Sunday School Lesson

1. Matthew 19:16-26
What is Required?
The Rich Young Ruler’s Question
March 19, 2017
First Baptist Church
Jackson, Mississippi
USA
What’s the number one thing?
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The Glory of God!
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1 Corinthians 10:31 ESV
31 So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
March Memory Verse
Romans 12:2 ESV
2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your
mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and
acceptable and perfect.

2. Mission Opportunity
SS Class to Partner with Missionary Family from FBCJ
Need Volunteers to Assist Mark Green
References
• ESV Study Bible (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Publishers, 2008).
• Crabb, Larry, “Looking Back and Ahead to Life”, Presentation at Xenos
Summer Institute, July 14, 2016.
• Unless otherwise stated, scriptures are quoted from the ESV.
Introduction to Matthew 19:16-26
• The Story of the Rich, Young Ruler.
• Matthew, Mark and Luke write about this encounter with Jesus.
• All three accounts are complimentary and not contradictory.
• Details of account vary but are consistent.
Introduction to the “Rich, Young Ruler”
• Jesus and disciples are on their way to Jerusalem from their journey to
Caesarea Philippi.
• They are denied passage through Samaria and must go eastward through
Perea. (Luke 9:51-56)
• They are in Bethany (2 miles from Jerusalem) – Home of Mary, Martha,
Lazarus.
• Large crowds are following Jesus.

3. Incident Before the Rich Young Ruler Matthew 19:13-15
• The little children were brought to Jesus for blessing and prayer.
• The disciples rebuked the people.
• Jesus replied "Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them,
for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven."
• Children serve as a metaphor of the humility necessary for entrance into
the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 19:16 ESV
16 And behold, a man came up to him, saying, "Teacher, what good deed must I
do to have eternal life?"
• Only Luke identifies him as a ruler.
• Possibly a Pharisee and member of Sanhedrin because of the diligence he
displays in following the law.
• All writers make a comment about his great wealth.
Jesus is addressed as “Teacher or Good Teacher”
• Teacher was a title of respect.
• Good Teacher was respectful and complimentary.
• Could the man have used a sarcastic voice here to be disrespectful?
• Mark reports the man knelt before Jesus.
• Was the man truly seeking an answer to his question?
The Question is………?
Matthew 19:16
16 “What good deed must I do to have eternal life?”
Mark 10:17
17 “What must I do to inherit eternal life?”
Luke 18:18
18 “What must I do to inherit eternal life?”
“Eternal life”
• This is the first time this expression is used in Matthew.
• Other expressions:
• Matthew 5:20 – “enter the kingdom of heaven”.
• Matthew 19:25-26 – “being saved”.
• Basic meaning = life everlasting in the presence of God.

4. The question indicates an action is required.
• The man believed there was some good deed you must do for eternal life.
• We do not know if he was truly seeking an answer or just wanting to test
Jesus’ teachings.
• Unfortunately, many who call themselves Christians believe salvation is by
works or good deeds.
• Jesus is about to explain why not by works or deeds.
Matthew 19:17
17 And he said to him, "Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only
one who is good. If you would enter life, keep the commandments."
• This is a confusing reply to the man.
• Jesus is not denying his deity as “Good Teacher”.
• Only in understanding God as infinitely good can the man discover that
human good deeds cannot earn eternal life.
"If you would enter life, keep the commandments."
• Jesus is not teaching that good works can earn eternal life.
• Jesus is about to show the man how short he is in thinking he is obeying
the commandments.
• Jesus, in His deity, already knows the commandments where the man falls
short.
Matthew 19:18-19
18 He said to him, "Which ones?" And Jesus said, "You shall not murder, You shall
not commit adultery, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness, 19 Honor
your father and mother, and, You shall love your neighbor as yourself."
• Jesus only recites commandments #’s 6, 7, 8, 9, 5 and the second greatest
commandment he quotes in Matthew 22:39.
Matthew 19:20
20 The young man said to him, "All these I have kept. What do I still lack?"
• The man knew the list was incomplete.
• Did the man really believe that he had fully kept the commandments?
• Was he possibly still being sarcastic?
• Was he waiting for Jesus to say “Well done, good and faithful servant”?
Which commandments were omitted in Jesus’ answer?
1. You shall have no other gods before me.
2. You shalt not make for yourself an idol.
3. You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God.
4. Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.
10.You shall not covet.
• Reference: Exodus 20:3-17

