Rich young man
Rich young man
Matthew 19:16 And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?Many are looking for a good thing that they can do to inherit eternal life. Most false religions teach this. In these religions the real problem is overlooked, SIN. So long as the sin remains we will not go to heaven.17 And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God( Jesus knew exactly who he was dealing with): 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?
( This young man thought he was really something. I believe he came to Jesus so Jesus would brag on him in front of all the people. Jesus first said none is good, but God. All have sinned, we do not stand good before God, our lives are stained with sin.)
(This young man saw maybe he was better than most, but still something was missing. If I had looked at him I might have thought he was a fine young man, but when Jesus saw him he saw him as a sinner.)
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.
(Jesus first showed the young man the second great commandment. Then he showed him the first great commandment.)
22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.23 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven.
( If this young man were truly desiring to enter into heaven, he would have done what Jesus had asked him to do. I believe he was only looking for the praise of Jesus. When a person goes to church looking for repentance and forgiveness something is going to happen. It doesn’t matter about the way the sermon is delivered, the point gets across and lives are changed. Sadly many go to church looking for justification, like this young man, and in many assemblies they find justification, and go home with their chest stuck out, really pleased with themselves. I don’t believe that is what God wants to be preached from the pulpits.)
24 And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.
(I’ve heard it said that you can bore a hole in a hollow tree and put a shiny object in the hole and a raccoon will reach down and take the shine object in its hand and because it has the object in its hand it cannot pull its hand out of the hole. It was said they will stay there we a long period of time unwilling to let go of the thing in its hand. This is an example of the what Jesus is talking about, some folks have so many possessions they are unwilling to let go of, they will never be able to go thru that eye of a needle.)
25 When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved?
(When the disciples heard what Jesus said in verse 24 they were scared.)
26 But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.
Many don’t believe the words of Jesus Christ when he says with men it is impossible. They go around trying to establish their own goodness. Jesus says with men it is impossible.
Jesus also says with God all things are possible. Jesus states the same thing we have come to know and trust, that being saved can only be accomplished through the works of God. Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross gave us a way to be forgiven. The sacrifice was God’s sacrifice, not ours. All God requires is that we trust in his sacrifice as our payment for our sin. With God all things are possible.
27 Then answered Peter and said unto him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore?28 And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.29 And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.
Everyone that follows Jesus suffers certain things in following him. We may not have hardly as much money to spend on ourselves, we may not have as much time to spend on ourselves, we may sometimes be made fun of, or we may be avoided. We may lose friends, or our family might not understand us and it can cause problems. In everything that we have to suffer God gives us many more blessings in our lives. God gives us his Holy spirit to comfort us when we feel weak. Many believe to accept Jesus as savior would cost more than they are willing to pay. A person will find the cost is little and the blessings are great. God takes a miserable soul and gives joy, hope and purpose. You know what else he gives, an eternal home where we will be cared for personally by our Lord Jesus Christ.
2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,
12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.