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Prepare Your Heart
To the best of your ability, get rid of all distractions. Take a few minutes to breathe deeply and quiet yourself in the Lord’s presence. Then, ask the Lord to speak to you in this time. Let Him know that you will listen and make whatever adjustments He will reveal to you.
Read God’s Word
A Verse for Today
Slowly and reflectively read the following verse(s) and listen to what God will say to you through His written Word. Consider writing down any insights He reveals to you.
Matthew 19:17 (CSB): “‘Why do you ask me about what is good?’ he said to him. ‘There is only one who is good. If you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.’”
Reflecting on God’s Word
Wait a minute! A rich young ruler went to Jesus and asked how to get saved, and Jesus told him to obey the commandments?! What about grace and faith?!
Let’s spend a few moments thinking about what Jesus was actually saying to this man.
This whole story begins with a rich young ruler’s desire to know how to get saved. In Matthew 19:16, he asks Jesus: “Teacher, what good must I do to have eternal life?”
In verse 17, Jesus called into question this man’s use of the word “good.” It seems that Jesus believed that the man was using it a little too freely. Judging by how Jesus responded, it seems as if this man also thought that he was good and good people don’t need a Savior. So, Jesus took him to the commandments.
The commandments were necessary at this point in the rich young ruler’s life. The Law is intended to convict us when we see how sinful we really are. God uses His law to till up the soil of our hearts and prepare it to receive the seed of the Gospel.
In verses 18-19, the man demonstrated that he was spiritually obtuse. He asked, “Which ones?” He seemed more than ready to look at God’s law because he believed he was a good man. Jesus responded by recounting a few of the Ten Commandments related to loving others.
The rich young ruler was unscathed. He was perfectly fine with comparing himself to the Ten Commandments. There was absolutely no sign (yet) of conviction and guilt.
Matthew 19:20 (CSB): “‘I have kept all these,’ the young man told him. ‘What do I still lack?’”
This man is saturated with arrogance. He doesn’t realize he is a lawbreaker in God’s eyes. He believes He is essentially perfect according to the Law.
Why is this a problem? Because he started by asking Jesus how to be saved, and the way UP to a relationship with God is found by first going DOWN on our knees in conviction and brokenness. We won’t see our need for a Savior until we see ourselves as sinners in need of the Savior.
With this man feeling completely justified, he’s not yet ready to hear the Good News of the Gospel. It would be like a man who has cancer and refuses to acknowledge his condition. Since he’s not ready to acknowledge his condition, he would be unwilling to take any remedy that the doctor would prescribe. Before we receive the Good News, we must first be overwhelmed with the Bad News of our sinful state in a holy God’s eyes.
That’s why Jesus went for the jugular in verse 21. The man was rich, and Jesus observed that his wealth was his “god.” He clearly violated the first of the Ten Commandments that said: “Do not have other gods besides me” (Exodus 20:3). So, Jesus called him to get rid of that god. Jesus wanted this man to acknowledge that he was far from perfect and needed to be forgiven by a holy God.
Matthew 19:21 (CSB): “‘If you want to be perfect,’ Jesus said to him, ‘go, sell your belongings and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.’”
I am convinced that if that rich young ruler had been willing to obey Jesus’ instruction, Jesus might have told him that he didn’t need to take a vow of poverty. After all, when God wanted to do surgery on Abraham’s heart and told him to sacrifice his son, Isaac, God called it off once he saw Abraham’s intention to be obedient (Genesis 22:11-12).
This story ends with no clear resolution. We are left to wonder if the man ever received eternal life.
Matthew 19:22 (CSB): “When the young man heard that, he went away grieving, because he had many possessions.”
We may be tempted to say, “What a shame! The man went away sorrowful!” But our sentiments would be misplaced. It was precisely what the man needed to do. He had previously felt like a very good person who didn’t really need a Savior. But when Jesus used the Law to cultivate conviction so that he went away sad, He was tilling up the soil. The rich young ruler’s heart was very close to being ready to receive the seed of the Gospel.
Spend Time in Prayer
Lord Jesus, as I stand ready to share the Good News of the Gospel with those who need it, help me to be careful to share it the way You did. Let me not assume that someone is ready merely because they ask a question. Help me to use Your Law to bring the awareness of sin in the heart. Then, when that heart is convicted of its sin and realizes its need for a Savior, let me share the wonderful news of how You died and rose again to forgive and save everyone who trusts in You. I pray this in Your Name, Amen.
Going Deeper
If you want to go deeper, check out this article by Got Questions: “Why did Jesus tell the rich young ruler he could be saved by obeying the commandments?”
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Matt Ellis is the pastor of First Baptist Church in Polk City, Florida (fbcpolkcity.com).
Matt’s Musings 