Read Matthew 19:21–26
Questions from the Scripture text: What does Jesus presume that the young man wants (Matthew 19:21)? What does He say the man should do with his things? So that they can give to whom? How will he be compensated? Where must he then go? Who heard this (Matthew 19:22)? How did he respond? With what demeanor? Why? Who speaks to whom in Matthew 19:23? How does He emphasize the urgency of what He is saying? What does he say is difficult for whom? How does He re-emphasize what He is saying at the beginning of Matthew 19:24? What does He say is easier to happen than a rich man entering the kingdom? Who heard this (Matthew 19:25)? What effect did it have upon them? What did they say? What does Jesus do in Matthew 19:26 to show His aim? What does He say to them?
What must we have to enter heaven? Matthew 19:21–26 follows up on the sermon in the morning public worship on the past Lord’s Day. In these fifteen verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that Christ is what we must have to enter heaven.
How men are counted as perfectly obedient: when they have Christ. What the young man is lacking is Jesus Himself. The first table of the law has priority, of course. Jesus even teaches this elsewhere (cf. Matthew 22:36–40). This is what the man ultimately lacks. He does not know, worship, reverence, or hallow God, because he does not know Him in Jesus, worship Him through Jesus, and hallow and reverence Him in hallowing and reverencing Jesus. He cannot possibly be complete (NKJ “perfect,” Matthew 19:21), because he does not have Jesus.
This poor man (poor, because he does not have Jesus!) thinks that he is rich in two different ways, and both are a great hindrance to him. The first is the obvious one, the “great possessions” of Matthew 19:22 that he cannot imagine selling in order to give as charity to the poor (Matthew 19:21). Christian charity doesn’t just keep the second table of the law. It keeps the first table by counting Jesus Himself as abundant compensation for the loss of all material things.
But the second way in which he thought himself rich was in his own personal righteousness. This righteousness is illusory, rather than true—fools’ gold. But it is hard for him to give up. He would have to lose all illusions of being personally good in order to count Christ Himself as all his goodness. God Himself, in Christ Himself, is the treasure that we will have in heaven (Matthew 19:21, cf. Psalm 73:24–25). Giving up all, in order to have Jesus, gives us not only treasure in heaven but on earth. But those who feel that they have much without Him are the most obstructed from entering the kingdom (Matthew 19:23-24). The disciples don’t understand this (Matthew 19:25), but grace can give it (Matthew 19:26) and has even given it to them.
In what ways are you poor in yourself? What are some of the riches that are offered you in Christ? What is holding you back from counting Him as all your wealth? As all your righteousness?
Sample prayer: Lord, You are more than everything else unto us. Only You are good, and You have given us Your own goodness in Christ. And You have rewarded that goodness with You Yourself as our treasure in heaven. Whom do we have in heaven but You, and there is nothing on earth we desire beside You, in Christ, AMEN!
Suggested songs: ARP73C “Yet Constantly, I Am With You” or TPH73C “In Sweet Communion, Lord, with Thee”