Matt #26

Two stories- one issue

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Gospel of Matthew #26

8/2/26

Matthew 19:16–30; 20:20–28

Good morning, my name is Jamey, and I’m the lead pastor here at Northside. It’s great to be with you guys.

We’re back, baby.

Back into the Gospel of Matthew.

Today we’re looking at parts of Matthew 19 and 20.

Two stories that, at first glance, seem very different.

One is about a wealthy young man who comes running to Jesus with a question.

The other is about two disciples asking Jesus for positions of greatness.

Different people.

Different situations.

Different questions.

But Matthew places them together because there is a similar thread within them.

Looking for meaning, purpose… In a sense… asking… "Where do I find life?"

The rich young ruler asks:

"What good thing must I do to posses eternal life?"

James and John ask:

"Can we have the greatest positions in Your Kingdom?"

Looking for possession and position…

For me, that brings us a series of questions.

Is my life meaningful?

In what way? What makes it meaningful?

Am I secure?

What provides that? Or… why not?

Do I feel like I have purpose in my life?

What? Or if not, why not?

Who am I? What is the truth about who I am and why does that matter?

To me, it's all connected to this idea of… we are all looking for “life” somewhere.

The question is:

Where are you looking?

MATTHEW'S BIGGER STORY

Before we jump into the text, we need to understand where Matthew has brought us.

Matthew 19:1 tells us Jesus has left Galilee and is traveling toward Judea.

This is the long, final journey to Jerusalem…

Everything from this point forward is moving toward the cross.

Jesus knows betrayal, suffering, and death are coming…

But the disciples still don't fully understand what kind of King Jesus is.

They are expecting:

A conquering King.

A political Kingdom.

Power.

Influence.

Positions.

They are thinking like Rome.

Jesus is preparing them for the cross.

And almost every conversation from this point forward is Jesus reshaping their understanding of His Kingdom.

And as he prepares them, we realize… Jesus’ Kingdom is just different. It's often referred to as the upside-down Kingdom - meaning… opposed to what our culture teaches and sinful nature leans towards.

The world says:

Power is greatness.

Jesus says:

Service is greatness.

The world says:

Climb higher.

Jesus says:

Humble yourself lower.

The world says:

Get what's yours

Jesus says:

Give your life away.

World says…

You gotta get what's yours

Jesus says…

Give it away

World says…

we’re kings and queens…

Jesus says…

you're a servant

There are moments in life when everything gets turned upside down… and all of these upside-down Kingdom teachings of Jesus are like that.

You think success means climbing the ladder...

until you meet the person everyone admires because they quietly invested their life in others.

You think happiness comes from getting more...

until you meet someone who has very little but has incredible joy.

You think strength means proving yourself...

until you meet someone whose humility is more powerful than anyone else's confidence.

Jesus constantly turned the world's values upside down.

When the disciples argued about greatness, Jesus put a child in front of them.

When Peter asked how many times he had to forgive, Jesus said seventy-seven times.

When everyone expected the Messiah to overthrow Rome, Jesus talked about carrying a cross.

Jesus doesn't simply improve our lives. He completely redefines life.

And that brings us to Matthew 19.

THE LIFE WE TRY TO SECURE

Matthew introduces us to a man who seems to have everything.

He is young.

Successful.

Respected.

Moral.

Religious.

The kinda guy that walks into the room and all other guys wanna punch him.

"That guy has his life together."

From every observable angle… he had it all. He had his life together…

But he came to Jesus with this… Huge, crazy, importan question… why?

Matthew 19:16-17 (NLT)

Matthew 19:16–17 NLT

Someone came to Jesus with this question: “Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?” “Why ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. But to answer your question—if you want to receive eternal life, keep the commandments.”

16 Someone came to Jesus with this question: “Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?”Matthew 17 “Why ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. But to answer your question—if you want to receive eternal life, keep the commandments.”

You see it, right?

That despite having every earthly thing… HE knew it. He knew something was missing.

These 2 verses are full…

There is a reason this guy is coming to Jesus…

He’s seen and heard things… things that brought him here.

This rich young ruler approaches Jesus as…

a respected rabbi,

a moral teacher,

someone who might have another rule to add.

Jesus responds with, why do you call me good? Only one is good…

Jesus isn’t denying His deity… but teaching it.

He’s pushing this guy to examine… what led him here in the first place.

"Let's talk about that word 'good.'

Jesus is using this man's statement to make a claim… Jesus is using that man's statement to force him to consider just who He really is.

The man asks:

"What good thing must I do?"

Jesus immediately starts talking about goodness.

The man believes goodness is something you can accumulate or achieve.

If I just do enough… if I keep the commandments… if I perform well… if I say the right things… go to the right places at just the right times… then… then… God will give me life.

He is looking for something he can do… that will somehow… make God owe Him… eternal life.

That is what sits under a works-based theology.

Jesus immediately challenges that assumption.

Only God is perfectly good.

In other words:

"Let's begin with the right starting point. You're talking about goodness as if it's something you can manufacture. True goodness belongs to God."

