Jesus only

Matthew 19:16–21 “16 And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? 17 And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. 18 He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, 19 Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 20 The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet? 21 Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.”

Matthew 19:22 “22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.”

John 14:6 “6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”

Have you ever broken a law?

Have you ever broken God’s Laws?

Exodus 20:3–17 “3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me. 4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: 5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; 6 And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments. 7 Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain. 8 Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9 Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: 10 But the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: 11 For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it. 12 Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee. 13 Thou shalt not kill. 14 Thou shalt not commit adultery. 15 Thou shalt not steal. 16 Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour. 17 Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour’s.”

The Ten Commandments in Order

First: Thou shalt have no other gods before me.

Second: Thou shalt not make any graven image.

Third: Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain.

Fourth: Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.

Fifth: Honour thy father and thy mother.

Sixth: Thou shalt not kill.

Seventh: Thou shalt not commit adultery.

Eighth: Thou shalt not steal.

Ninth: Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.

Tenth: Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house or anything that is his.

Have you broken any?

We should try everyday to not break any of these but unfortunately we do.

The Question of Eternal Life (Verses 16–17)

The Young Man’s Approach: A rich young ruler comes to Jesus asking what good thing he must do to inherit eternal life.

The Problem of Redemption

If good deeds were all it took to gain eternal life, then the rest of the New Testament makes no sense

Jesus would not have needed to come to earth

His death was a waste and unnecessary

Faith is not necessary

Jesus’ Redirect: Jesus notes that only God is truly good and points the man to keeping the commandments.

The Standard of the Law (Verses 18–20)

The Specific Commandments: Jesus lists several laws regarding human relationships (do not murder, commit adultery, steal, bear false witness, and honor parents) plus loving one's neighbor.

The Man's Claim: The young man claims he has kept all these rules since his youth and asks what he still lacks.

Jesus gives the man the Law Test to show him the condition of his heart

The Law is intended to give us a moral standard of God’s holiness

It is separated into two major tables: Laws towards God and laws toward man

It can be further separated into 3 types of commands: upward commands related to our relationship with God

inward commands related to our attitude and heart towards God (commandment 1 and 10) - can’t see these

outward commands concerning our relationship with others (only ones that can be visibly seen)The man claims to have been “perfect” in keeping these commands

This is an over-estimation of self

Application: How many of you feel that you have been perfect in keeping these commands towards others that can be physically seen by others if they were to look at how you act towards other people?Jesus gets to the heart of this man’s problem by giving him one last command

The Cost of Discipleship (Verses 21–22)

Jesus' Challenge: Jesus tells him to sell all his possessions, give to the poor to gain treasure in heaven, and come follow Him.

Jesus got to the man’s idol and called it out. For this man it was his wealth

Jesus is commanding the man to do this to demonstrate that his heart is on his wealth and not wholly devoted to God

The Sad Departure: The young man leaves in grief because he owns great wealth and is unwilling to let it go.

Application: What idols would Jesus expose in your heart?

What needs to be torn down and sold?

How devoted is your heart to following Christ

The man went away sad (and unredeemed) because he wouldn’t part with his wealth

What Can I(you) do to earn eternal life?

Ephesians 2:8–9 “8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.”

We can’t earn salvation

Galatians 3:10–13 “10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. 11 But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith. 12 And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them. 13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:”

Jesus came and took the shame of hanging on a tree for me and you.

Matthew 5:17 “17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.”

No matter how much of the law i kept i could not make it to God the father.

Jesus is the only way-was the only way-and will be the only way.

God had-has a plan for us to be able to make it to Him, and His name is Jesus.