The Book of Mark
The Blasphemy of the Rich Young Ruler
Mark 10:17-22
As pastors and church leaders, we hear a lot about seekers. We are told if we’re going to reach people we need to be seeker-friendly and seeker sensitive. The assumption is the world is full of seekers and we just need to find out the best way to appeal to them and then they’ll find what it is they’re seeking.
The truth is the world is full of seekers. They’re seeking fulfillment and purpose and love and happiness. But are they seeking God? Not really. In fact, the Bible says in Romans 3 that “No man seeks after God.”
So if they are “seeking”, I think it better to classify them as “selfish seekers”. They want a better life and happiness and all the stuff and if you throw in heaven, all the better. But the kicker is they want to come on their own terms. If you mention denying self or the cost of discipleship, the seekers are suddenly seeking something else.
And perhaps the most shallow of all the seekers is the religious seekers. On the outside, and even by their own confession, they may appear to really be pursuing the things of God. But if the truth were known, that’s really not the case.
As an example, look at what we read in
Mark 10:17-22
Now keep in mind this is an actual encounter. This is not a parable. This is not a story that Jesus invented to make a point. This is a real encounter between Jesus and this man and it is recorded by Matthew, Mark and Luke because it deals with such an absolutely critical issue for us to understand.
And the lesson is Jesus did not accommodate selfish seekers. After all, didn’t Jesus say it is a narrow gate and few find it? It is a great struggle and few win it. It is a costly choice and few pay it.
Here we learn from the life of our Lord the reality of how to deal with a selfish shallow seeker who in this case is extremely religious. And the central point of this encounter is that proud, selfish people, no matter how much they may say they want eternal life, are not prepared to receive it. This young man failed the greatest test of his life. I had a professor in college who referred to him as the student who got got an “A” on his report card, but failed the course.
The bottom line is, he wanted eternal life but not enough to give up his pride and his possessions. That’s the bottom line. And notice, he never questioned what Jesus said. He didn’t even argue or try to defend himself. He just walked away.
Now the issue here is salvation. And ulike what we often experience, this man comes to Jesus asking about how to obtain it. You talk about a seeker! This man is it!
I’m pretty sure he would have prayed a prayer if Jesus had given him one to pray. I’m sure he would have made a decision if Jesus had given him a decision to make.
I’m pretty sure he would have agreed to some terms if Jesus had given him some agreeable terms. But Jesus never gave him a prayer, never asked him to make a decision, never called for a commitment.
I mean, all Jesus has to do is reel him in.
But instead, he leaves just like he came. I guess we don’t want Jesus teaching the evangelism courses at our church! I mean, if you can’t get this man, then you must be a terrible soul winner, right?
So did Jesus fail? Did Jesus miss the opportunity that was right there in front of Him? Or is it perhaps that we need to take some pointers from Jesus when it comes to evangelism?
Let’s look at the story and see what we discover.
First, I notice there is much to commend about this young man.
First of all, he came running. That’s pretty remarkable. Typically people of status don’t run anywhere. When was the last time you saw the queen ofo England running? It just doesn’t happen.
That was certainly true of the first century Middle Eastern culture. That would be crude, and there certainly wouldn’t be any reason to run to this rejected Galilean teacher named Jesus whom the religious establishment had wholesale rejected and sought to kill.
And if you are going to approach Him, then do the way Nicodemus did. Sneak up to Him at night and lay low. But never run to Him in broad daylight.
But that’s exactly what this guy does. And we would find that very commendable.
It’s also commendable that he comes with the right attitude. He not only ran up to Him, but knelt before Him. Again this is a man who is elevated and exalted in his religious society, and yet he assumes the posture of one who is humble.
And I think it is commendable that he addresses Jesus the way he does. Notice what he says?
“Good teacher.” In his estimation, Jesus is not only a legitimate teacher, but a good teacher” and the word he uses for “good” means virtuous. He recognizes Jesus to be morally right and sincere. He doesn’t just lokk good; He is good.
