Old Testament Reading: Ecclesiastes 7:20
“Surely there is not a righteous man on earth who does good and never sins.” (Ecclesiastes 7:20, ESV)
New Testament Reading: Luke 18:18–30
“And a ruler asked him, ‘Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?’ And Jesus said to him, ‘Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery, Do not murder, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother.’’ And he said, ‘All these I have kept from my youth.’ When Jesus heard this, he said to him, ‘One thing you still lack. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.’ But when he heard these things, he became very sad, for he was extremely rich. Jesus, seeing that he had become sad, said, ‘How difficult it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God! For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.’ Those who heard it said, ‘Then who can be saved?’ But he said, ‘What is impossible with man is possible with God.’ And Peter said, ‘See, we have left our homes and followed you.’ And he said to them, ‘Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, who will not receive many times more in this time, and in the age to come eternal life.’” (Luke 18:18–30)
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Please excuse any typos and misspellings within this manuscript. It has been published online for the benefit of the saints of Emmaus Reformed Baptist Church but without the benefit of proofreading.
Introduction
As we begin to consider our text for today, we would do well to remember the theme that is present in this portion of Luke’s gospel. And what is the theme? Here, we are taught by Christ what must be done to have eternal life.
Do you remember the parable that Christ told about the Pharisee and the tax collector in Luke 18:9-14? In that story, Christ described the Pharisee as being prideful and self-righteous. He stood by himself in the temple and prayed thus: “God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector.” He boosted in his religious devotion, saying, “I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get” (Luke 18:11–12). Christ contrasted this self-rightous Pharisee with a humble and contrite tax collector who stood far off, “would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’” (Luke 18:13). Christ then explained the parable with these words: “I tell you, this man [the tax collector] went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted” (Luke 18:14). To be justified is to be cleared of transgression and made innocent before God. This parable was told to teach us what one must do to be right with God and have eternal life.
After this parable, we find a story about little children being brought to Jesus. His disciples hindered them at first. But Christ rebuked his disciples and said, “Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it” (Luke 18:16–17). To enter the kingdom of God is to have eternal life. Christ here teaches us that it is those who approach him like little children—humble, aware of their need, trustful, and dependent—who will enter God’s kingdom and have life everlasting. Stated negatively, those who approach him with self-righteous pride will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
Here in Luke 18:18-30 we find a story about a wealthy ruler who approached Jesus to ask him a question. And what was his question? It agrees with the theme! “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” (Luke 18:18).
The dialogue Jesus had with this man is fascinating and very instructive. Here, Jesus proves himself to be a very skilled physician of the soul. He could immediately discern the man’s error and need. And he skillfully spoke to the man to humble him and to make him aware of his need all the while holding forth remedy, namely, repentance from sin and faith in Jesus the Messiah.
We will consider this text in five parts. First, we will consider the question of the rich man (v. 18). Secondly, we will consider Jesus’s reply (vs. 19-22). Thirdly, we will consider the response of the rich man (v. 23). Fourthly, we will consider Jesus’ commentary (v. 24-27). Fifthly and finally, we will consider the response of the disciples of Jesus and Jesus’s reply to them.
A Question From A Rich Man
First, let us consider the question of the rich man. It is found in verse 18. There we read, “And a ruler asked him, ‘Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” (Luke 18:18). You should know that this story is also recorded in the gospels of Matthew (19:16-29) and Mark (10:17-30). This event must have deeply impacted the disciples of Christ, therefore. Matthew and Mark present the question of the man in slightly different ways. In Matthew’s account we read, “And behold, a man came up to [Jesus], saying, ‘Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?’” (Matthew 19:16). So Matthew clarifies from the start that the man thought eternal life could be obtained by doing some good deed. Mark tells us that this man “ran up and knelt before [Jesus] and asked him, ‘Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?’” (Mark 10:17). Mark’s account helps us to see that the man came to Jesus in a humble manner. He did not question Jesus to put him to the test like many of the Pharisees had done. It appears his question was sincere.
Notice three things about Luke 18:18.
One, this man is said to be a ruler. This means he was a ruler of the Jews—a civil magistrate. Later we are told that he was a very wealthy man (see v. 23). Matthew, in his gospel, calls him a young man (see Matthew 19:20). So then, this man who approached Jesus was a very rich, young ruler.
Two, notice how respectful he was toward Jesus. He approached Jesus and, kneeling before him, addressed him as “good teacher.” Clearly, this man held Jesus in very high regard.
