What must I do to get to heaven… vs. 17-22

• What  “Good” thing… vs. 17
  • Jesus left the house with His disciples – heading back up the road to Jerusalem…
    • A man came running up and knelt before Jesus
    • He was excited to see Jesus and shows him respect by kneeling before Him…
    • He calls Jesus “Good Teacher” – and was sincerely looking for answers
    • He wanted to know what “Good” thing he should do to inherit heaven…
  • He had the right question – and he went to the right person to get the right answer…
    • We all have this question – we all want to go to heaven – no one wants to go to hell
    • So the answer Jesus gives him is VERY important for us as well…
    • If you want to know what “Good” you must do to go to heaven – here’s the answer
      
• Defining “Good”… vs. 18
  • Jesus 1^st had to answer his question with a question…
    • This may seem a strange response – but it was necessary to answer the man’s question
    • The man wanted to know what “Good” thing he should do
    • In order for Jesus to answer the question – He had to define what “Good” meant
    • To say that something is “Good” – is not a very descriptive term on it’s own…
  • To know how “Good” something is – 1^st you have to know what it’s “Good” compared to
    • I might say that ‘balut’ tastes “Good”… especially if you compared to ‘yabuk’
    • But compared to a big bowl of ice cream – well now it’s not nearly as “Good”
    • “Good” is a comparative term – to know how “Good” something is…
    • You have to know what you are comparing it to
  • The definition Jesus gives for “Good” – “No one is Good but One – that is God!”
    • Jesus definition of Good was God Himself – now that presents a problem…
      • We all think we are “Good” people – few if any of us would say we are ‘Bad’ people
      • Yet what or who is it that we compare ourselves to – “Good” compared to…
      • If the definition of “Good” was being better than – a murderer – OK
      • If the definition of “Good” was being better than – my neighbor – maybe OK
      • But since the definition of “Good” is God – that means I am not “Good”
      • To be “Good” by God’s definition I would need to be…
      • Matthew 5:48 – “Perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.”
    • That’s why Jesus said – NO ONE is “Good” only God…
      • So it turns out none of us are “Good” after all…
      • From the best person to the worst – none are “Good” compared to God
      • Romans 3:10 – “As it is written: ‘There is none righteous, no, not one…’”
        
• Proving we are not “Good”… Vs.  19-22
  • Proving we are not “Good” – by looking at the Law of God
    • Referring to the Law of Moses found in the first 5 book of the Bible
    • Not just the 10 commandments – but also all 613 commandments given in the Law!
      • The commandments of God were never meant to make us “Good”
      • They were given so that we would know we were NOT “Good”
      • Galatians 3:24 – “Therefore the law was our teacher to bring us to Christ…”
      • The Law can only teach us the standard of what “Good” is…
    • Like a mirror or a measuring tape…
      • Like a mirror that can show you how you look – but cannot change your appearance
      • Like a measuring tape – that tells how tall you are – but not help you grow
      • The Law shows us how “Bad” we are – but cannot help make us “Good”
      • Realizing that is the Key to Heaven – because now we know we need help!
  • Jesus gives the rich man 6 of THE 10 commandments – Exodus 20:12-17
    • Jesus gives him the 6 commands that deal with his relationship to others…
      • Do not: Murder/Adultery/Steal/Lie/Covet and honor your Father & Mother
      • The man was thrilled to hear this – he said I have kept these from my youth
    • Notice that Jesus does not argue that point with him
      • This must have been a REALLY nice guy – any of us would have loved him
      • He was an honest – God fearing – hard working man of integrity
      • It would almost seem that he was “Good” enough to inherit heaven…
    • Jesus looking at him – loved him (only mentioned here) – “One thing you lack…”
      • Go and sell all you have and give it to the poor (treasure in heaven) and Follow Me!
      • What Jesus was giving to the rich man was the 1^st commandment
      • You shall have no other god’s before Me… (Exodus 20:3)
      • The man wanted to go to heaven – but he had another god he wanted more
    • The man was VERY rich and had a LOT of “Stuff”…
      • So he went away sorry – he was unwilling to put Jesus before his “Stuff”!
      • Stuff kept him from going to heaven – what Stuff could be worth so much…
      • We never think that we are this rich man – we think we poor…
      • Yet it is not how much Stuff that matters – it’s putting Stuff first – I Timothy 6:10 
      • When we want “Stuff” more than we want to Follow Jesus – we walk away sad…
      • Yet what is it that we think we have – or might have – greater than Heaven?
      • Mark 8:36 – “What will it profit if a man gains the whole world, loses his own soul?”
    • Does that mean that everyone needs to sell all his or her Stuff…
      • There is nothing wrong with having stuff – it’s when the stuff has us…
      • Only if we put our Stuff before Jesus – do we need to reprioritize – put Jesus first!
      • Jesus command was not just to sell the stuff and give it to the poor – Follow Jesus!
  • It only takes one sin…
    • The rich man only broke one law of God (recorded here)…
    • James 2:10 – “Whoever keeps the whole law, yet stumble in one point, is guilty of all.”
    • We may not have the same sin as the rich man – but there are 612 other Laws
    • It only takes one crime to be a criminal – it only takes one sin to make you a sinner!
    • So how may sins does it take to keep us out of heaven… just one
    • What if it’s just a little sin – a white lie – taking a little rice (our neighbor has extra…)
    • Any sin – just one – makes us a sinner – and keeps us out of heaven!

