Sermons

Matthew 19:16-30 Winning our world like Jesus!

Intro: Jesus’ followers, called to carry out his mission, but how supposed to do it.

[Question] “What does it mean to evangelize people to Christ.”

• Story w/sad outcome of a young man’s response to Christ’s challenge.
  • “Did Jesus fail?”
    • Clearly no.
    • Not in approach or message.

 

• “How are we supposed to apply this encounter?”

 

• Surely aren’t to tell seekers, to go sell all your worldly possessions to follow Christ.
  • How does this square w/the gospel?
  • With grace, not works?

[Question] “What is Christian evangelism?”

• The evangel means “good news.”

e·van·gel

Origin

Middle English (in the sense ‘gospel’): from Old French evangile, via ecclesiastical Latin from Greek euangelion ‘good news’, from euangelos ‘bringing good news’, from eu- ‘well’ + angelein ‘announce’.

 

Mark 16:15 is where Jesus commissions the church to go and preach the gospel and in 1 Corinthians 15.

^ESV  Mark 16:15 And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. (Mar 16:15 ESV)

^ESV  1 Corinthians 15:1-4 Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand,

² and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you– unless you believed in vain.

³ For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures,

⁴ that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, (1Co 15:1-4 ESV)

• 33 NT references to “evangel” or “evangelism.”

[Point] I’m arguing, this account [Matt. 19:16ff] is X’s commission for Xians, preaching, good news.

• X’s good news is same, as Paul’s good news.
  • It squares w/X’s message to rich young ruler.
  • How X spoke and what he challenged him to do.

 

[Appl] People do everything to dismiss X’s approach. Though encounter repeated 3x in the 4 gospels. Mirroring other encounters X had. Christ said hard things, w/o apology. Demands, difficult to get head around. Deny self, die, unless you hate your family, not worthy of me, lose your life, leave the world, bank on persecution and suffering, count the cost.

 

• “How is this good news?”

[Appl] Most pulpits ignore Jesus’ evangelism strategy, marking this as its own unique dispensation (surrounding X being face to face on earth) verses what Peter and John and particularly what Paul promoted.

But this is same difficult Gospel demands in Peter’s, Paul’s, and John’s letters but that’s for another time.

[Question] “What do pulpits substitute for the good news?”

• “What do pulpits promote for an evangelism strategy?”

[Appl] Business models, methods, strategies for branding churches/movements. Good motives w/pragmatic methods. “If it works, who can argue with this?” The idea of getting people to church getting as many people as you can in front of a gospel “pitch” is a driving motivation.

• Problem w/pragmatic approach is success measured w/pragmatic analysis.
  • Physical calculations.
  • “How much or how many?”

[Appl] In terms of the witness of Scripture, evangelism is never: A contest, a business strategy, a soup kitchen, a debate class, an inspiring event or experience, not creative arts, political activism, or social activism, not ecumenism, not religious attendant, not canvassing, branding, stumping, nor media influence.

Hitting closer to home, evangelism is not mere educating in a K-12 or seminary.   

[Definition] Evangelism (according to Scripture) is speaking whole counsel of God, to people dictated by the Holy Spirit’s divine and providential appointment. Speaking Truth, as the means through which the Lord, through Christians makes disciples.

A disciples, is a learner who, through God awakening the heart, becomes a follower of Christ, giving one’s full allegiance to him.

The irreducible minimum of what someone needs to believe to become a Christian is that there is only One true God, the Trinity, Jesus as fully God, fully man, who is and accomplished complete righteousness, who died as the perfect, once for all substitutionary sacrifice for the all the sins.  

Christians are those who during their lifetime repent of following the world, of being a sinner, and who by faith submit their whole life to Him. Jesus is the only way to heaven.

When we give this Gospel, it is the power of God for salvation and equally the means through which some believe, while most reject the gospel.

• Outcomes of evangelism are always “left up to God.”

“Some sow, some water, and some reap.”

^ESV  1 Corinthians 3:6-9 I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. ⁷ So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth.

⁸ He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor.

⁹ For we are God’s fellow workers. You are God’s field, God’s building. (1Co 3:6-9 ESV)

• Never up to presenter for “heart change” (regeneration) and never up to the receptor.
  • Outcomes happen in someone’s heart.
  • Always left up to God!

 

[TRANS] Let’s look at Jesus’ approach to evangelism. 

 

[Prop] Jesus two-part “how to” school of evangelism.

1. Christ’s evangelistic approach (vv. 16-22).

 

1. Providence (v. 16a)

[Note] “And behold” [Καὶ ἰδοὺ] make for abrupt change in scenery.

