Now as He was going out on the road, one [*a certain ruler] came running, knelt before Him, and asked Him, “Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?” So Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. (Mark 10:17-18; *Luke 18:18-19; Matthew 19:16-17)
Only One is good, that is, God! The original Greek word translated "good" means intrinsic, belonging naturally, belonging to the essential nature or constitution of a thing. God is naturally Good! He is the only One Who ever has been or ever will be naturally Good. O Lord,... You are good, and do good; Teach me Your statutes. (Psalm 119:68) Previously Jesus had been called Rabbi, meaning a teacher of Jewish law, by His disciples; and at that time He responded by saying, "But you, do not be called ‘Rabbi’; for One is your Teacher, the Christ, and you are all brethren." (Matthew 23:8; see THE GOSPEL: One Teacher, Many Ministers) One of the disciples, Nathanael confirmed that by saying, “Rabbi, You are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” (John 1:49) Therefore, Christ Jesus is The Good Teacher! For He whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God does not give the Spirit by measure. (John 3:34)
So, this certain ruler came to Jesus to ask Him a question, "...what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?” But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.” He said to Him, “Which ones?” (Matthew 19:17-18) You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery,’ ‘Do not murder,’ ‘Do not steal,’ ‘Do not bear false witness,’ ‘Do not defraud,’ ‘Honor your father and your mother.’” And he answered and said to Him, “Teacher, all these things I have kept from my youth.” (Mark 10:19-20; Luke 18:20-21; Matthew 19:18-20) What do I still lack?” (Matthew 19:20; see Christ Fulfills the Commandments)
Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “One thing you lack: [*If you want to be perfect] Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me.” But he was sad at this word, and went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. (Mark 10:21-22; *Matthew 19:21-22; Luke 18:22) But when he heard this, he became very sorrowful, for he was very rich. (Luke 18:23; see THE GOSPEL: Importance of the Commandments) Jesus got to the heart of this man's problem, which is the same problem for many of us. We agree with certain parts of God's Word, but we don't agree with all of it. It's easy to follow and obey some of God's instructions, but not all.
We want to treat the Word of God like a buffet, pick and choose what we want, but ...whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all. (James 2:8-10) The man, just like many of us had no problem obeying the "horizontal" relationship of the law, "And the second [commandment] is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ [Leviticus 19:18] (Matthew 22:39) His, and many of us have the same problem, obeying the "vertical" relationship of the law, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ [Deuteronomy 6:5] This is the first and great commandment." (Matthew 22:37-38; see Only Two Commandments, Two Rules)
Understand, God does not have a problem with us having great possessions or being very rich. “And you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth,..." (Deuteronomy 8:18) The problem is many people who achieve wealth become obsessed with attaining more, and God no longer becomes important or even a consideration, but their possessions become their god. And God spoke all these words, saying: “I am the Lord your God, ... “You shall have no other gods before Me.(Exodus 20:1-3) For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. (I Timothy 6:10)
Notice, the rich ruler came asking, “Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?” The answer in summary was and still is, "Observe and obey all these words which I command you, that it may go well with you and your children after you forever, when you do what is good and right in the sight of the Lord your God." (Deuteronomy 12:28) This lead the rich ruler to become sad at this word, and went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. Why is this his and many of our response to The Word of God? Jesus will explain in the next lesson...
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