How Can I Have Eternal Life? Matthew 19:16-30

Introduction: Have you ever had someone walk up to you and ask you, “What good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?” I haven’t! However, wouldn’t it be great if this was a common occurrence? Can you imagine shopping in Costco, Walmart, or Target and someone out of the blue walked over to you and asked, “What good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?” Again, that has never happened to me. But it did happen to Jesus. And this is what we are going to look at in the passage before us.

   There are a lot of people who think that salvation is based on something they must do. People are performance based. Work is what we understand, and therefore when it comes to a relationship with God, we think that we must earn our way to eternal life.

   It is estimated that 5.6 billion people worldwide—over 70% of the global population—are involved in religious systems that emphasize works as part of salvation, spiritual advancement, or favor with God.

   And such is the case before us in our text. We begin with…

1. The Misunderstanding of Eternal Life – 19:16-20

   16 Now behold, one came and said to Him, “Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?”

A. The Man’s Question – 19:16

   “Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?”

   This man’s question reveals a performance-based mindset. We need to be careful that we are not too hard on him. There are a lot of people who believe that they must perform to find favor with God. This man assumes eternal life is a reward for moral achievement.

   As I read this it is almost as if this man is asking Jesus to provide him the one thing that he needed to do to have eternal life. Do you know any one thing people?

    What we are reading here is what I call a man center approach – “What can I do to earn heaven?" People want to produce to earn eternal life.

   Please hear what I am about to say - Salvation is not achieved; it's received through surrender and faith.

B. The Savior’s Answer – 19:17

   17 So He said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.”

   Jesus’ answer is two-fold. First, Jesus clarifies that ONLY God is Good. Don’t miss the words, “No one is good but One, that is, God.” This is why a work-based religion is insufficient. No one is good. Secondly, Jesus tells the man, “But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.”

· God is Good.

· Mankind is not Good.

   When Jesus tells the man to “keep the commandments” to have life, He already knows that it is impossible for him to do so. Jesus was seeking to get this man to see that he was in fact a law breaker, that he couldn’t keep the commandments.  

  One author stated, “Jesus isn't saying salvation is through law-keeping, but He’s revealing the impossibility of perfect obedience, setting up the need for grace.”

   What is the purpose of the Law? The Law exposes sin. As Paul wrote:

   “Through the law we become conscious of our sin.” (Romans 3:20)

   Warren Wiersbe says, “Jesus used the Law to reveal the young man’s sin and need for a Savior, not as a ladder to heaven.”

   Don't rely on morality to save you—use the Law as a mirror to see your need for grace.

C. The Man’s Follow up Question – 19:18-19

18 He said to Him, “Which ones?” Jesus said, “‘You shall not murder,’ ‘You shall not commit adultery,’ ‘You shall not steal,’ ‘You shall not bear false witness,’ 19‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’”

   The young man asked Jesus, “which ones?”  After all, who wouldn’t want to know what commandments needed to be kept to be assured of eternal life?

  Jesus provides him a list of the commandments. Listen carefully to this list that Jesus provides – please notice where Jesus starts:

· You shall not murder – Commandment # 6

· You shall not commit adultery – Commandment # 7

· You shall not steal – Commandment # 8

· You shall not bear false witness- Commandment # 9

· Honor your father and your mother – Commandment # 5

· You shall love your neighbor as yourself – Commandment # 10 (Leviticus 19:18).

   There are two things I want to mention here about the commandments:

1. Jesus skips the first five commandments.  

   Are the first five commandments unimportant? Not at all. However, the first five commandments have been called the God focused commandments. The second five commandments have been called the man focused commandments. The first five deal with your walk with God, and the second five deal with your walk with mankind. Jesus focuses on the commandments that keep us in relationship with other people. Keep them and you will be right with others.  

2.  Jesus mentions the second five commandments.

   Why the commandments that focus on our relationships with people? It is quite simple – You can only keep the second five commandments if you are already keeping the first five of the Ten Commandments. You will never be right with people, unless you are first right with God.

   Jesus said to this man, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

   The word “Neighbor” in Greek is plēsion and it doesn’t just mean someone close by. Jesus is telling this man that it includes anyone in need. (Remember the story of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10:25–37).

   A horizontal relationship with others is evidence of a vertical relationship with God.

D. The Real Problem revealed – 19:20

     20 The young man said to Him, “All these things I have kept from my youth. What do I still lack?”

   This man had a high view of himself. Probably like many people he had a distorted view of his own reality. He probably viewed himself better than he was.

   Even though he said he kept all these commandments listed by Jesus, he still felt that he lacked. He asked Jesus,

   “What do I still lack?”

   I really believe that inside most people they feel this way. They feel as if they are not doing enough, that there has got to be more they could be doing.

2. The Cost of Eternal Life – 19:21-26

   21 Jesus said to him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” 22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.

   Jesus takes the man to a deeper level. He says to him,

   “If you want to be perfect,”

   The word “Perfect” in Greek is teleios and it means complete or mature.

   Next Jesus says,

   “go, sell what you have and give to the poor,”

   Did I mention to you that this man was rich? Apparently, he had a lot of earthly possessions.

  Why did Jesus tell him to sell his stuff? Jesus wasn’t demanding poverty, but He was seeking to expose this man’s idolatry. He loved his stuff, his wealth.

  Jesus told him to set his priorities,

   “and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”

   Here is what I hear Jesus saying,

   Give up and Follow Me.