Now here is a man who is commendable. He comes eagerly. He comes humbly. There’s a great sense of urgency. “Good teacher, what shall I do?” He comes respectfully. What shall I do? There’s some pathos in that. He’s feeling the pain of doubt. In fact, Matthew tells us he is feeling some sense of emptiness. He said, “What am I lacking? There’s a hole in my life.”
That hole could be described as unsatisfied desire, unfulfilled longing, or just plain fear. He is afraid that he doesn’t have a relationship with God that could be defined as eternal life.
And when you look at that, you say, “Everything is in the right place here.”
So what’s the problem? I think the problem reveals itself in one word found in verse 17 and it’s the word “good”.
If there is any word that the world doesn’t understand, it’s that word “good”. Stop anybody on the street and say, “Are you a good person?” What are they going to say? Of course I’m a good person.
But that’s the problem. Everything is fine on the outside, but there’s a hole on the inside. And the problem with this young man is found in how casually he uses the word “good” to describe Jesus.
He doesn’t know that Jesus is God, there’s no indication of that. He just knows He’s a teacher and by virtue of what He has taught and what He has done, and the reputation of Jesus, he’s convinced like everybody else was that He was a teacher sent from God, and therefore good must apply to him.
Now remember, in his estimation, he’s good also. And everybody thought he was good and everybody he associated with was good. And the whole synagogue crowd was good and everybody was good. And he thinks he’s commending Jesus by using that word for Him.
But that’s the problem. Everybody ain’t good and when you come to understand that that word is the problem, then you begin to understand Jesus’ answer. “Good teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”
So how would you answer that question if somebody came running up to you and asked how to receive eternal life? Chances are we would immediately present the plan of salvation and instruct them to profess their faith in Jesus.
And I would say that is an appropriate thing to do.
There are lots of places in Scripture that lead us to do that. In John 6:28 Jesus was asked, “What shall we do so that we may work the works of God?” They’re asking the same question this young ruler is asking. How do we receive salvation? TO them, Jesus said, “Here’s what you do. Believe in Him whom He has sent.”
That’s the way we would normally answer the question. What do we do to receive eternal life? Believe in Jesus.
That’s exactly what we find in Acts 16 when Paul is asked by the Philippian jailer what he must do to be saved. Paul said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus.” That’s the normal, expected answer. But that’s how Jesus responds in this instance.
In the other cases, the essential ingredient is faith. And what is necessary to be saved is to put your faith in Jesus, hence we read about believing.
But here the emphasis is on repentance. And with the young ruler, we kind of have the gospel message hanging over the situation, but it never really makes an appearance. You can feel it because you know it. But Jesus never says it. Not one word is ever said about faith or believing.
Instead, notice the way the Lord responds.
Verse 18
So why is that the primary word this guy uses when he talks to Jesus? I think there is an indication ofo his opinion, not of Jesus, but of himself.
“Good” was the word he used to describe himself and most of the people in his world. And Jesus redefines that word with the next statement. “No one is good except God alone.”
That means being “good” is a non-issue when it comes to salvation and the kingdom of God. “Good” is an absolute term. There are no degrees of goodness.. There are degrees of badness. You may not be as bad as everybody else. I’m not as bad as everybody else. But nobody is good because only God is good.
So Jesus meets this guy right at the greatest point of need. He didn’t need to talk about faith; he needed to deal with how bad he was. There is agreat lesson in that for potential soul winners.
Before we talk to anybody about the gospel and salvation or the Kingdom and eternal life, people must understand that they are not good. That takes all the works out of it. This man had no idea what he was talking about when he talked about goodness because his definition came out of his own experiences and expectations.
That’s why he compared Jesus with himself and concluded Jesus was “good”. But if he really understood the Old Testament, he should have known the Psalms say, “There is none righteous, no not one.” There is none who is good.” “There is none who seeks after God.”
