WHAT MUST I DO TO INHERIT ETERNAL LIFE?

Passage: Luke 18:18-30

Key verse: 22

NIV

The Rich and the Kingdom of God(A)

18 A certain ruler asked him, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”(B)

19 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. 20 You know the commandments: ‘You shall not commit adultery, you shall not murder, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, honor your father and mother.’[a]”(C)

21 “All these I have kept since I was a boy,” he said.

22 When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor,(D) and you will have treasure in heaven.(E) Then come, follow me.”

23 When he heard this, he became very sad, because he was very wealthy. 24 Jesus looked at him and said, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!(F) 25 Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”

26 Those who heard this asked, “Who then can be saved?”

27 Jesus replied, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.”(G)

28 Peter said to him, “We have left all we had to follow you!”(H)

29 “Truly I tell you,” Jesus said to them, “no one who has left home or wife or brothers or sisters or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God 30 will fail to receive many times as much in this age, and in the age to come(I) eternal life.”(J)

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Footnotes
  1. Luke 18:20 Exodus 20:12-16; Deut. 5:16-20
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

The Rich Ruler

18 (A)And a ruler asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to (B)inherit eternal life?” 19 And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. 20 You know the commandments: (C)‘Do not commit adultery, Do not murder, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother.’” 21 And he said, (D)“All these I have kept from my youth.” 22 When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “One thing you still lack. (E)Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have (F)treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” 23 (G)But when he heard these things, he became very sad, for he was extremely rich. 24 Jesus, seeing that he had become sad, said, (H)“How difficult it is for those who have wealth to enter (I)the kingdom of God! 25 For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter (J)the kingdom of God.” 26 Those who heard it said, “Then who can be saved?” 27 But he said, (K)“What is impossible with man is possible with God.” 28 And Peter said, “See, (L)we have left our homes and followed you.” 29 And he said to them, “Truly, I say to you, (M)there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers[a] or parents or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, 30 who will not receive (N)many times more (O)in this time, and in (P)the age to come eternal life.”

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Footnotes
  1. Luke 18:29 Or wife or brothers and sisters
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

A rich ruler asked Jesus a serious question, “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” Eternal life is a gift of God in Jesus. But he thought he could earn eternal life by his own goodness and noble activities. Jesus reminds him of the ultimate standard of God’s goodness, which no one can attain, by mentioning the commandments. It was to help him see himself in light of God’s standard. But he was blind to his true condition. Jesus pointed one thing he lacked by challenging him to sell everything he had, give to the poor, and follow him. Jesus helped him to apply God’s word practically and know the value of eternal life. It required total commitment to Jesus. It was hard, but necessary for him to have treasure in heaven, eternal life. But he became sad, for he could not give up his great wealth on earth. This reveals his love of wealth more than God and his poor neighbors. But eternal life is worth selling everything we have.

The disciples were puzzled by Jesus’ words (24-25) and asked, “Who then can be saved?” Jesus’ reply was “What is impossible with man is possible with God.” Indeed, all things are possible with God, even the conversion of the wealthy. God can change our value to desire Jesus more than prosperity when we follow Christ.

Prayer: Lord, please help me sell everything to gain Christ and be found in him so that I may enjoy eternal life in this world and in the world to come.

One Word: Sell everything to have eternal life.