TheParableofTheRichMan

AccordingtoMatthew
Matt.19:1624

Theparableoftherichmandemonstratesclearlythatwearenottoputanymaterialthingsor
thingsofthisworldbeforeourdutytoHIM.AsChristianswehaveanobligationadutyto
performforGodthatisthedealwemadewhenwegotsaved.WeagreedtofollowHim,love
oneanother,obeythecommandmentsofthelaw,andtellothersaboutHim.
AveryrichmancametoJesuswantingtoknowwhatgoodthinghecoulddothatwould
securehimeternallife.
And,behold,onecameandsaiduntohim,GoodMaster,whatgoodthingshallIdo,
thatImayhaveeternallife?Matt.19:16

NoOneisGoodexceptGod
JesustellstherichmanthatnoonepersonisgoodexceptGodandtellstherichmanifhe
wantstohaveeternallifehemustkeeptheLord'scommandments.
Andhesaiduntohim."Whycallestthoumegood?thereisnonegoodbutone,thatis
God:butifthouwiltenterintolife,keepthecommandments."Matt.19:17

WhichCommandment'stoKeep?
TherichmanaskedJesuswhichcommandmentsheneededtokeepandJesusstarted
namingthecommandmentstotherichman.Itisinterestingtonotewhichcommandments
JesusnamedDonotmurder,donotcommitadultery,donotsteal,donotlie,honoryour
fatherandmotherandloveyourneighborasyourself.Ifyougivethisamomentsthoughtyou
wouldrealizethatifpeopleonlykeptthesecommandmentstherewouldbenocrimeinthe
world.
Hesaithuntohim,Which?Jesussaid,"Thoushaltdonomurder,Thoushaltnot
commitadultery,Thoushaltnotsteal,Thoushaltnotbearfalsewitness,Matt.19:18

Honourthyfatherandthymother:and,Thoushaltlovethyneighbourasthyself."Matt.
19:19

CreatedbyRev.PennyDean.(01/5/2015)forLovetheLordFirstMinistries.

Thatisnottosaytherewouldbenosinintheworldbecausepeoplecansin,notonlywith
youractionsbutwithyourthoughtstoo.ItisforthisreasonwemustlearnGodsword,fillour
headsandourheartswiththoughtsofHimsothatwehavelittleornoroomforevilthoughts
thatleadtoevilactions.Thereismuchmoretobeingsavedthansimplyfollowingtherules,
wemustgiveupalltoserveChrist.

KeepingtheCommandmentsandWhatElse?
TheyoungrichmanassuredJesusthathedidobeythecommandmentseversincehewasa
smallchildbuthewantstoknowwhatelseheneedstodo.
Theyoungmansaithuntohim,AllthesethingshaveIkeptfrommyyouthup:what
lackIyet?Matt.19:20

Jesustoldtheman,"GiveYourRichestothePoor&followME"
JesustoldtheyoungrichmantogiveeverythinghehadtothepoorandfollowHimandthe
youngmanwouldhavetreasuresinHeaven.Whenwegetsavedorhavebeensavedwe
havetogiveupthethingsofthisworld,givethemtoGod,andletHimshowuswhatHewants
ustodo.
Jesussaiduntohim,"Ifthouwiltbeperfect,goandsellthatthouhast,andgivetothe
poor,andthoushalthavetreasureinheaven:andcomeandfollowme."Matt.19:21

TheRichmandidn'twanttogiveawayallthathehad
TheyoungrichmanheardwhatJesussaidandwentawaysadbecausehedidnotwantto
giveawayhisworldlypossessions.Therichmanactuallychosehisearthlypossessions
aboveeternallife.Hecouldnotpartwiththematerialthingsofthisworldtohaveeternallife
withChrist.Whatasadchoicehemadebecausehemaythinkheishappywithallthathehas
rightnowbutwhenChristreturnsthatmanwillnotenterthekingdomofGod.
Butwhentheyoungmanheardthatsaying,hewentawaysorrowful:forhehadgreat
possessions.Matt.19:22

Decidingwhatisimportantinyourlife
Peoplewhohavemuchmaterialpossessionsarelesslikelytogivethemupthanapoor
personwhohasnothing.Iftherichwouldhelpthepoortherewouldbelesspovertyinthe
world.IftheywouldusetheirmoneytodoGodswill,lesspeoplewouldsuffer.Peopletalk
CreatedbyRev.PennyDean.(01/5/2015)forLovetheLordFirstMinistries.

aboutpeoplesufferinginfarawaycountriesbuttherearepeoplesufferinghereintheU.S.
everysingleday.Theelderly,disabled,children,widows,goingwithoutfood,utilities,housing
orclothingwhilethericharebusygoingtonicedinners,fancyplaces,andshoppingformore
materialthingsratherthanseekingoutthoseinneed,findingpeopleandplacesthathelp
peopleandhelpingthem.ThericharenotfocusingonwhatGodwantstheyfocusonwhat
theywant.JesussaidifyouputmaterialthingsbeforeHIMyouwillNOTenterthekingdomof
heaven.

Easierforacameltogothroughtheeyeofaneedlethanitisforarichmantogetinto
thekingdomofGod
Therichmanchosetokeephisworldlyrichesratherthanhistreasuresinheavenwhich
meanshewasnotputtingtheLordfirstinhislife.WhenyouputtheLordfirstinyourlife,the
materialpossessionsofthisworldnolongerareofimportance.Wearetogiveupthethingsof
thisworldtofollowJesus.
ThensaidJesusuntohisdisciples,"VerilyIsayuntoyou.Thatarichmanshallhardly
enterintothekingdomofheaven."Matt.19:23

"AndagainIsayuntoyouitiseasierforacameltogothroughtheeyeofaneedle
thanforarichmantoenterintothekingdomofGod."Matt.19:24

ThereisnooneandnothinginthisworldthatshouldtakeprecedenceoverJesusChrist.Ifthe
thingsofthisworldaremoreimportanttoyou,takingupallyourthoughtsandtime,rather
thanpraying,readingthebible,visitingthesickandimprisoned,takingcareofothers,loving
eachother,andgoingtoheaventobewithJesus,thenyouneedtorethinkyourprioritiesif
youplantoenterthekingdomofGod.

CreatedbyRev.PennyDean.(01/5/2015)forLovetheLordFirstMinistries.