We’re familiar with that because of the writing of Paul to the Romans. But Paul was familiar with it because fo the writing of the Psalms.
And he just borrowed from Psalm 14, Psalm 53, Psalm 5, Psalm 140, Psalm 10, Psalm 36 and even throws in a verse from Isaiah 59.
When the Bible talks about goodness, it’s talking about being perfect as God is perfect. That means good requires perfect righteousness, perfect holiness, absolute goodness. And the law was given to reveal that nobody measures up. Or as Jesus said, “Nobody’s good but God.”
And the rich young ruler totally missed that. He is sure that he is good. He has met the Law’s demands. And since Jesus is a teacher from God, He’s good also.
And that is the attitude that sends people to hell. Convinced they are good, they will never believe they are wicked and sinful. They didn’t believe it then and they don’t believe it today. So they go to hell believing they’re good. And until they believe they’re not, there’s no hope for them.
So was this man good? Well, let’s find out. That is Jesus agenda. This guy shows up throwing around the word “good”, so let’s find out about goodness.
Since no one is good except God, Jesus gives a test to determine if this man measures up.
Verse 19
Notice all of those except one come from the seond section of the Ten Commandments which deals with relationships with humans. The first section is about our relationship with God.
So Jesus says, first of all, let’s look at the second half and see how you’re doing. And his response is found in
verse 20
So what we find is he looked good on the outside.
He’s “good” because he’s always kept that second table of the Law.
But now we know this man is living in a delusion. He understands the letter of the Law but not the intent of the Law. The Law goes much deeper than the surface. That’s why Jesus, in the Sermon on the Mount, said, “You have heard it said, you’ve been taught, but I say to you...”
And He said it over and over and over and over. You’ve been taught that if you don’t murder, you’re fine. I ‘m telling you, if you hate someone, you’re a murderer in your heart. You’ve been taught if you don’t commit adultery, you’re okay. But I’m telling you, if you look on a woman to lust after her in your heart, you’ve committed adultery.
This man didn’t understand the intent of the Law. If he understood that, then he would have known that he was a lawbreaker when it came to the second half of the list.
In all honesty, he had broken those laws that day because no sinner can live without impure thoughts. He shattered that law that day with his attitude toward others or with pride or some other ungodly attitude.
But that wasn’t all. He was not only guilty of the second half, he was guilty of the first also.
Remember, the half of the Law is alla bout our relationship with God. You shall have no other gods before Me, make no idols, don’t take My name in vain, and remember the Sabbath to keep it holy.
Now I’m sure he was worshiping God. He probably didn’t take God’s name in vain. He must have observed the Sabbath. And he certainly put God first in his life.
Oh really? Watch what happens when Jesus takes him to the very foundation of the Law which says “You shall have no other gods before Me.”
Verse 21
If you want to prove you are a Law keeper, then prove it by getting rid of your idol of possessions and give me your exclusive, comprehensive worship. See, this man worships another God. He had an idol. He didn’t love the Lord his God with all his heart, soul and mind.
And that made him a blaspheming idolater. Every time he opened his mouth, he took the Lord’s name in vain. Every time he showed up on a Sabbath, he violated that Sabbath as a hypocrite.
Earthly wealth was his God. That’s why Jesus never mentioned the gospel to him because you can’t get to the gospel, the good news, until someone accepts the bad news of being a sinner.
How do you tell a highly respected, revered, honored, religious man who sees his prosperity as the blessing of a God that he is a regular violator of the whole Law of God from the top to the bottom who worships himself?
You do it like Jesus did it here in our text. He challenged him with the demands of the Law and his need to be saved from his sin.
All he had to do was acknowledge his sin and he could have been saved. Instead,
verse 22
He is forever recorded in Scripture as a selfish seeker, deceived about his own goodness.
And unfortunately, he is not alone on the road to hell.
Let’s pray.