The cost of Salvation… vs. 23-31

• How hard is it for a Rich man to enter heaven… vs. 23-27
  • Why is it impossible for a rich man to be saved…
    • It’s not money that makes it hard to get into heaven but – “Those who trust in riches…”
    • Those who are rich – have a tendency to trust in their money – trust in their “Stuff”…
    • The idea being money is not necessarily a blessing – it can instead become our god…
    • Depending on money to get us out of trouble – provide for our needs – rather than Jesus
    • If we are looking to money to be the answer – then we are not looking to the Lord…
    • For those of us who have no money – it is easier to trust in the Lord (no other options)
    • Where do we place our hope – who do we look to in times of need – money or Jesus
  • To emphasize – Jesus gives the analogy of a Camel through the eye of a needle (2 views)…
    • 1^st view – The eye of the needle was a gate in the wall of the city of Jerusalem
      • According to tradition the “Eye of the needle” was a very small gate
      • So small that the only way for a Camel to enter was to take off its “Stuff”…
      • The idea being the only way for a rich man to enter heaven…
      • Is for him to get rid of all his riches so he might fit through Heaven’s gate
      • Sounds nice – but it turns out there never was such a gate in Jerusalem…
    • 2^nd view – Put a Camel through the eye of a needle
      • Keep in mind a camel is about a big as a Caribou – you know how small a needle is
      • You can put a Camel through the eye of a needle – but you have to grind it up first
      • It’s pretty messy – and in the end the Camel is never quite the same…
      • The point being it is IMPOSSIBLE for those who trust in riches to get into heaven!
        
• Who then can be saved…
  • When the disciples heard that it was like a punch to the stomach (astonished)…
    • If this nice man – who was wealthy – could not be saved – who could
    • I am sure the disciples had looked at the man and thought – “Good” guy
    • They likely had no reservations that he would go to heaven
    • Now suddenly someone who was better than them – was not “Good” enough
    • It would be like saying the nicest – kindest – sweetest – person you know…
    • Is still not going “Good” enough to make it to heaven
    • If they are not good enough – who then can be “Good” enough to inherit eternal life…
  • With men it is impossible…
    • Jesus answer to getting to heaven – with God all things are possible!
    • It is not being a sinner (we all are – Roman 3:23) that keeps us from heaven
    • It is rejecting the solution for sin that God provided in Jesus Christ
    • We are not saved by being “Good” enough to get into heaven
    • We are saved by believing in the sacrifice that Jesus made for our sin on the cross
    • Ephesians 2:8-9 – “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.”
    • We do not earn our way to Heaven – Heaven is a gift to those who believe in Jesus!
      
• We have left all… Vs. 28-32
  • Peter began to say – ‘We have left all and followed you…’
    • Recognizing the qualification that Jesus gave to the rich man…
    • Peter reminds Jesus the disciples had left all (not that they had much to leave)…
  • The promise…
    • Assuredly I say to you – there is no one who has left…
      • Houses /Brothers/Sisters/Father/Mother/Wife/Children/ or Lands…
      • For the sake of the Gospel – for the sake of following after Jesus…
      • The cost for following Jesus – is everything – putting Him before anything else
      • That may seem to be to great a price to pay for many – yet the promises are given…
    • Those who have left are given 3 promises…
      • 1^st – No one has ever left anything – that will not receive 100 times that in this life…
      • I left my family in New York – only to be given family all over the world – 100 fold!
      • 2^nd – Oh by the way – there will be persecution thrown in as well – John 16:33
      • 3^rd – But most of all they will get to go to Heaven!
  • The first shall be last…
    • Likely a response to Peter’s boast of having ‘left all’ for Jesus…
    • Jesus explains the meaning in the parable of the ‘Land Owner’ – Matthew 20:1-16
    • Whether you are saved young or old – your reward is Heaven!
    • Whether you are first or last – the reward is still Heaven!
    • Whether you were the greatest Apostle – or only saved a day – Heaven!
    • In other words it’s not about how much work you do for the Lord…
    • It is all about the fact that – through the gift of salvation – you get to go to heaven!