5. Why did Jesus omit the other commandments in His listing?
• The man claims to have kept the commandments that related to
relationship to other people.
• Jesus was now going to show the man he had failed in keeping the
commandments regarding his relationship to God.
Matthew 19:21-22
21 Jesus said to him, "If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give
to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me."
22 When the young man heard this he went away sorrowful, for he had great
possessions.
• Sell Give Follow Me
"If you would be perfect…"
• Perfect = keep all commandments.
• Perfect = Loving God as the goal.
• Look at the commandments not kept.
• Jesus knew the man was a worshipper of money, money was the man’s
idol, he coveted what others had and had no place for God in his goals.
"…go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, …"
• Jesus knew that the only way the man could focus on God was to get rid
of all of his money.
• Sell = convert everything to cash.
• Give to poor = could never reclaim his money, must trust God for all
provisions, no savings for a rainy day.
"…and you will have treasure in heaven; …"
Matthew 6:19-21
19 "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy
and where thieves break in and steal, 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in
heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in
and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
• What is treasure in heaven?
Treasure in heaven
Matthew 6:24
24 "No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the
other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve
God and money."
Revelation 22:12
12 "Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense (rewards) with me, to
repay each one for what he has done."

6. Jesus’ call is the same for everyone.
Matthew 16:24
24 Then Jesus told his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny
himself and take up his cross and follow me."
Matthew 19:21
21 Jesus said to him, “If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give
to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me."
Jesus’ Call
Matt. 16:24 Disciples Matt. 19:21 Rich Young Ruler
1. "Deny yourself" 1. "Sell what you possess"
2. "Take up your cross" 2. "Give it to the poor"
3. "Follow me" 3. "Come, follow me"
"…he went away sorrowful…"
• Even though the man wants “eternal life”, he cannot bring himself to
cease worshipping the ruling force in his life – his great possessions.
• The man’s possessions meant everything to him.
• Jesus now focuses on teaching the disciples about loving wealth and the
challenge of the blessing of wealth.
Four Mistakes Made by the Rich Young Ruler.
1. He did not recognize Jesus as Lord.
2. He was unaware of his own faults.
3. He misunderstood the plan of grace and salvation.
4. He went away – His biggest mistake!

7. Matthew 19:23-25
23 And Jesus said to his disciples, "Truly, I say to you, only with difficulty will a rich
person enter the kingdom of heaven. 24 Again I tell you, 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." 25 When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished, saying,
"Who then can be saved?"
"only with difficulty will a rich person enter the kingdom of heaven."
• Wealth is deceptive and intoxicating.
• Wealth fools a person into thinking that he/she is self-sufficient apart from
God.
• Our human/sinful nature wants to hold on to that self-sufficiency.
• The general attributes of “rich” are opposite those of a child. (Matthew
18:1-5)
The controversy of the “eye of the needle” – Possible??
The controversy of the “eye of the needle” – Impossible??

