ETERNAL LIFE
Matthew 19:16–30
Matthew 19 is a very interesting passage in many ways. Jesus is in an ongoing debate with the Pharisees. They are continually hoping to catch Him in some breach of the Mosaic law. Time and again, Jesus would rebuke these religious leaders for enforcing the letter of the law while rejecting the spirit of the law.
Unwilling (16–22)
A questioning young man we identify as “the rich young ruler” asks Jesus, “Teacher, what good must I do to have eternal life?” Was his question genuine, or was he merely seeking justification for his wealth and lifestyle?
Jesus listed the commandments that deal with human performance and relationships between people. The young man claimed to have kept them since his youth. Jesus followed up with a direction that gets to the heart of the matter. He tells the man to sell his belongings and give to the poor. The young man went away sad because he had great wealth.
In this passage, Jesus deals with salvation by works. No one is good enough to earn eternal life. It’s not about performance but rather about surrender.
If your life ended today and you were standing in front of God and He asked you why He should let you into heaven, how would you respond? Some possible responses could be, “I tried to be good. … I hope my good deeds outweigh my bad deeds. … I gave some money to the Church.” None of those answers open heaven’s gates. The only answer that gets you in is this: I am accepted into heaven because I have trusted in the atoning death of Jesus on the cross for me and received Him as my Lord and Savior.
Possible (23–26)
Jesus used this encounter as a teaching moment for His disciples. They witnessed the exchange. As the dejected young man walked away, Jesus told His disciples, “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.”
Although some claim that there was a small gate in Jerusalem that would be impassable to a camel unless it was unloaded of any possessions and knelt to pass through, I don’t think that Jesus was teaching humility. It is clear from the disciples’ question. If this man doesn’t qualify, “Then who can be saved?”
Jesus made it clear: “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Although earthly riches were viewed as evidence of God’s blessing, salvation is by grace through faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ.
If anything, riches can be a great hindrance to faith. In Luke 12:15, Jesus warns us that a person’s life does not consist of the amount of things he possesses. The question for many today would be, “How much is enough?”
Reward (27–30)
In response to the rich young man who could not surrender his possessions to follow Jesus, Peter states, “We have left everything and followed You. So what will there be for us?” Peter was looking for some hopeful reassurance that the sacrifice would be followed by reward.
Jesus gives that reassurance. True followers of Christ may be impoverished in this world but will be rich in heaven. That’s why Jesus would encourage them and us to lay up treasure in heaven. The greatest treasure of all is eternal life. I love the hymn, “I have decided to follow Jesus, no turning back, no turning back.”
EDITOR’S NOTE — The Sunday School lesson outlines are provided by Lifeway.
By Don Fugate
Senior pastor of Foxworthy Baptist Church in San Jose, California
