Thursday, February 24, 2022
16 Another day, a man stopped Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?”
17 Jesus said, “Why do you question me about what’s good? God is the One who is good. If you want to enter the life of God, just do what he tells you.”
18-19 The man asked, “What in particular?”
Jesus said, “Don’t murder, don’t commit adultery, don’t steal, don’t lie, honor your father and mother, and love your neighbor as you do yourself.”
20 The young man said, “I’ve done all that. What’s left?”
-Matthew 19:16-20 The Message
The Rich Young Ruler
Verse 16: And someone came to Him and said, “Teacher, what good thing shall I do so that I may obtain eternal life?”
Verse 16 study: To the man seeking assurance of eternal life, Jesus pointed out that salvation doesn’t come from good deeds unaccompanied by love for God. The man needed a new starting point. Instead of adding another commandment to keep or a good deed to perform, the young man needed to submit humbly to the lordship of Christ.
Verse 17: And He said to him, “Why are you asking Me about what is good? There is only One who is good; but if you want to enter life, keep the commandments.”
Verse 17 study: In Jesus’ response to the young man’s question about how to obtain eternal life, Jesus told him to keep God’s Ten Commandments. Jesus lists six of them, all of which is referring to relationships with others. When the young man said that he kept the commandments, Jesus told him he should do something more; sell everything and give it to the poor. This statement Jesus told him not only made him uncomfortable but also exposed a weakness. In reality, his wealth was his god, his idol, and he would not give it up. Therefore, he violated the first and greatest commandments.
Exodus 20:3: “You shall have no other gods before Me.
Matthew 22:36-40: 36 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” 37 And He said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’38 This is the great and foremost commandment. 39 The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 Upon these two commandments hang the whole Law and the Prophets.”
Verse 18: Then he *said to Him, “Which ones?” And Jesus said, “You shall not commit murder; You shall not commit adultery; You shall not steal; You shall not give false testimony;
Verse 19: Honor your father and mother, and You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
Verse 20: The young man *said to Him, “All these I have kept; what am I still lacking?”
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