Three, notice how fine and weighty his question was. He did not approach Jesus to test him, to trap him, or to trouble him with trivial concerns. No, this rich young ruler asked Jesus a very fine and weighty question— “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” (Luke 18:18). Indeed, this is the question that all men and women should be concerned about, and Jesus is certainly the right man to bring this question to.
As I have said, this event must have grabbed the attention of the disciples of Jesus, for it appears in the gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke. And it is not difficult to see why it grabbed their attention, for it was (and is) unusual to see a man like this concerned with things like this. This man was a ruler, and yet he came humbly to Jesus without pretence or pride. More than this, he was a young ruler, and yet, despite his youthfulness, he was thinking about the realities of death and the life to come. And he was a rich young ruler. Later, we will learn that he loved his possessions too much. But at least he could see, even at his relatively young age, that his wealth and possessions would not benefit him as it pertains to possessing eternal life.
As you know, this rich young ruler did not conclude his encounter with Jesus well, but he did begin well! He approached Jesus humbly and respectfully to ask him a question of great importance. This should serve as a warning to all of us. Dear friends, how you begin with Jesus does not matter as much as how you end. Yes, it is good to approach Jesus humbly, respectfully, and sincerely, but you must also be prepared to receive his word and to trust and obey whatever he commands.
What did the rich young ruler say to Jesus when he approached? “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?’
Jesus’ Reply
Jesus’ reply is fascinating to consider. His words are deliberate and precise. Like an experienced surgeon, he skillfully uses his words to cut at the man’s heart and soul to remove his false assumptions and correct his false beliefs. He then applies the soothing ointment of the gospel so that the man might be healed.
“Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone.”
Notice that Jesus did not answer the man’s question right away. Instead, he asked the man a question and made a statement. The rich young ruler said, “‘Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?’ And Jesus said to him, ‘Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone’” (Luke 18:18–19). Why did Christ respond in this way? Why did he respond to the man’s question with a question followed by a statement that, at first glance, seems to be unrelated to the man’s concern? “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone”, was Jesus’ initial reply. Why this reply?
It should be clear to all that Christ responded in this way to confront the man’s false assumptions. And what were those false assumptions? He assumed that Jesus was a good teacher and nothing more. And he assumed that some men were good, and therefore able to merit or earn life eternal.
These false assumptions are common. Even today, many will consider Jesus to be a good teacher. And many assume that men are basically good and capable of earning life eternal for themselves. Sadly, I would not be surprised if many churchgoers carry these false assumptions in their minds and hearts. Who is Jesus? Many are willing to call him a good teacher, a moral example, and the epitome of love. But is he the eternal Son of God incarnate, the Messiah God promised from long ago, and the lamb of God who has made atonement for the sins of those who trust in him. Many will stop short of confessing this.
When Jesus replied to the rich young ruler who said, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”, with the words, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone”, it was to challenge the false beliefs that Christ new resided in that man’s heart and mind. To the rich young ruler, Christ’s words must have felt like a punch to the face. Those words must have stuck with him and nagged at his soul. “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone.”
Two foundational truths are contained in these words.
One, Jesus Christ is not merely a good teacher; he is the eternal Son of God incarnate. The rich young ruler was certainly right to call him good—but at this point in his life, he did not yet realize just how good Jesus was. Jesus is not merely a good teacher among other good teachers. He is not merely the best of all teachers. He is good in that supreme sense. He is good just as God is good. He is holy, pure, and undefiled, for he is God with us. He is the eternal Son of God incarnate.
Two, when Christ replied to the rich young ruler saying, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone”, he presented the foundational truth that no one, with the exception of God and Christ, is truly good, for all men are sinners in need of a Savior.
At first glance, Jesus’s response to the man might seem completely unrelated to the question. “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” Christ replied, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone.” But upon further reflection, it becomes clear that this reply was necessary. Before the man could receive a direct answer to the question, “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” his misconceptions concerning the identity of Christ and the condition of man had to be corrected. The truth is this: except for Jesus Christ, no man is good. And Jesus Christ is good because he is God incarnate. And it is because he is God incarnate that he is able to save all who trust in him. These are the ultra-foundational truths that must be known before a person can understand why eternal life can be inherited only through faith in Christ alone and not by the works of the law.
“You know the commandments…”Keep them!
