Commitment to Christ (Total and Continuing)

And someone came to Him and said, “Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may obtain eternal life?” And He said to him, “Why are you asking Me about what is good? There is only One who is good; but if you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments.” 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 bear false witness; Honor your father and mother; and You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” The young man said to Him, “All these things I have kept; what am I still lacking?” Jesus said to him, “If you wish to be complete, go and sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” But when the young man heard this statement, he went away grieving; for he was one who owned much property.

Prior to what we read in this passage of Scripture – Matthew 19:16-22, Jesus had been teaching on various topics: about His coming death, how costly discipleship is, about His coming transfiguration. He taught about stumbling blocks – that is, obstacles - the disciples would encounter in their journey with, and for Him, and several issues His disciples would encounter in their walk with Him.

And his followers had questions about the things He taught.

1.   What good things shall we do? This question came from a young man who ruled over a certain group of people.

After hearing Jesus teach, he felt there was something lacking in his life. So, he asked the question, “What good thing shall I do that I may obtain eternal life?”

In our world today, that same attitude is seen over and over again. It is the attitude that I can “pick and choose” the commandments that fit my lifestyle and ignore the others, because, after all, no one is expected to life by all the laws and commandments of God – are they? So, we take the attitude that:” If I just do enough “good things” God will overlook the not so good things I have done. And my home in heaven is secured.

You won’t find that promise anywhere in the Word of God.

2.   He wanted Jesus to tell him one specific law that he could follow that would ensure eternal life for himself.

Now, the Law was massive in content. In Jewish Law, there were 613 specific laws that Jews were expected to abide by in their individual and corporate lives.

This man must have believed that God has written up a list of laws for each individual person was expected to keep in order to inherit eternal life. He wanted a concise list of laws that he – personally-  could keep that would guarantee his salvation.

3. So, he asked the question. “What do I lack since I have already kept the commandments You have listed.”

He was actually looking for an easy way out and thought he had already done enough to guarantee his eternal life.

But in his carnal mind, he thought there must be something else lacking.

So, Jesus answers him:

        Keep the commandments.

        Eternal life for all of mankind requires obedience.

        The only way to the Father is through His Son, Jesus Christ.

So, practicing duty and obedience – in faith – are the ways to Christ.

This response was not at all what the man had expected.

It was more than he had bargained for.

He sought a less radical change in his life.

His love of the world and his lifestyle and his riches was greater than his desire to give up his love for all of that.

So, he went away sorrowful – and as far as we know, from what the Scriptures don’t tell us – he never repented and released his love of his possessions and began to follow Jesus.

He was honest in his refusal of salvation through Jesus Christ. He simply could not give up what he loved more than life in Christ.

Today, the same situation happens. The sin of holding on to material things prevents so many from coming to Christ.

The sin of reluctance causes many to be lost in eternity.

4.   James, in his letter to the dispersed tribes of Israel,

Writes about the royal law – the law of love among other requirements of the royal law: life, chastity, wealth, truth, and relationships.

James says that law is summed up in verse 8:

 If, however, you are fulfilling the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well.

 Paul also refers to this teaching in his letter to the church in Galatia – Galatians 5:14 where he writes:

“For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word in the statement, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

Now, back to this young ruler – he had kept all the laws he was expected to keep – he was free from gross sin, but he was still lacking; he was still falling short of salvation.

Jesus required that he sell his treasured possessions and give the proceeds to the poor in order to have treasure in heaven and follow Him. He was unwilling to do what Jesus required of him.

What Jesus is teaching here, of course, is that we are to prefer the treasures of Heaven over the temporary treasures of our earthly lives.

He is teaching us to embrace Him – and let go of the world; to devote ourselves entirely to Christ.

To conform to His pattern, rather than conforming to the pattern of the world.

He requires us to keep His laws.

He requires us to love Him as Lord and to place all of our dependence on Him rather than on the riches of this world.