipulation.
Unbelievers are told that:
a. if they invite Jesus into their hearts
b. accept Him as personal Savior
c. or believe the facts about the gospel, that this is all they have to do.
5. These are the kind of people who end up with a professed faith in Christ, but no change of behavior.
6. Who knows how many people are deluded into believing they are saved when they are not?
What went wrong with this young man?
Why did he seem to start so well yet turn away from Christ without receiving eternal life?
A. He Had the Right Motive
1. Jesus said, “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you (Matt. 6:33).
This man was young (Matt. 19:20) & rich (v.22).
a. Luke 18:18 says he was a ruler (archon in the Greek text), which most likely means he was a ruler of the synagogue.
b. It appears that he was a Jewish religious leader, who was highly respected, & influential.
c. The words “and behold” are an exclamation indicating wonder & amazement.
2. All his religion & wealth had not given him confidence, peace, joy, or settled hope.
This man knew that he was missing eternal life.
#1 – John 17:3 Eternal life: speaks not only of the promise of life in the ages to come but also of the quality of life that is the characteristic of the redeemed. It signifies quality as much a duration (John 17:3). It is not just living forever; eternal life is being alive the realm where God dwells, walking with the Living God in unending communion.
Note the different words that are used interchangeably throughout this passage.
Þ Eternal life: “That I may have eternal life” (Matthew 19:16).
Þ Life: “If you want to enter into life” (Matthew 19:17).
Þ Heaven: “You will have treasure in heaven” (Matthew 19:21).
3. The way Christ dealt with the subjects of eternal life, life, and heaven is meaningful.
a. He was making a distinction between life and existence.
He was saying what Scripture proclaims time and again—that man without Christ does not have life. He is not living; he is only existing. He is in a state of death (always dying) and is separated from God, the Source of real life (Ephes. 2:1; 1 John 5:12).
b. He was teaching eternal existence.
Man does not cease to be; he continues on and on. The only question is, does he continue on in a state of life, living eternally, or of death, being separated from God eternally? To receive eternal life means that a man “enters life,” a continuation of life. To remain as he is means that a person continues on just existing, existing in a state of death, that is, being without God in this world and existing without eternal life (Hebrews 9:27).
c. He was teaching that heaven is another world—a real world in another dimension of being, an eternal dimension.
It is wholly different from the physical and temporal dimension of this world. Note: there is to be “treasure in heaven” for following Christ, eternal treasure.
B. He Had the Right Attitude
1. This man seemed to feel his need very deeply.
People today know they do not have eternal life, but they also fell no need for it, they are not interested at all.
a. Mark 10:17 says this man came running to Jesus.
b. He also came publicly (Nicodemus came by night), in daylight in front of other people.
c. He was bold enough to face publicly that he did not have eternal life.
d. For a man in his position to do this took tremendous courage .
2. Mark also tells us this rich young ruler knelt at Jesus feet (Mark 10:17).
a. This was a position of humility before God (Luke 18:9-14)
1) John 6:29-30
2) Eph. 2:8-9
3. What an opportunity to catch this fish!
a. He was young, rich, intelligent & influential.
b. Think of what he could have done for the Lord.
c. He could have donated a lot of money to the church for good Christian causes, right?
C. He Came to the Right Source & He Confessed His Need.
1. The rich young ruler demonstrated how we should seek eternal life.
a. He approached Christ, the source of eternal life.
b. He asked, that is, he confessed his need.
2. This man did not come to an evangelist; he came to the very source of eternal life himself!
To many people look in the wrong place for eternal life.
1. Satan is the master counterfeiter when it comes to false assurance.
2. Most people never find eternal life because they are looking in the wrong places.
· 1 John 5:11 says, “And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.”
· 1 John 5:20 says, “This is the true God and eternal life.”
3. He asked, that is, he confessed his need.
Note two things about him seeking eternal life.
a. He believed that eternal life existed.
b. He did a rare thing, He openly confessed his need even though he was rich
c. He was seeking for inner peace and a sense of completeness, for a satisfaction which his wealth and position had not given him.
Note: a person does not secure eternal life; he receives it. And...
a. A man does not receive eternal life until he seeks it (Is. 55:6).
b. A man does not receive eternal life until he approaches Christ, the Source of life (Matt. 11:28; John 14:6).
c. A man does not receive eternal life until he confesses his need.
4. This man came to the right person (Acts 4:12).
D. He Asked the Right Questions
1. (v.16) What good thing must I do? Was he thinking he had to do something (a work orientated salvation)?
It is true that he was attuned to a religion based on works.
a. He has been raised in a Pharisaic system of tradition.
b. He was trained to think of religion as a system to earn divine favor.
c. Nevertheless, it was an honest question, by one seeking eternal life.
2. There is something we have to do to inherit eternal life: John 6:29-30 believe.
3. Here is where the story takes a turn.
a. Jesus answers his question (Matt. 19:17).
b. Jesus revealed nothing of himself or the facts if the gospel.
c. He did not invite the man to believe.
d. He did not ask for a decision.
