Matthew 19:16-22, More Grace for Parents

In the story of the rich young ruler there are two issues that we want to address.  The first is the one most often seen in the story: was Jesus saying that a person could be saved by keeping the law?  The answer to this question is clearly yes and no!

·        No one has eternal life who has not kept God’s law perfectly, Rom. 2:6-10.  No one can enter into fellowship with a holy God who has sinned against His law. 

·        No one has kept God’s law perfectly, Rom. 3:9-10.  There is none righteous, no, not one.  The young man said, All these I have kept from my youth. This is not true; but the man is apparently sincere in his statement. 

·        Jesus kept God’s law perfectly, Rom. 8:3-4.  Jesus actually brings this to the attention of the young man when He asks, Why do you call Me good; no one is good but One, that is, God?  Jesus always brought Himself into the picture.  He is, after all, the only way for the young man to have eternal life (John 14:6).

·        Jesus’ righteousness is put to the account of all who believe in Him, Rom. 4:4-5.  This is justification.  The ungodly are declared righteous when they put their trust in the Righteous One, Jesus Christ. 

There is a second issue that you might not have noticed: how did this young man grow up in a home where the law was taught, and not realize he was a needy sinner?  Notice his initial question: what good thing shall I do that I might inherit eternal life? In Jesus’ day the law was a means used to justify oneself, not to see one’s sin and guilt.  Remember the story of the two men praying in the temple.  This young man justified himself: All these things I have kept from my youth.  What do I still lack?  By going to the man’s riches Jesus was seeking to show the man his need, that there was nothing he could do to inherit eternal life.

The law required this teaching in the home (Deut. 11:18-20).  It is a good thing for us, today, to teach our children the law from the OT.  It is not how we are justified, of course (Rom. 3:20).  Rather it is a tutor that will show children their need of Christ by making them aware of sin and guilt (Gal. 3:24).  Remember that Timothy’s mother and grandmother taught him the OT (2 Tim. 3:14-17).  This was the Scriptures that were able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 

What must be mixed with the teaching is a proper use of discipline with children.  Good, godly discipline trains children in …

·        The seriousness of sin. ·        Their responsibility for sin. ·        The blessing of forgiveness.

·        The way of righteousness. ·        The love of the parent. ·        And the need for a Savior.

It would appear that this was missing with the rich young ruler.  He knew the law, but he did not know his sin.  Here are a few Biblical passages that emphasize the need for discipline, something that is neglected and even forbidden in our day: Pr. 13:24; 19:18; 22:15; 23:13,14; 29:15,17; Eph. 6:4; Col. 3:21; Heb. 12:5-11.