That completely changes the conversation.

He’s seeking eternal life…

Today, when we hear that, most people just think… living forever in Heaven.

And… I think thats partially true, but like most partially true things, it's kind of a dangerous ideology.

Eternal life is living the life of God’s coming Kingdom… It’s not just when you die… It's stepping into the full, free, new, lasting… life… not that just that God has for you… but that you were created for.

What is eternal life? Eternal life is stepping into the full, free, new, lasting life that you were created for, lived out in relationship with Him.

Sometimes the life we seek… that we want… is different than the life Jesus offers…

One author I read brought some wisdom to that...

Saying… we have to be careful with that.

Its impotant that we realize that some of our deepest longings and desires come from God Himself… the issue is… that sin and selfishness have bent, warped, and misdirected them.

For example...

We long for:

Security - but often look for it in other things

Love- but we’ve adopted a broken, lust-filled, enabling view of what love is.

Identity - believing we find it by looking deep down within ourselves…

Purpose- meaning… in the eyes of man

Joy.

Rest.

Belonging.

Significance.

Those aren't sinful desires.

They're God-given…

Ecclesiastes 3:11… I think it points to it some… when it says God has put eternity in the heart of man.

The problem is where we look to satisfy our God-given desires.

Jesus said Keep the commands… the man responded…

Matthew 19:18–22 (NLT)

Matthew 19:18–22 NLT

“Which ones?” the man asked. And Jesus replied: “ ‘You must not murder. You must not commit adultery. You must not steal. You must not testify falsely. Honor your father and mother. Love your neighbor as yourself.’” “I’ve obeyed all these commandments,” the young man replied. “What else must I do?” Jesus told him, “If you want to be perfect, go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” But when the young man heard this, he went away sad, for he had many possessions.

18 “Which ones?” the man asked.

And Jesus replied: “ ‘You must not murder. You must not commit adultery. You must not steal. You must not testify falsely. 19 Honor your father and mother. Love your neighbor as yourself.’”

20 “I’ve obeyed all these commandments,” the young man replied. “What else must I do?”

21 Jesus told him, “If you want to be perfect, go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

22 But when the young man heard this, he went away sad, for he had many possessions.

Jesus goes from obey… to surrender.

Notice what he was really looking for:

Assurance without surrender.

Blessing without losing control.

A Savior who would affirm his life rather than redefine it.

That's why idols are so powerful. They promise legitimate things. They just can't deliver them.

Every idol makes a promise that only Jesus can fulfill

Every idol asks you to sacrifice your life in exchange for a promise it can never keep.

Jesus asks you to surrender your life because He has already given His for you, and

Only Jesus can give you the life you were created to live.

He wants a checklist.

Jesus offers a relationship.

The man wants a task.

Jesus offers discipleship.

The man wants eternal life on his terms.

Jesus offers eternal life through surrender.

Jesus begins with the commandments.

The man says:

"I have kept all these." And Jesus exposes the issue.

Not because the man failed a financial test.

Because something else had his heart.

Jesus says:

"Sell your possessions and give to the poor... then come, follow Me."

Is Jesus saying everyone must sell everything?

No.

The issue is not money. The issue is mastery.

Money wasn't simply something this man possessed.

Money possessed him. He found security and identity in it.

Jesus isn't trying to make him poor. Jesus is trying to make him free.

The problem isn't that the man needs one more commandment. The problem is that he has another god.

His wealth.

Jesus is essentially showing him:

"You think you've kept the Law, but you've broken the very first commandment. You love something more than God."

The man came looking for eternal life, but eternal Life was standing in front of him.

And he walked away.

Why?

Because his hands were full of things he would not put down to take Christ up.

And thats something we need to think about.

Maybe Jesus wouldn’t point to that same issue in us…

The question isn't:

"Do you have his idol?"

The question is:

"What do you instinctively trust, protect, or refuse to surrender because losing it would feel like losing yourself?"

Idols are rarely bad things.

They’re often good things that become ultimate things that run away with the most important thing… which is Jesus.

Every idol promises something only Jesus can fulfill.

Where are you looking for life?

Sometimes we search for it with what I’ll call personal freedom…

"I need to be in control."

"I decide what is right for me."

"I don't want anyone telling me how to live."

The rich young ruler wanted eternal life...

just not at the cost of surrendering control.

Jesus says:

"Follow Me."

The modern heart often responds subconsciously with:

"I'll follow, as long as I remain in charge."

Searching for the perfect life?

We don't simply live anymore.

We perform.

We don't just experience things.

We display them.

The question becomes:

"How does my life look?"

Instead of: "Who am I becoming?"

Comfort?

Not enjoying comfort.

Making comfort the highest value.

Avoiding:

Hard conversations.

Sacrifice.

Commitment.

Difficulty.

But the cross Jesus tells us to pick up is the opposite of comfort.

Approval

Likes.

Recognition.

Validation.

Being noticed.

Jesus warns about practicing righteousness "to be seen."

The temptation is ancient.

The technology is new.

Control

Our plans.

Our schedules.

Our security.