As I have said, Christ’s initial reply must have seemed jarring to the man. Christ’s words, “No one is good except God alone”, might not seem jarring to you, for many of you are accustomed to this idea and have accepted it as true. But to a man who thinks that he is basically good and that he is capable of keeping the commandments of God to earn life eternal, this statement sounds radical. What Jesus said to the rich young ruler next was meant to open his blind eyes to the truth that no one is good except God alone.”
Look at verse 20. There, Christ speaks to the man, saying, “You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery, Do not murder, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother.” What do you notice about these commandments? They are five of the last six of the Ten Commandments. Christ does not list them in the order they are found in Exodus and Deuteronomy. I’m not sure what to make of this fact, and I’m not sure it matters.
Two things should be noted. One, Christ does not mention the tenth of the Ten Commandments— “You shall not covet.” The significance of this will become apparent in just a moment. Two, Christ is here calling the man to go ahead and attempt to obtain eternal life through the keeping of God’s moral law.
What the rich young ruler says next reveals just how blind he was, spiritually speaking. Look at verse 21: “And he said, ‘All these I have kept from my youth.’”
The text does not reveal the details regarding Jesus’ body language or the expression on his face. I imagine raised eyebrows. Perhaps Jesus smirked a little. I think he must have paused and looked at the man with an expression of wonderment. Christ had just applied the moral law of God to this man, a law that no mere man can keep but daily breaks in thought, word, and deed. He applied the moral law to him to convict and condemn him and to show him his need for a Savior. And the man brushed it off. He deflected, saying, “All these I have kept from my youth.”
Now, to be clear, I do not think this man was lying. He probably believed he had kept God’s law from his youth. This was the way that many of the religious people in Jesus’s day thought. They would interpret God’s law very literally and in a minimalistic way. They failed to apply God’s law to the heart and to see that to truly keep it, it must be kept from a heart of love. You probably know about Christ’s teachings regarding what the law actually requires and forbids. It requires us to love God with our whole being and our neighbor as ourselves (see Matthew 22:37). It does not only forbid murder and adultery, but hatred and lust. Again, I do not think this man was lying when he said, “All these I have kept from my youth”, but he was certainly mistaken. He was ignorant and blind concerning his sin and his need for a Savior.
In verse 22, we read, “When Jesus heard this, he said to him…” The way that Luke words this makes me think that Christ was, humanly speaking, astonished by this man’s answer. Mark puts it this way in his gospel: “And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him…” Jesus looked at him, amazed at his spiritual blindness, and it was because he loved him and had compassion on him that he spoke to him further.
And what did Christ say to get through to the man? “One thing you still lack. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me” (Luke 18:22, ESV).
I have four observations to make about this saying of Jesus.
One, Christ did not argue with the man about whether or not he had, in fact, kept the five commandments he had mentioned from the time of his youth. He could have argued this point, but he did not. He let it go.
Two, Christ decided to focus on the sin that was most obvious in this man’s life, namely, the sin of covetousness. Covetousness is forbidden in the tenth commandment. Earlier, I noted that Christ had listed five of the last six of the Ten Commandments. He did not mention the tenth commandment, which is, “thou shall not covet”. Now, he returns to focus on it.
The tenth commandment, it should be noted, is different from the other five that Christ mentioned in that it is, strictly speaking, a sin of the heart. We know that sins of adultery, murder, theft, bearing false witness, and the dishonoring of father and mother all come from the heart, but they are, strictly speaking, things that people say and do. Covetousness is different. It is, first and foremost, a heart-sin. And it is from this heart-sin that many other sins do flow.
When Christ spoke to this rich young ruler, saying, “One thing you still lack. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me”, it was to reveal the covetousness and love of money and possessions that resided in his heart. There was certainly a great deal of sin in this man’s heart, but he could not see it. The sin of covetousness was prominent, and so Christ highlighted it when he said, “One thing you still lack. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me” (Luke 18:22, ESV).
Three, some mistakenly assume that Christ calls all who wish to follow him to sell all they have and distribute to the poor. That is not true. As I have said before, it is very important to interpret Scripture in light of Scripture. Many other passages of Scripture make this interpretation impossible. For example, in Luke 19:8, we find a story about a chief tax collector named Zachaeus. When he decided to follow Jesus, he said, “Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold” (Luke 19:8), and this was regarded by Christ as sufficient. Furthermore, in 1 Timothy 6:18 the Apostle Paul gives this general command to the rich: “They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.” (1 Timothy 6:18–19) (see also Luke 12:33, Luke 16:9, Acts 2:45, Acts 4:34-35). When Christ called the rich young ruler to sell all that he had and to distribute it to the poor”, it was a calling somewhat unique to him. The purpose was to expose the covetousness that had a firm grip on his heart so that he might turn from this sin to Jesus as Lord and Savior.
