THE RICH YOUNG MAN

Passage: Matthew 19:16-22

Key verse: 21

NIV

The Rich and the Kingdom of God(A)

16 Just then a man came up to Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life(B)?”(C)

17 “Why do you ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, keep the commandments.”(D)

18 “Which ones?” he inquired.

Jesus replied, “‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery,(E) you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, 19 honor your father and mother,’[a](F) and ‘love your neighbor as yourself.’[b]”(G)

20 “All these I have kept,” the young man said. “What do I still lack?”

21 Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect,(H) go, sell your possessions and give to the poor,(I) and you will have treasure in heaven.(J) Then come, follow me.”

22 When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth.

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Footnotes
  1. Matthew 19:19 Exodus 20:12-16; Deut. 5:16-20
  2. Matthew 19:19 Lev. 19:18
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 Young Man

16 (A)And behold, a man came up to him, saying, “Teacher, what good deed must I do to (B)have (C)eternal life?” 17 And he said to him, “Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. (D)If you would enter life, keep the commandments.” 18 He said to him, “Which ones?” And Jesus said, (E)“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, (F)You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 20 The young man said to him, (G)“All these I have kept. What do I still lack?” 21 Jesus said to him, “If you would be (H)perfect, go, (I)sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have (J)treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” 22 (K)When the young man heard this he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.

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The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

1. What good thing must I do? (16-19)

This young man had spiritual desire. He knew that he lacked something. By human standards he was morally upright, but by God's standards, he was a sinner. So Jesus taught him that only God is good. Jesus asked him about the commandments having to do with human relations in order that he might realize his spiritual need. Superficially, he seemed to keep these, but actually, he did not love his neighbor as himself. His great problem was that he did not have a personal relationship with God.

2. What do I still lack? (2

-22)

Jesus opened the way for this young man to be his disciple and to become a child of God. Jesus invited him to exchange worldly treasures for treasures in heaven. This young man was not free. He had become a slave to his possessions, so he turned and went away sadly.

Prayer: Lord, help me to love you first, others next and myself last. Thank you for the gift of eternal life.

One Word: Follow Jesus