Sermon Text: Mark 10:17-31
Outline
Eternal life is not the result of moral living (17-22)
Eternal life is not the result of material wealth (23-27)
Eternal life is the result of following Jesus (28-31)
Summary
Last time, we saw learned about children and the kingdom of God. We saw that all must come to Jesus with nothing, in total dependence on him and that the requirement is the same for all: simple, childlike reliance on Jesus.
Today we’re going to look at someone who had in a sense achieved the American dream at a young age. He had riches and influence and was even a very moral man. No doubt he was respected by all. But he missed the most important thing in life.
In Evangelism Explosion, one of the questions that is often asked is this: “If you were to die tonight and stand before God, and He were to say to you, ‘Why should I let you into My heaven?’ what would you say?” The person sharing the gospel uses this question because it helps diagnose what the person listening to the gospel message is trusting in to save them. I want you to consider that same question. Answer it in your mind. How you answer reveals what you are trusting in.
As Americans, we desperately need to heed our Lord’s warning about wealth because we are the most prosperous people in the history of the world. Even some who would be classified as poor in America have a better standard of living than some kings did 200 years ago.
Eternal life is not the result of moral living (17-22)
In v. 17, the man asked Jesus, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
The man thought, as many do today that he could do something to earn or inherit eternal life. Most people who believe in God think that one day God will add up their good works and their bad works; and if their good works exceed their bad works, they will get into heaven.
The problem with this approach is that it has a wrong view of:
- Sin – Sin is rebellion against the holy God. It is not simply the bad things we do, but an inward attitude that exalts ourselves and defies God. We are not sinners because we sin. Rather, we sin because we are sinners by nature (Eph 2:1-3).
- Man – We are not good people who commit sin occasionally. Isaiah says it this way: “We all like sheep have gone astray. Everyone has turned to their own way” (Isa 53:6).
- The Bible – The Bible is not just a religious book but the very words of God to man.
- God – God is perfectly holy and a few good works will not help us to have peace with Him.
See, the problem with this young man is that he actually thought he could do a few religious works and settle his account with God.
18-19
Jesus – “Why do you call me good? Only God is good.” Jesus subtly hints to the man that maybe the man isn’t as good as he thinks. Jesus gives him a test.
Jesus cites the last six commandments, which address our human relationships with one another. “Do not defraud” is substituted for not coveting, because fraud is a concrete example of covetousness and a special temptation of the rich.
Jesus referenced the horizontal commandments. Why? Because obedience to the commands dealing with human relationships provides evidence of someone’s obedience to the commandments focused on God. So, Jesus wants to see how good this man thinks he is. It turns out, the man thinks he has done pretty well. Look at v. 20.
The man claims he has kept these commandments from his youth (likely age 13). From an external perspective, it’s likely that he thought that he had kept the commandments.
In v. 21, Jesus goes to the man’s heart. Jesus moves from the letter of the law to the spirit of the law. Having addressed the last six commandments, Jesus now addresses the first (Exo 20:3) – “You shall have no other gods before me.” Jesus knew that this man’s wealth occupied the place that only God should have in his life.
In v. 22, the man was “disheartened” because he had great possessions and left Jesus.
Before we go further, I want us to ask, what can we learn from this story?
- Someone can be interested in eternal life without possessing it (v. 17).
- Many who claim to have obeyed God have only done so in a superficial sense (v. 20).
- The core of Christianity is following Jesus (v. 21). A willingness to follow Jesus was the one thing he lacked.
- Jesus does not show partiality to the rich. His call of complete surrender extends to all (v. 22).
We turn from our way of living and we decide to follow Jesus. We don’t just live a moral life, but we live a life that follows Jesus.
A moral life without a love for Jesus leads straight to hell. This man had lived a moral life, but he had not surrendered to Jesus. You’re not ready to follow Jesus until you give Him your heart. You are not a Christian if you are simply living a moral life but do not love Jesus with your heart.
This man that had come to Jesus was full of potential. He was a young man. He was a rich man. He had influence as a ruler. He was a moral man. He was respected by others.
Notice what Jesus didn’t do. He didn’t run after the man and try to make it easier. He did not offer this man a “wonderful plan for your life” or his “best life now.”
We should follow Jesus’ example. We should not tune down the message of God’s Word. Just as a good parent will not give their children a steady diet of sugar, we seek to give people the meat of God’s Word. In our sin sick culture, it is not time to shorten sermons or services. We must not dilute the gospel of Jesus Christ and its demands on our lives.