Our future.

Following Jesus has always involved surrender.

The ruler is trying to save his life.

Jesus invites him to lose it.

Ironically, that's how he would have found it.

THE LIFE WE TRY TO ELEVATE

Matthew 20:20–28 (NLT)

Matthew 20:20–28 NLT

Then the mother of James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Jesus with her sons. She knelt respectfully to ask a favor. “What is your request?” he asked. She replied, “In your Kingdom, please let my two sons sit in places of honor next to you, one on your right and the other on your left.” But Jesus answered by saying to them, “You don’t know what you are asking! Are you able to drink from the bitter cup of suffering I am about to drink?” “Oh yes,” they replied, “we are able!” Jesus told them, “You will indeed drink from my bitter cup. But I have no right to say who will sit on my right or my left. My Father has prepared those places for the ones he has chosen.” When the ten other disciples heard what James and John had asked, they were indignant. But Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them. But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must become your slave. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

20 Then the mother of James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Jesus with her sons. She knelt respectfully to ask a favor. 21 “What is your request?” he asked.

She replied, “In your Kingdom, please let my two sons sit in places of honor next to you, one on your right and the other on your left.”

22 But Jesus answered by saying to them, “You don’t know what you are asking! Are you able to drink from the bitter cup of suffering I am about to drink?”

“Oh yes,” they replied, “we are able!”

23 Jesus told them, “You will indeed drink from my bitter cup. But I have no right to say who will sit on my right or my left. My Father has prepared those places for the ones he has chosen.”

24 When the ten other disciples heard what James and John had asked, they were indignant. 25 But Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them. 26 But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever wants to be first among you must become your slave. 28 For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

The rich young ruler looked for life in possessions.

James and John looked for life in position.

Before we criticize them… remember.

These are guys who gave everything to follow Jesus.

They loved Jesus.

They believed Jesus was the Messiah.

Their problem was not devotion.

Their problem was misunderstanding.

They thought greatness meant being close to power.

Jesus had just predicted His death… Again.

And immediately...

they start discussing promotions.

They wanted to sit in a seat of power and authority… and that Jesus says… you don’t even know what you're asking for… or what it would bring.

Instead of seeking closeness with Jesus… with open hands… they were fighting for position… or having their mom do it for them. Displaying a lack of trust in God… and creating all kinds of disunity.

Jesus realizes they still think like Rome.

Rome/culture says:

Power equals greatness.

Jesus says:

Service equals greatness.

The world says:

Build a platform.

Jesus says:

Build people.

The world says:

Make your name known.

Jesus says:

Give your life away.

THE LIFE JESUS GIVES AWAY

Matthew 20:28 (NLT)

Matthew 20:28 NLT

For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

28 For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

This is the turning point.

Because Jesus doesn't simply tell us what life looks like… He shows us.

He embodies it.

The rich young ruler wanted to obtain… life for himself.

James and John wanted to secure positions… of prestige and prominence…

Both wanting things they cannot earn…

And here is the shocking part.

The One who deserved everything - gave everything.

The title "Son of Man" comes from Daniel 7.

Daniel sees the Son of Man receiving:

Authority.

Glory.

Dominion.

Every nation serving Him.

Yet Jesus says:

That King came… to serve.

They expected a conquering King.

Jesus reveals a suffering servant.

He combines Daniel 7 with Isaiah 53.

(This vivid description of Jesus’ eternal existence, his life, and his death… and what it would mean for humanity… written 700 years before Jesus was even born).

No one expected that.

The cross was not Jesus losing.

The cross was Jesus accomplishing His mission.

He didn't accidentally die…

He came to give His life.

To lay down his life.

To make a way for us to experience… ETERNAL life… life the way God intends for us…

Full and free, submitted and surrendered to the Lordship of Jesus lived out in a daily relationship with Him.

CONCLUSION

Sometimes it’s interesting what we cling to.

I know a northside who has a sweatshirt thats been around since the days of Moses… It's got holes…

I’ve seen kids carry around blankets or stuffed animals that should require hazmat suits.

I’ve seen people cling to cars that… honestly put the world around them at risk.

Something they cannot imagine living without.

And you try to give them something better.

Something new.

Something beautiful.

But they can't receive it.

Why?

Because their hands are already full.

They are holding onto what is familiar...

while refusing what is better.

That is the rich young ruler.

Jesus wasn't trying to take life away from him.

Jesus was offering him the life he had been searching for all along.

And maybe today Jesus is asking some of us the same question:

What are you holding onto?

What has your heart convinced you:

"If I lose this, I lose myself"?

Because every idol makes the same promise:

"If you give me first place, I'll give you life."

But every idol eventually breaks that promise.

Only Jesus can satisfy.

Only Jesus can save.

Only Jesus can give the life we were created for.

Every idol asks you to sacrifice your life in exchange for a promise it can never keep.

Jesus asks you to surrender your life because He has already given His for you.

And only He can give you the life you were created to live.

So today...

open your hands.

Trust the King.

Follow the Savior.

Receive the life only Jesus can give.

Amen.