4. Why would Jesus tell him to keep the commandment when no one except the Savoir alone could do that?
5. To suggest the law is to cloud the issue of faith.
6. Since this man had come with the:
a. Right motives
b. Right attitude
c. To the right source
d. Asking the right questions to have eternal life
e. Why didn’t Jesus tell him the way of salvation through faith?
E. He Was Filled with Pride
1. Jesus knew that he was lacking a sense of his own sinfulness
His desire for salvation
a. was based on an emptiness in his soul
b. perhaps with a desire to get rid of anxiety and frustration
c. to attain joy, love, peace, and hope
These desires do not constitute a valid reason for committing oneself to Christ
2. People must come to the reality of their own sinfulness (Luke 18:9-14)
Today’s evangelism promises:
a. happiness
b. joy
c. fulfillment
d. & everything positive
III. The result of coming to a gospel that preaches this is (Matt. 13:18-23)
1. The recognition of personal sin is a necessary element in understanding the truth of salvation.
Salvation is for people who:
a. Hate their sin and want to turn away from the things of this life.
b. Understand that they have lived in rebellion against a Holy God.
c. Want to turn around, to live for God’s glory.
2. Evangelism must measure sinners against the perfect law of God so they can see their deficiency.
A gospel that deals only with human needs, human feelings, & human problems, lacks the true balance.
a. Churches today are filled with people whose lives are essentially unchanged after their supposed conversion.
b. Most of these people have a false sense of security.
3. In Romans, Paul spends three chapters declaring the sinfulness of humanity before he begins the way of salvation.
a. John 1:17 cf. Galatians 3:24
b. Without the law and its effects on us that God designs, grace is meaningless.
4. We need to adjust the presentation of the gospel.
a. We cannot dismiss the fact that God hates sin and punishes sinners with eternal torment.
b. God is angry with the wicked every day (Psalm 7:11).
5. The rich young ruler asked, “which commandment do I keep?” (v.18).
a. In reality no one can keep the commandments, Jesus is giving Him an impossible order.
b. Why should He command him to do something that was impossible for him to do?
c. Trying to keep the law will bring you to the end of yourself, it will condemn you, and be as a schoolmaster leading you to Christ.
d. By the law is the knowledge of sin.
e. He answered Jesus, "Which?"
6. Jesus gave to him the second table of the law (Matt. 19:18-19).
a. You shall not murder
b. You shall not commit adultery
c. You shall not steal
d. You shall not bear false witness
e. Honor your father and your mother,' and,
f. You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'
7. Jesus gave him the second table of commands not the first.
a. I am curious why Jesus did not mention these, in that these are the most important.
1) When questioned by a lawyer as to the greatest commandment Jesus answered, "You shall love the Lord God with all your strength, soul and mind."
b. Jehovah God must be the first and primary love of your life.
c. I must believe that He deliberately left these out to make a very important point.
1) You may live a good moral life, and still not be saved.
2) Man cannot be saved by his good works.
3) This young man had all the good works but was still conscious of his need of eternal life.
A. He Did not Confess His Guilt – v.20
1. This man had thought he had kept the law.
2. Perhaps he did not steal or lie, and maybe he thought he honored his parents.
3. The emphasis of Jesus’ teaching was inward righteousness (Matthew 5:20).
a. Murder (Matt. 21-22).
b. Adultery (Matt. 5:27-28)
4. Paul as well had thought he had kept all the law concerning rituals.
a. However, the contrast is, Paul counted “all things loss” (Phil. 3:6-10).
b. This man went away sorrowful (v.22).
5. Mark 10:21 tells us, “And looking at him, Jesus felt a love for him.”
a. This man was sincere, his spiritual quest was genuine
b. He was an honestly religious person.
c. Jesus loved him & was about to die for sinners like him “Not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”
d. Yet, this is the one thing this man would not do—Repent!
6. The Lord Jesus does not take sinners on their terms but His.
B. He Would not Submit to Christ – v.21
1. Jesus challenged his claim to having kept the law – “Loving his neighbor as himself”
a. If you want to be perfect
b. Go & sell what you have (Acts 2:45; 4:34-35)
c. Give to the poor.
d. The Result: We receive heaven & treasures in heaven (Matt. 7:19-21, 33).
2. The ultimate test was whether or not he was going to obey the Lord.
This is the test of true faith:
a. Are you willing to do what I want you to do?
b. Whom do you want to run your life, you or Me?
Jesus knew where this mans heart was:
a. He was saying, “unless I can be the highest authority in your life, there is no salvation for you”
Do we need to literally give away everything we own to become Christians?
a. No, but we do have to give Christ first place.
b. We must be willing to forsake all for Him whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple. (Luke 14:33 NKJV)
c. The true believer will desire to do this.
3. The Lord made an attack on his weakness—pride and the love of money.
4. The rich young ruler failed the test.
a. Possessions were more important to him than Christ.
b. & he would not come to Jesus because he would have to give them up.
C. The Contrast – Zaccheus (Luke 19:1-10)
1. Zaccheus was willing to do anything including getting rid of all his wealth
The rich young ruler rejected Christ for 3 reasons:
a. Unbelief—not willing to entrust his life to Christ.
b. Self-righteousness& pride—his religious works
c. Love of the world—he was rich & unwilling to give up his comfort & possessions.
Luke 14:26-27, 33