Two Men - Two Questions
Matthew 19:16-22; Acts 16:25-34
What you are reading is true. It is about two men. One who came face to face with Jesus; the other with Jesus’ Apostle. Each man asked a serious question. Each received a serious answer.
- The first man was young and wealthy. He asked Jesus this question: “Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?” Matthew 19:16
To this young man, Jesus answered, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God.” Matthew 19:17
If Jesus were but a man, He. too, was a sinner like all others. Were He only a good teacher, He, too, was involved in Adam’s fall.
As good as Jesus appeared to this young man, if Jesus were only a man, He was not good enough. Jesus was telling this man two important truths They are that “ all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23, and that our salvation is “not by works of righteousness which we have done.” Titus 3:5
Further Jesus declared to the young man what he should have known from reading the Old Testament, “If on the basis of doing good, you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.” Leviticus 18:5 There is, however, a bug in this ointment. No one but Jesus has ever kept God’s law.
When the young man asked Jesus of which commandment He spoke, Jesus replied using the second table of the Ten Commandments. “You shall not murder.” “You shall not commit adultery.” “You shall not steal.” “You shall not bear false witness.” “Honor your father and your mother.” Exodus 20:12-16 Jesus then gave this summation, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Leviticus 19:18
The young man did not understand. He replied, “All these things have I kept from my youth up.” His problem was that he did not understand the spiritual nature of the law. He did not know that these commandments could be broken in thought as well as in deed. He thought only of those things he had done outwardly; those things by which he could be convicted in a court of law, so he asked Jesus, “What do I still lack?” Matthew 19:20
Jesus responded to his blind assertion, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me..” Matthew 19:21
Jesus had previously left out this commandment: “Do not covet.” Exodus 20:17 He now includes it , and in doing so puts His finger on the heart of this young man’s problem. This man was a covetous man. He thought more of his possessions than he did of eternal life. If he must have only one or the other, he would choose his possessions.
- The second man was an adult with children. He asked, “ Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” Acts 16:30
He received this answer: “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved.” Acts 16:31
If you want to be saved by what you do, then read God's law and keep it. But if you are at the end of yourself, without hope, and ready to trust in the mercy and grace of God for salvation, the answer comes so simply and so easily, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved.” Acts 16:31
- The Outcome in Each Man’s Life:
The young ruler “ …went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.” Matthew 19:22 His possessions stood between him and God. They stood between him and salvation. He thought more of his possessions than he did of eternal life.
The other man, on the other hand, “… rejoiced, having believed in God with all his household.” Acts 16:34
How will it be with you, dear friend? Are you trying to be as good as you can, hoping to get in? Or are you ready to close with Jesus Christ, realizing that it is only by His death on the Cross and by His resurrection from the dead that you have any hope whatsoever of entering the Kingdom of God and of obtaining eternal life?
“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved.” Acts 16:31
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