Matthew 19:16-26 – THE MAN WHO MADE THE WRONG DECISION
We all have made wrong decisions. (Give your own examples of wrong decisions which you or people you know have made.) Of course, the worst decision anyone can make is not trusting Christ as Savior. The man in our text was a rich man who made the wrong decision concerning Christ.
CONCERN LED THE MAN TO JESUS – Vss. 16
He was evidently under conviction concerning his soul. He wanted to know how to have eternal life.
COMMANDMENT KEEPING DID NOT BRING SATISFACTION – Vss. 17-20
Jesus told him to keep the commandments. Jesus knew that the man could not keep the commandments perfectly, but wanted the man to realize that he couldn’t keep them. The man answered that he had always kept the commandments, but realized that he still was lacking.
THE CHALLENGE TO CHOSE JESUS INSTEAD OF MONEY WAS TOO GREAT – Vss 21-22
Jesus realized that the man’s sin was love of money. He simply told the man to sell all that he had and to follow Him. This does not mean that every person has to surrender their wealth in order to be saved. This man would not believe on Jesus as Savior until he gave up his wealth. Evidently, his wealth was his God! The man left, choosing his wealth instead of Jesus. He was sorrowful, but not sorrowful enough to repent and trust Christ.
JESUS’ COMMENTARY SHOWS SALVATION TO BE THE WORK OF GOD – Vss. 23-26
Jesus explained how difficult it is for a rich man to be saved.
This amazed the disciples because they probably felt that the rich had special favor from God.
According to their thinking, if the rich could not be easily saved, who could be saved at all?
Jesus explains that salvation is impossible with man, but possible with God.