Man's Failure & God's Goodness Matthew 19:16-26

In this passage the Rich Young Man shows he's coming at things the wrong way from the start.  The way he phrases his question when he comes to our Lord.  He doesn't ask, "How can I be saved?"" instead he asks,  "Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?" 

Jesus answer showed as usual that he was interested in dealing with he heart of the questioner not just answering the question.  He starts by giving a question back to the young man: "Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good."  In Mark's account Jesus said "No one is good except God alone." This correction should have gotten the young man's attention Jesus was showing him where he needed to be looking for goodness: in God alone. 

Jesus went on to point him to the law.  The law is a reflection of God's goodness, and one of the purposes of the law is to show us how sinful we are, and how much we need a savior.  "Through the law comes knowledge of sin" (Rom 3:20). 

But the young man doesn't take it that way.  He makes the bold claim: "All these I have kept."  He was still seeking to justify himself.  People seek to justify themselves in many ways.  That is to think or say there good deeds make them right with God. They may or may not refer to the 10 Commandments.  But this man still knew he lacked something.  That is why he came to Jesus and why he continued to question him.  And all people who seek to justify themselves should doubt themselves because they are lacking.  "For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight." (Rom 3:20)

And when Jesus offers him the way of salvation it is to great a cost to him.  There is a always a cost to following Jesus.  As he told the young man to repent & believe means turning away from your sins.  It means giving up something.  But what we have to gain is so much greater as Jesus told him "you will have treasure in heaven."  But the poor rich man after seeking Jesus and approaching him with his question preferred his possessions to eternal life. 

Jesus declaration that, "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", shocked his disciples.  And they asked their own question "Who then can be saved?" 

Jesus responded to their question to him with what I think is the most important message of the passage "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."  This passage ended the same way it began with man's failure and God's goodness.  With man it is impossible to be saved, but with God it is possible.  The young man was unsuccessfully seeking a good deed he could do to have eternal life, and Jesus pointed him to the only one who is good. 

Man can not save himself.  A man in love with sin can never turn away from it to love God.  "For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot." (Rom 8:7) But with God it is possible only God the Holy Spirit can grant men the repentance that leads to life.  


The rich young man is a tragic figure in History.  He stood face to face with the Savior of the world and went away sorrowful.  Don't be like him. Don't try to justify yourself before God.  Don't refuse the great offer extended to you.  Look to him for goodness and the one whom he has sent.  Jesus Christ died on the cross for sinners and rose again on the third day.  Throw away your useless sins and flee to Christ.  Fear not.


"With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."