The Rich Young Ruler – True Freedom Found in Surrender
Notes
Transcript
Heavenly Father,
We thank You today for the freedom we celebrate as a nation—and even more for the freedom offered through Christ. As we open Your Word, help us to see with clear eyes and humble hearts. Reveal to us the things we cling to that keep us from fully following Jesus. May Your Spirit lead us into truth, and may our hearts respond not with sorrow, but with surrender.
In the name of Jesus, our Lord and Redeemer,
Amen.
Text: Mark 10:17–27
Introduction: The Illusion of Freedom
Just this Friday, we celebrated our nation’s freedom—freedom hard-won, deeply valued, and fiercely protected. We thank God for the liberties we enjoy in America. But while we enjoy national freedom, many still live in spiritual bondage—bound by sin, fear, pride, or possessions.
In today’s passage, we meet a man who was free in every earthly sense: he had wealth, youth, influence, and moral reputation. And yet, when he encounters Jesus, we see that he was still a slave—bound to his possessions, unable to let go and truly follow Christ.
The question we must wrestle with is this: Are we truly free, or are we clinging to something that keeps us from Christ?
There will be three main points we will look at today into todays text they are:
A Sincere but Misguided Question (vv. 17–20)
A Loving but Costly Call (v. 21)
A Sobering but Hopeful Lesson (vv. 22–27)
17 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?”
18 So Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God.
19 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.’ ”
20 And he answered and said to Him, “Teacher, all these things I have kept from my youth.”
21 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.”
22 But he was sad at this word, and went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.
23 Then Jesus looked around and said to His disciples, “How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!”
24 And the disciples were astonished at His words. But Jesus answered again and said to them, “Children, how hard it is for those who trust in riches to enter the kingdom of God!
25 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.”
26 And they were greatly astonished, saying among themselves, “Who then can be saved?”
27 But Jesus looked at them and said, “With men it is impossible, but not with God; for with God all things are possible.”
A Sincere but Misguided Question (vv. 17–20)
A Sincere but Misguided Question (vv. 17–20)
“And as He was setting out on His journey, a man ran up and knelt before Him and asked Him, ‘Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?’”
This is one of the most earnest seekers in the Gospels:
He runs—urgent.
He kneels—respectful.
He asks about eternal life—the right question.
But notice the flaw in his approach: “What must I do?”
Like many Americans today, he believed in self-determination. He thought eternal life was something to achieve rather than receive.
Jesus gently corrects him: “Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone.” (cf. Psalm 14:3 Romans 3:10-12)
10 As it is written: “There is none righteous, no, not one; 11 There is none who understands; There is none who seeks after God. 12 They have all turned aside; They have together become unprofitable; There is none who does good, no, not one.”
"Goodness" as an attribute
Even though “goodness” can describe actions, in classical theology, Goodness (capital G) is an ontological attribute of God—it speaks of what God is in His essence:
Just as "God is love" (1 John 4:8) and "God is light" (1 John 1:5), Scripture also declares:
“No one is good but One—that is, God.” (Mark 10:18)
This points to goodness not merely as something God does, but something He is. God is the standard and source of all goodness.
In systematic theology, “Divine Goodness” is the proper term used to describe this essential quality of God's nature—His being is the fullness of all that is morally pure, right, and desirable.
We can then say that God is intrinsically good. What does that mean?
"Intrinsically" means:
Inherently; by its very nature; essentially.
When something is intrinsically a certain way, it doesn’t become that way due to circumstances or outside influence—it already is that way by nature.
Examples in a sentence:
"God is intrinsically good"
→ His goodness is not something He gains or chooses temporarily—it is part of who He is, eternally and unchangeably.
"Human life is intrinsically valuable"
→ Life has value not because of age, status, or ability, but simply because of what it is.
Synonyms:
Inherently
By nature
Innately
So, when you say "God is intrinsically good," you’re making a strong theological statement: Goodness is not just what God does—it’s who He is, by nature, unchanging and eternal.
So when Jesus asks the rich young ruler “Why do you call me good”, it isn’t a denial of divinity but a challenge: Do you really know who you’re talking to? If Jesus is truly good, then He is God—and His words must be received not as advice, but as divine command.
