Scripture: Mark 10:17-22
Sermon notes
The rich young ruler—grieved by the gospel Mark 10:17-27
The Saviour’s ministry was marked by great diversity of circumstance. What excitements, changes, raised hopes and discouragements followed quickly on the heels of each other!
Leaving the home where He had blessed the children presented to Him and used them as an illustration of the spirit required to enter the kingdom of Heaven, the Saviour encounters a young man (Matt 19:22) who professes a desire to be part of that kingdom but in fact displays a very different spirit. There is in reality a second illustration of the same important gospel truth in this event. In this man we have illustrated the spirit that will make it impossible for a sinner to enter the kingdom and be saved—as the Saviour teaches in His follow up lessons to the disciples, v27.
I A VERY PROMISING INQUIRY.
- Upright, v20. This young man comes with a fine character! He has lived a moral life; he has advanced to a high religious position.
- Eager. Here is a young man who displays a measure of eagerness to learn from the Saviour. He runs to Christ for instruction! This is a very proper thing and it is only afterwards that it is seen to be sadly lacking in certain respects. Cp Rom 10:2-3.
- Humility. He kneeled before the Saviour. For a man in his position, this was a big statement.
- He honours the Saviour in his words. Confessing Him good master/teacher.
- A vital question. He evidently felt his need to have eternal life, was conscious of the absence of it and desired to be sure he had it. There are no more vital considerations. And yet his question suggests that he was convinced he could do something to obtain eternal life by his own effort.
II A BASIC GOSPEL LESSON.
The Saviour immediately begins to instruct this young man in response to his question.
- None good but one, v18. This is the premise of all the Saviour goes on to teach. The basic gospel lesson He teaches here is that all men are sinners; and that only God is holy. Cp Rom 3:10ff.
- The proof of this is found in the law of God. The Saviour directs this man to consider words very familiar to him—the moral law. The law of God plays a vital role in leading men to the Saviour. Cp Rom 10:4, Gal 3:24. There is no salvation without its work! The Law reveals what God is, what man is, and why Christ is needed as Saviour.
- The Law as a means of life. Cp Matt 19:17. The law is still a means to obtain eternal life but no sinner can use it thus because of the disability sin has caused. Cp Rom 10:5, 8:3.
- The law as the exposer of sin. The gospel directs men to the law so that the sin which so disables them will be exposed. Only in this way can a sinner learn what he is and the impossibility of gaining eternal life in any other way than by faith in Christ. The Saviour uses the part of the law that deals with duty to our fellow man. Even this is enough to condemn us! How much more we fail in regard to our duty to God! (Matt 22:37-38) Continuing to use the law, the Saviour exposes the particular sin this man was held by. Covetousness is idolatry, Col 3:5. Cp Rom 6:7-11. Here is the inner working of the human heart exposed. The law exposes sin, pronounces the sentence of death upon it, and so leaves the sinner in an utterly helpless condition, James 2:10.
- The way of the cross. This is the only way to obtain eternal life. It is through Christ’s cross-work; and by the way of personal identification with that cross in a life of sacrificial obedience to Him. These are truths that the Holy Spirit must open the mind to see and grasp!
- The action of love. The Saviour acts in love to teach the impossibility of self-salvation. The painful exposure of his sin was done in love.