Theme

If you want to be safe & satisfied, take courage and spend yourself for Jesus.

Text

And as he was setting out on his journey, a man ran up and knelt before him and asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. You know the commandments: Do not murder, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.’” And he said to him, “Teacher, all these I have kept from my youth.” And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” Disheartened by the saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.

And Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How difficult it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!” And the disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said to them again, “Children, how difficult it is to enter the kingdom of God! 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.” And they were exceedingly astonished, and said to him, “Then who can be saved?” Jesus looked at them and said, “With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God.” Peter began to say to him, “See, we have left everything and followed you.” Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”

Discussion Questions

1. Is money evil? Why or why not? See 1 Timothy 6:6–10.
2. What specific actions/words describe the unnamed man as he approaches Jesus in vv. 17–22. What do these reveal about his attitude/intention?
3. Jesus lists 5/6 “second table” commandments in His response. Which does He leave out, and how might it relate to the “one thing" that the man lacks (v. 21)?
4. How do the disciples respond to Jesus’ teaching (vv. 23–26)? Why might this be? cf. Gen. 26:12-13; Deut. 8:18; Jos. 1:8; Ps. 1:3; 112:1–3; Prov. 10:4; 13:4; 21:5
5. If “with man” it’s impossible to be saved, “Then who can be saved?” How can you be sure your life is secure? Jer. 32:17, 27; Lk. 1:37; Jn. 10:27–29; 2 Cor. 4:6;
6. What does Jesus promise for those who are willing to hold their blessings loosely (v. 30)? How is this true now? 1 Cor. 12:26
7. Whether rich or poor, how should we use our material wealth to serve God’s purposes? Consider 2 Corinthians 8 as an important example.

Transcript

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