• Mark 10, “…[Christ] was setting out on his journey.”
  • Heading away from mob parent/children.
  • Providence strikes: “a man came up to him.”
    • Literally a rich, young, ruler, man.
    • (cff. Luke 18:18 “ruler”; Matt. 19:20,22 “young”; Luke 18:23 “rich”).

 

• Mark 10:17: “this man ran up and knelt before him…”
  • Running slide on his knees.
  • “man” had it all in terms of the world.
    • Wealth, Health, Self [power/ego] (Rich, Young, Ruler).
    • No easy case.
      • Three attributes: Wealth, Health, and Self.
        • Wealth acquired righteously.
        • Youthful, vigor.
        • Ruler in Jewish synagogue.

 

• Category, “having it all.”
  • Opposite of being in need.
    • Of “infants” lifted into Jesus’ lap!
    • Has it all, and nevertheless, empty.

 

• Picture of secular society.

[KEY] Man’s self-confidence, not working in his favor.

• Jesus was not seeking him, just the opposite.
  • He fell into Jesus’ path.
    • Opportunistically, seeking what X could add to him.
      • Another accolade.
      • “Jesus.”

 

• Jesus not yet “enemy of the state.”
  • Still lauded as revolutionary.
  • Attractive to those w/self-confidence.

 

• Edgy for: Rich and Young and Ruler to yield himself to Revolutionary.
  • X was both loved and despised.
  • At the same time.

 

• Pursuing Jesus, in the providence of God.
  • Arch-type of who we encounter today.
  • Over-and-over again.

 

1. Question (v. 16b)

Young man initiates, conversation w/a question.

• Piggybacking on first point of Providence.

 

[Appl] Ready to field questions from whomever the Lord puts in your path.

 

• Whatever young ruler’s motive, asking important question @ his soul.

“Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?”

• Replayed by Mark and Luke nt/bc/unique question, bt/a common question.
  • Not question everyone asks but is a top evangelistic question.
  • Good odds you get this one.

 

• “Only two religions in the world.”
  • Religion of works and religion of grace.
    • Only true path to X is by grace and grace alone.
    • Young man couldn’t see this path.

 

• Blindness had less to do with his high estimation for X and more of the high estimation of self.
  • He calls Jesus, “Teacher” and in Mark and Luke it adds the adjective, “Good” for “Good Teacher.”
  • Reminds of Nicodemus (Jn. 3:2).

^ESV  John 3:2 This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.” (Joh 3:2 ESV)

• Using flattery to curry favor from the Teacher.

 

• The question: “…what good deed must I do to have eternal life?” (v. 16).
  • Mark and Luke: “to inherit eternal life…”

 

• “What I do I need to do to get it, and to guarantee it?”
  • Certain something, he needs.
    • Willing to do whatever it takes to get it.
    • Knows, basically has already achieved it.

 

• Wants fountain of youth.

 

[Appl] Wanting eternal life is nothing new.

 

[Illus] Remember Ponce De Leon (1500’s conquistador) and his search for the legendary the fountain of youth? Florida. Legend comes from somewhere.  

 

In the 50’s there began interest in cryogenic freezing (i.e. Walt Disney died lung cancer), said to be embalmed, organs preserved until cure?

 

Cryogenic Freezing: a method of preserving a body by freezing it in a liquid nitrogen vapor chamber. It is stored for the foreseeable future, although scientists state that the technology to reanimate a cryonically preserved body is not available today, and it may never be.

 

Individuals who choose to have their remains frozen often have a “nothing to lose” mindset, but have optimism for a future world where the science or technology to revive or reanimate a frozen body is possible. Cryonics is a controversial topic, as many believe it is science fiction, with an emphasis on the word  fiction. 

 

[Illus] I listened to a modern day scientist, Michio Kaku, who is an expert in “quantum physics” and quantum computers.

 

Instead running on micro-electronics through silicon, claims will run on atomic power, moving at the speed of light. Atoms being smallest unit of energy.

 

Biggest application, one day we will have computers working and solving so fast that it will be able to solve any fatal disease. Means people (in future) will have eternal life. Never ending life, because disease is solved.

 

[KEY] Two verses that stand out in terms of responding to questions as evangelism.

^ESV  Colossians 4:6 Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person. (Col 4:6 ESV)

 

^ESV  1 Peter 3:15 but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, (1Pe 3:15 ESV)

• X’s takes clear posture, responding w/discernment.

 

1. Discernment (v. 17)

Jesus discerns the rich young ruler is angling for eternal life.