So then Jesus continues by saying,
“You know the commandments…”
Jesus quotes commandments 5–9—ethical duties to others. (cf. Exodus 20:12–16)
The man replies: “All these I have kept from my youth.” Notice by saying this he is placing all his confidence in his own flesh.
5 Thus says the Lord: “Cursed is the man who trusts in man And makes flesh his strength, Whose heart departs from the Lord.
63 It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.
20 Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
Now the rich young ruler may not have been boasting—he may be as sincere as one can be. But sincerity can’t save if it’s grounded in self-righteousness.
A Loving but Costly Call (v. 21)
A Loving but Costly Call (v. 21)
“Jesus, looking at him, loved him…”
This is key. What Jesus says next is not harsh—it is loving truth aimed at setting the man free:
“You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor… and come, follow Me.”
Jesus exposed the idol in the man’s heart. He was not truly free—he was enslaved by wealth and the security it promised. (cf. Matthew 6:24; 1 Timothy 6:9-10)
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.
9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition.
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.
Jesus' words echo Exodus 20:3: “You shall have no other gods before Me.”
To be free in Christ is to surrender every rival throne. (cf. Luke 14:33
33 So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple.
And yet notice the man’s response...lets read it again
22 But he was sad at this word, and went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.
23 Then Jesus looked around and said to His disciples, “How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!”
24 And the disciples were astonished at His words.
Lets stop right there, why do you suppose they were astonished at His words....
1. Wealth Was Viewed as a Sign of God's Favor
1. Wealth Was Viewed as a Sign of God's Favor
In first-century Jewish culture, riches were often interpreted as evidence of righteousness and divine blessing. This view is rooted in Old Testament themes where prosperity was frequently linked to obedience to God (e.g., Deut. 28:1–14). So the disciples would naturally assume:
If anyone is “in” with God, surely it's the wealthy!
But here, Jesus turns that assumption upside down. He says it is hard—even nearly impossible—for the rich to enter the kingdom. That shook them.
The disciples’ astonishment shows they were still learning that the kingdom of God isn’t earned or deserved—it’s received like a child (Mark 10:15), and it requires laying down all other allegiances.
Lets keep reading Mark 10.25-27
25 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.”
26 And they were greatly astonished, saying among themselves, “Who then can be saved?”
27 But Jesus looked at them and said, “With men it is impossible, but not with God; for with God all things are possible.”
A Sobering but Hopeful Lesson (vv. 22–27)
A Sobering but Hopeful Lesson (vv. 22–27)
This rich young ruler came to Jesus running and kneeling, but he left grieving. Why? Because Jesus didn’t offer improvement—He demanded allegiance. (cf. Luke 9:23-24)
23 Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.
24 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it.
“It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle…”
This is deliberate hyperbole: salvation by human means is impossible. (cf. Ephesians 2:8-9)
“With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God.” (cf. Luke 1:37; Titus 3:5)
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,
Here lies the gospel hope: Jesus can do what we cannot. He breaks chains we cannot break. He offers a kingdom we cannot buy.
Conclusion: Where Freedom Begins
This weekend, we honor the freedom won by patriots, but we must also proclaim the freedom won by Christ—freedom not from earthly tyranny, but from sin and death.
Galatians 5:1 – “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free…”
True freedom is not the liberty to do what we want, but the power to do what God wants. The rich young ruler had everything the world says makes you free—but he lacked the one thing that truly mattered.
Today, Jesus still says, “Come, follow Me.”
What is your “one thing”?
What is standing between you and a full surrender to Christ?
Don’t walk away sorrowful. Let go of your idol. Embrace the Savior. That’s where real freedom begins.
Lord Jesus,
You alone are good, and You alone can save. Thank You for loving us enough to call us away from false securities and into the life of true discipleship. Help us to let go of anything that holds us back from following You. Remind us that with man it is impossible—but with You, all things are possible. May we walk in the freedom only You can give, with hearts fully surrendered to Your will.
In Your powerful and saving name,
Amen.