   Jesus was telling this man to forsake that which had a hold on him. Is there anything that has a hold on you today?

   R.T. France notes, “This is not a general rule for all, but a specific challenge to this man’s greatest hindrance to discipleship—his wealth.”

   When the man heard Jesus’ challenge to him, and we read,

   “He went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.”

   The man valued possessions over the person of Christ. His god was his wealth. The Bible tells us,

   You can’t serve two masters (Matthew 6:24)

   Jesus doesn’t just want part of our life—He demands our heart. Ask yourself: Is there anything I wouldn’t give up for Jesus?

A. The difficulty of Wealth - 19:23–24

23 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “Assuredly, I say to you that it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24 And 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.”

   Jesus says that it is “hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.” It is hard, but not impossible. One of the reasons why it is hard is because a lot of people with wealth don’t think or feel like they need God in their lives – they are self-sufficient.

    John MacArthur wrote, “Wealth gives the illusion of independence and self-sufficiency—making it difficult for the rich to humble themselves and admit their need for God.”

   Jesus also used an illustration to provide a mental picture of how hard it is for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. Jesus says,

   “And 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.”

   There are different ideas as to what this means:

·  Some think that it speaks of a camel and a sewing needle.

· Others believe that Jesus was referring to a small gate in Jerusalem called the "Needle's Eye," where a camel could pass through only if it was unloaded and knelt — difficult but not impossible.

   Whether rich or poor, every person must come to God the same way—in brokenness and dependence. There is no other way to have eternal life.

B. With God all things are Possible – 19:25–26

   25 When His disciples heard it, they were greatly astonished, saying, “Who then can be saved?” 26But Jesus looked at them and said to them, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

Who then can be saved? – 19:25

   25 When His disciples heard it, they were greatly astonished, saying, “Who then can be saved?”

   The disciples like most Jews believed that wealth was a sign of God’s blessings. Why was their master telling this man that he had to get rid of his money? This didn’t make sense to them.

  In their minds they thought that a man who had money was blessed by God. That God had made him wealthy.  If this wasn’t the case, then who then could be saved?

   They are thinking – perhaps no one can be saved.

2. With God all things are possible – 19:26

   26But Jesus looked at them and said to them, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

   The man in the story is a picture of how most people respond. Most people are unwilling to “sell all and follow” Jesus Christ. Far too many people live for the temporal and neglects the eternal. Yes, most people are unwilling to “unload” to follow Jesus Christ into eternal life.

  Hear me – Only God’s power can transform the human heart. Man cannot save himself, only by God’s grace can a man’s life be transformed.

   Here is the bottom line – Jesus only Jesus.

3. The Reward of Eternal Life – 19:27–30

27 Then Peter answered and said to Him, “See, we have left all and followed You. Therefore what shall we have?” 28 So Jesus said to them, “Assuredly I say to you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My name’s sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life. 30But many who are first will be last, and the last first.

A.Peter wants to know what will they get for following Jesus? – 19:27

  27 Then Peter answered and said to Him, “See, we have left all and followed You. Therefore what shall we have?”

   Peter speaks up for the rest of the disciples, wondering if their sacrifices were worth it. He is asking, “What shall we have?” He also states that they have left “all” to follow Jesus.

   Can I ask us to be honest for just a moment? Question: Have we left “all” to follow Jesus Christ? Have we?

   Do we too have an overestimate of ourselves too?

B. Jesus Promises Eternal reward for His Disciples– 19:28

   28 So Jesus said to them, “Assuredly I say to you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

   The “regeneration” is a term used to speak of the time when Jesus will return and set up His millennial kingdom. It will be a time when He rules for 1,000 years.

   Jesus makes a promise to Peter and His disciples that His disciples would sit on twelve thrones and judge the twelve tribes of Israel.

   Jesus makes it clear that they would have positions of authority in His coming kingdom.

C. Jesus Promises Rewards for Everyone who follows Him – 19:29

   29 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My name’s sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life.

   This is not salvation by sacrifice—it’s God’s reward for faithful discipleship.

   Please hear me – You will always receive far more than you will ever give up. Don’t you ever forget this. Your sacrifice here are nothing compared with what you shall receive in glory.

   Craig Keener writes, “Jesus acknowledges the cost of discipleship, but affirms the immeasurable reward—both now and in the age to come.”

D. Jesus shares a Final Warning (A Paradox) – 19:30

   “But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”

   The rich young ruler had status, morality, and wealth — he seemed “first” in society and religion — but walked away from Jesus.

   The disciples, many of whom were poor, uneducated fishermen, followed Jesus wholeheartedly and would inherit thrones (v. 28).

   The “first” (rich, moral, respected) became last; the “last” (humble, sacrificial followers) became first.

   We need to be careful that we think biblically and not worldly. God literally flips things over from what most of us expect. The first shall be last, and the last first.

   Conclusion:  This story doesn’t end well for the rich young ruler. He walked away from Jesus very sorrowful. He was unwilling to let go of the temporary for the eternal.  

  Here is the lesson I want us to walk away with: Eternal life is not about what we do—it's about who we follow. I ask you today, “Will you follow Jesus Christ?”

  In closing let me ask you a few questions:

1. Is there anything that you might be unwilling to surrender to Jesus? What is it, and why are you holding on to it?

2. Are you living for eternal reward or earthly comfort?

3. Are you following Jesus, or just obeying religious rules?

   Remember this, “Eternal life is not a prize to be earned—but a gift to be received through surrender, trust, and following Christ.”