• By works, why X asks, “Why do you ask me about what is good?” (v. 17).
  • Parallel passages, quote man calling Jesus, “Good teacher.”
  • Quote’s Jesus’ response: “Why do you call me good?”
    • Agathos vs. Kalos.
    • Inherent not superficial goodness!

 

• Matthew’s addressing the man in terms of doing a “good deed” for eternal life.
  • Mark and Luke address “good” in terms of God.
  • God is only One w/inherent goodness.

 

• Goodness is synonymous with holiness or perfection.
  • Only one who is good and there is only one who can fulfill the standard of the Law with perfect holiness but Christ.

[Point] By Jesus saying, “There is only one who is good” he is challenging the fact that though this man is looking for a way to work his way into the kingdom, he is missing the point that the King is standing right in front of him.

• Man knows Jesus can give him the answer for getting himself to heaven.
  • “Ruler” asking the wrong question.
    • “Tell me what I can do to get eternal life?”
    • Instead of asking, “Will you give me eternal life?”

 

• “Tell me what I can do,” [not] “Answer whether you are willing to save me.”

[KEY] Jesus discerns this man’s flattery and self-righteousness.

• So, plays to this, X feeds him exactly what he wants.
  • “If you want a works righteousness test, I’ll give you a test!”
  • “If you would enter life, keep the commandments” (v. 17).

[TRANS] Jesus baits the hook, and this man takes the bate.

1. Exposure (vv. 18-20)

“He said to him, ‘Which ones?’” (v. 18).

• Jesus summarily lists the second table of the Ten Commandments; Boiler plate for testing your heart.
  • X held up the mirror of the Law:
    • “You shall not commit adultery.”
    • “You shall not steal.”
    • You shall not bear false witness” (v. 18).
    • “Honor your father and mother, and, You shall love your neighbor as yourself” (v. 19).

 

• “Is this too harsh for X to lay this kind of standard on this man?”
  • “Is X laying out a false path for this man to follow?”
    • The path of works not grace? No and no.
    • Jesus holds up the mirror of the word of God, so this man will see his sin.

 

[Appl] This man sees these laws like anyone else in our culture, saying, “I’ve never cheating on my spouse” (even if he has), “I’ve never robbed a bank” (even when he has fudged on Federal taxes or rationalized ethics), “I’ve never lied” (even when this very statement is another lie), I’ve never disrespected my father and mother” (when this man’s self-righteousness is shaming them before the Lord), I’ve never not loved someone’s needs more than myself (when everything about this man is filled with himself).

[KEY] When Jesus held up the Law, “…there is only one who is good” (v. 17)…

(1^st Table, No other gods!), convicts on heart-level (i.e. Sermon on the Mount: Lust is adultery, And hate is murder).

 

[KEY] The Law meant to expose someone’s sin.

• Shred self-righteousness so someone drops their guard.

 

[Question] “Do you remember what Paul confessed in Romans 7?”

^ESV  Romans 7:7-9 What then shall we say? That the law is sin? By no means! Yet if it had not been for the law, I would not have known sin. For I would not have known what it is to covet if the law had not said, “You shall not covet.”

⁸ But sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, produced in me all kinds of covetousness. For apart from the law, sin lies dead.

⁹ I was once alive apart from the law, but when the commandment came, sin came alive and I died. (Rom 7:7-9 ESV)

• Man viewed himself as a master law-keeper.
  • A Pharisee of the Pharisees.
  • Pharisees were the sworn enemy of X, believing that everything they did was for God!
    • Even challenging X or persecuting X’s followers.
    • But Paul confessed to the tenth commandment crushed him because it pinpointed his covetous spirit.

 

• All covetousness is idolatry.
  • The Law was held up to Paul and he resisted being exposed by it.
  • Until the tenth commandment, where he broke.

[KEY] Man fell into trap of comparing himself with other men versus the One true and only truly good God.

• When he looked at the Law, he said, “I pass!”
  • To appropriate the Law, you have to begin with God not “self!”
  • Jesus reflects the first table (of 10 commandments) when saying, “…there is only one who is good” (v. 17).
    • “Shall have no other gods.”
      • Compare yourself with God’s inherent goodness.
      • Or, fall into self-idolatry.

 

• Not dissimilar to the Pharisee who condemned the tax-collector (Luke 18:9-14).
  • “I have prayed, tithed, and worked…not like this tax-gatherer.”
  • That man felt safe with God in comparison to the tax-gatherer.

 

• Humbled tax-collector who went away justified.