We must not dilute the gospel of Jesus Christ and its demands on our lives.
Quite frankly, this is a man most pastors would beg to join their church. But Jesus let him simply walk away because he loved his wealth more than Jesus. His wealth kept him from following Jesus because he refused to repent of his love of money that exceeded his love for God. When Jesus addressed the man, he said, “You lack one thing.”
What is your one thing? What area(s) of your life are you refusing to surrender to Jesus? What or who do you love more than God? Will you give Jesus his rightful place in your life?
If you want Jesus to be your Savior, then you have to replace what you have been looking to as a Savior.
If you want Jesus to be your Savior, then you have to replace what you have been looking to as a Savior.
Eternal life is not the result of material wealth (23-27)
23 And Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How difficult it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!” 24 And the disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said to them again, “Children, how difficult it is to enter the kingdom of God! 25 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.” 26 And they were exceedingly astonished, and said to him,[c] “Then who can be saved?” 27 Jesus looked at them and said, “With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God.”
Why is it difficult for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God? Wealth gives us comfort and security. It allows us to more fully enjoy life. It usually feeds our self-confidence and pride.
The disciples were amazed at Jesus’ words (v. 24). Jesus addresses the disciples as “children” to remind them that they must become like children if they are going to enter the kingdom of God (10:15). Whereas children have little concept of the value of money, adults can easily become deceived into thinking that they can find life in wealth and possessions.
The camel was the largest animal in the area of Judea and the needle is the smallest opening that you could find. Jesus was saying in somewhat of a humorous way, “It’s impossible for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.”
The disciples were “exceedingly astonished” and said, “Then who can be saved?” (v. 26). In Judaism, as well as our day, many assumed that wealth and riches were typically seen as evidence of God’s favor (see Ps 128). Surely we can agree that any material provision that we have is a result of God’s care for us. But Jesus also said that God causes it to rain on the just and the unjust (Matt 5:45).
Thus, the disciples wondered: if a moral man who is rich (and thus God’s favor) isn’t going to the kingdom of God, then who can be saved? If there’s no hope for him, then we are all in trouble. The disciples finally asked the right question.
Jesus responded in v. 27: “With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God.” Jesus doesn’t answer the disciples’ question about who can be saved but points them to the only one who can do the saving.
In the song “The Death of Death,” there is a line that says, “Man has sinned, but God has saved.”
We love God because He first loved us (1 John 4:19). God sent His Son, who lived a perfect life of obedience, died a substitutionary death, was buried, and rose again (1 Cor 15:3-4). The Father must draw us (John 6:44), the Holy Spirit convicts us (John 16:8). We respond in faith and repentance, submitting to his lordship (Mark 1:15). For more about the gospel, click here.
For a person to be saved, God must work on his or her heart. Thank God for His grace. We are not saved by our good works or our moral living. We are saved because of God’s saving grace through His Son, Jesus.
Eternal life is the result of following Jesus (28-31)
28 Peter began to say to him, “See, we have left everything and followed you.” 29 Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, 30 who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life. 31 But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”
Peter realizes that they have in a sense passed where the rich young ruler failed: “We have left everything and followed you.”
29-31
When you follow Jesus, you get a get a new family – God adopts you as His child. When you join this new family, you enjoy fellowship with God as well as brothers and sisters in Christ.
Though Christians may experience hardships and persecutions in the present life, the inheritance of eternal life with God is infinitely better than any material possession.
What counts in eternity is not your moral living or your earthly wealth but your response to Christ.
C.T. Studd famously said, “Only one life, twill soon be past. Only what’s done for Christ will last.”
“Only one life, twill soon be past. Only what’s done for Christ will last.”
C.T. Studd
Conclusion
As I close, I want you to imagine a life without all material possessions. All you have is Christ. Is he enough? That is the question that Jesus put before the rich young ruler and it’s the same question he puts before you and me.
Friends, this man wanted eternal life without having to surrender his kingdom. He would not part with the one thing that he loved the most. I want to ask you once again – What is your one thing? Is there something in your life you love more than God? Will you give Jesus his rightful place in your life?
Remember Jesus’ words from Mark 8.
Mark 8:34-36
“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?
Jesus is the ultimate rich young ruler who gave away the ultimate wealth to die for our sins in our place. To have eternal life, we must be willing to give up anything in order to follow King Jesus.