8. Which is correct????
• The Jerusalem gate theory does not support Jesus’ teaching here
according to many scholars. (ESV)
• It is not merely difficult for the wealthy to be saved; without God’s grace, it
is impossible for anyone to be saved.
• You can use the illustration both ways, but salvation is only by God’s
grace through Jesus.
When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished, saying, "Who then
can be saved?"
• In the Jewish culture, wealth was equated with God’s favor and blessing.
• Deuteronomy 28:1, 8
1 "And if you faithfully obey the voice of the Lord your God, being careful
to do all his commandments that I command you today, the Lord your
God will set you high above all the nations of the earth.
8 The Lord will command the blessing on you in your barns and in all that
you undertake.
Common Attitudes If Wealth Is Your Goal:
• “I am a self-made man.”
• “I create my life.”
• “I create the exact amount of my success.”
• “I deserve to be rich because I add value to other people’s lives.”
• “If it is to be, it is up to me.”
• “I am a generous giver and an excellent receiver.”
Three Levels of Control:
• Top – God owns me, and God owns my possessions.
• Middle – God owns me, but I own my possessions.
• Bottom – I control myself, and I control my possessions.
• Where are you on this scale?
Riches:
• The hardest things you will ever give God control over are your finances
and your possessions.
• The irony is that they are not really yours, even though you claim them!

9. The Apostle John said it this way.
1 John 2:15-17
15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the
love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world— the desires of the
flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life —is not from the Father but is
from the world. 17 And the world is passing away along with its desires, but
whoever does the will of God abides forever.
Matthew 19:26
26 But Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this (man entering the kingdom
of heaven) is impossible, but with God all things are possible."
• Man does not have the ability to save himself.
• Salvation cannot be bought, sold or negotiated by man.
• Man cannot be good enough or do enough to earn salvation.
"but with God all things are possible."
• God makes salvation possible through His Son, Jesus.
• God makes salvation available to every human, whether rich or poor.
• The price for salvation was paid by Jesus – His blood and His life.
• God’s grace makes salvation available to everyone.
Jesus’ illustration about following Him.
Matthew 7:13 NIV
13 "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that
leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and
narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it."
• What makes the road of following Jesus narrow?
• Where does the narrow road lead?

10. What makes the road of following Jesus narrow?
Matthew 6:33
33 "But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things
will be added to you."
• You put Jesus first (seeking the kingdom of God) in your life – the narrow
road of Salvation in Jesus.
The Narrow Road – Dr. Larry Crabb
• The narrow road squeezes the second things out of our lives so that first
things can take their place and the life to which it leads.
• The narrow road leads to life eternal.
• The broad road leads to a wasted life and destruction.
Quote by C. S Lewis
“Put first things first, and second things are thrown in. Put second things first and
you lose both first and second things.”
• Like the rich young ruler, our natural tendency is to put second things first.
• We look at all things in life that can give us what we want – success,
enjoyment, etc.
Thomas Chalmers (1780-1847)
“The Expulsive Power of a New Affection”
• As my love for God increases, the expulsive power of this squeezes out my
commitment to second things so first things more easily take their place.
• Second things are trying to squeeze out of you these first things.
• You are an idolater when second things are first!
Conclusions from Rich Young Ruler Encounter:
1. It is impossible to find fulfillment in things.
2. Jesus alone can satisfy and bring fulfillment.
3. To receive all that God has for you, you must give all you have to God.
Next Sunday’s Lesson:
Matthew 21:1-11
More Than A Prophet?
(The Triumphal Entry)
Bill Boteler
March 26, 2017
First Baptist Church
Jackson, Mississippi
USA

11. The Plan of Hope & Salvation
John 3:16
16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes
in him should not perish but have eternal life.”
John 14:6
6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to
the Father except through me.”
Romans 3:23
23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
Romans 6:23a
23a For the wages of sin is death,
• Death in this life (the first death) is 100%.
• Even Jesus, the one who doesn’t deserve death, died in this life to pay the
penalty for our sins.
• The death referred to in Romans 6:23a is the second death explained in
Revelation 21:8.
Revelation 21:8
8 “But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the
sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the
lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”
Romans 5:8
8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for
us.
Romans 6:23b
23b but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Revelation 21:7
7 "The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will
be my son.”
• Romans 10:9-10 explains to us how to be conquerors.
Romans 10:9-10
9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your
heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart
one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.

12. Romans 10:13
13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
If you have questions or would like to know more, please, contact First Baptist
Church Jackson at 601-949-1900 or http://firstbaptistjackson.org/contact/