Four, notice that the end of the answer provided by Christ to the rich man’s question, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” is “follow me”. The rich young ruler asked, “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” Here is the answer that Christ gave him. “Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me” (Luke 18:22, ESV). The command to sell all does not apply to all, but the command to turn from sin and to follow after Jesus does apply to all. In brief, all who wish to have life everlasting must repent and believe in Jesus. Repentance without faith in Christ will not save you. And neither will faith in Christ without repentance. Eternal life will be given to all who turn from their sins to follow after Jesus.
The Rich Man’s Response
The response of the rich young ruler is recorded in verse 23, and it was a very sad response. “But when he heard these things, he became very sad, for he was extremely rich” (Luke 18:23, ESV). In other words, the covetousness and love of money that resided in his heart were so strong that they hindered him from following after Jesus.
Many are kept from following Jesus because they love this world and the things of this world more than they love Him. And this is why Christ says, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it. For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?” (Mark 8:34–36, ESV). Sadly, this rich young ruler would not let go of the things of this world to have Christ and the eternal life that only he can give.
Jesus’s Commentary
Christ’s commentary regarding the response of the rich young ruler is found in verse 24. “Jesus, seeing that he had become sad, said, ‘How difficult it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God! For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God’” (Luke 18:24–25, ESV).
The image of a camel attempting to go through an eye of a needle is very fitting. For one, it communicates the impossibility of the action. Essentially, Christ teaches that it is impossible, humanly speaking. for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God. Two, the image says something about why this is so. It is impossible for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle because a camel is very big and the eye of a needle is very small. And so it is as it pertains to the entrance to life in God’s eternal kingdom. The doorway is small and narrow. Those who attempt to enter while holding on to their large estates and their many possessions will not succeed.
The Response Of The Disciples Of Jesus And Jesus’s Reply To Them
The response of those who heard these things and Jesus’s reply to them is found in verses 26-30. Let’s consider this section briefly.
Verse 26: “Those who heard it said, ‘Then who can be saved?’” In other words, if it is true that this is what is required to be saved, and if it is true that it is difficult for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God, and easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God, then who will make it in? “But he said, ‘What is impossible with man is possible with God.’” In other words, God is able to change the hearts of men, to release them from the love of money, and to fix their affections on God and Christ.
In verse 28, Peter said, “See, we have left our homes and followed you.” It seems that Peter needed to be reassured that their sacrifice would be worth it. Whatever Peter’s reason for speaking, Christ reassured his disciples with these words. “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, who will not receive many times more in this time, and in the age to come eternal life” (Luke 18:26–30, ESV).
In brief, Christ teaches us that any sacrifice we make to follow him in this world will be worth it. It will be worth it now, given the many blessings that come to those who forsake the world to follow after Jesus in this life. And it will certainly be worth it in the life to come, for to renounce all and to follow after Christ in this life is to “store up… treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal” (Matthew 6:20, ESV).
Conclusion
Dear friends, as you seek to apply this text to your own lives, I would urge you to focus on three things.
One, as it pertains to the question, “what must I do to inherit eternal life”, be sure that you are trusting, not in yourself and in your own ability to keep God’s law, but in Christ alone, who has keep God’s law for sinners and has died in their place. This is the only way to have eternal life.
Two, as you come to see your sin and your need for Christ the Savior, do not allow love for this world and the things of this world to hinder you from following after him. Not every Christian is called by Christ to forsake great wealth, houses, homelands, and relationships with family and friends to follow after Jesus, but some may be called to do this. They must not hesitate as the rich young ruler did. But all Christians must forsake the world, die to self, and take up their cross daily to follow Jesus. You must know that it is worth it. Do not allow anything to hinder you from following Jesus.
Three, those who have decided to follow Christ must forever grow in their conviction that having Christ, a right relationship with God through faith in him, and the hope of life everlasting is far better than having anything this world can offer. Along with the Apostle Paul, we must “count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus [our] Lord. For his sake [we must be wiilling to suffer] the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that [we] may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of [our] own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith…” (Philippians 3:8–9, ESV).
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Posted by Joe