[KEY] Man’s self-assessment is shocking.

• “The young man said to him, ‘All these I have kept. What do I still lack?’ (v. 20).
  • Mark and Luke’s account add, “all these things I have kept from my youth.”
    • I’m good and I’ve been good since being a kid.
    • I’m rich, young, and I rule, so what’s missing.
      • I’ve followed all the requirements.
      • I find no fault with myself.

 

• [Appl] Man is so blind by sin and so is everyone else who has not yet opened himself up to see himself.
  • X’s obvious response would be to say:
  • “You still lack everything!”

 

1. Challenge (v. 21)

Jesus calls this man to be “perfect” (v. 21) but not by means of works.

• Perfection is never “earned” and always “given.”
  • Not an earned work but a grace-given status.
  • It is grace that is imputed to someone’s account.

 

• By means of repentance and faith.
  • Jesus defines repentance in term of turning from “self” idolatry.
  • Jesus in Matthew 6:24 makes clear that you cannot serve two masters, God, and money.

 

• So, you can have one or the other, but to have me you have to let go of one to have the other!
  • Money is not evil, but the love of money is, and spawns any manner of evil.
  • What does Jesus mean when he instructs him to “…sell what you possess and give to the poor?” (v. 21).

 

• “What this mean to become a giver, instead of idolator?”
  • When you worship money, you do not give away your money, because this is your salvation.
    • But for this man to give any of his money away, he would have to do so by faith.
    • Which means he would first need the gift of faith.
      • His eyes would have to open to heaven before he would give down here with heaven in view.
      • See heaven as treasure.

 

• Jesus finalized this challenge calling him to “follow me” (v. 21).

 

[Question] “What did this man choose?”

1. Choice (v. 22)

“When the young man heard this he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions” (v. 22).

• Jesus had made his point by exposing this man’s heart.

 

• This is a man who wanted “eternal life” what only God could give him but this man was unwilling to let the world go, to receive it.

[Appl] Having possessions in and of themselves is not wrong. We are called to “work” and laziness is a violation that could be taken public.

Called to provide for our own and warned that when we do not, we are worse than an unbeliever.

We are also called to generously give as an act of worship and to provide for those in need.

What Jesus always requires is to possess someone’s complete allegiance, what this man was unwilling to give.

• He wanted to keep his love and allegiance to the world, while gaining what only Jesus could give.

 

• He wanted Jesus on his terms, not Jesus’ terms and this is where most people are in our world.
  • “Jesus” accommodating anything less than full allegiance is not the true Jesus.

[Appl] People do not chaff at an accommodating Jesus, and in fact they will welcome him.

[Appl] More secular society bears down on its worldly agendas, the clearer the true Jesus is. The clearer it is that to be a Christian, you cannot have it both ways.

• It would not be long before Jesus will march into Jerusalem, where the masses will hail Jesus as their King.
  • But the king they want is on their terms not his.
    • “We want a political reformer, not a Savior.”
    • “We want a dictator, who will save us in this life, not a sacrificial Savor who calls us to lose our life to follow him.”

The young man “went away sorrowful” which pictures deep distress.

• “sorrowful” [λυπούμενος], describes intense pain and vexation.
  • Used of the Corinthians who Paul had been exposed.
  • Used of the servants in Matthew 18:31 who were vexed over the forgiven servant who had turned on their own.
    • Used by Jesus and Paul in terms of the state of heart of unbelievers.
    • When Jesus returns in the end (cff. John 16:20; 1 Thess. 4:13).

 

• Sad ending, but because his heart had not changed:

 

• Would equally left “sorrowful” if Jesus would have challenged his “Health” [young] and “Self” [ruler/power].

 

• You cannot change someone’s heart.

 

[Conclusion] Next time we will have a front row seat to Jesus’ debrief of what really happened in this exchange between Jesus and this ruler.

Did Jesus fail?

Is being saved hopeless for someone who earns a good living?

Who can be saved under these conditions?

Jesus’ point is that these conditions are the only conditions where someone can have eternal life.

 

2. Christ’s evangelistic debrief (vv. 23-30).

 

[Note]: [Ruler] meaning Jewish synagogue – had earned his wealth honestly according to keeping the Law – Jesus addressing “goodness” is dealing in terms of the first table. To have no other gods. When you compare your 2^nd table obedience in terms of the first table – in terms of God’s goodness, God’s glory, no other idols – then the reflection back from the second table comes in terms of the heart. As when Jesus held up the Law in his sermon on the mount: Lust is adultery, Ander is murder.]