Thy Strong Word — Matthew 19:16-30. Unbelievable mercy to unbelievable sinners: What must I do to be saved?

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Rev. Dr. Gerard Bolling, pastor of Bethlehem Lutheran Church in St. Louis, MO and Assistant Professor of Leadership and Theology at Concordia University-Texas in Austin, TX, joins Rev. Brady Finnern to study Matthew 19:16-30.

The rich young man asks Jesus, “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus patiently teaches the young man concerning salvation from a good God and our idolatry. The rubber hits the road when Jesus hits him where it hurts—weath. Wealth accumulation leads the sinner to ask, “When is enough—enough?” Jesus not only shows the failings of idolatry, but the source of all that is good. Salvation is not from our source, salvation comes solely from Christ’s cross. His call to follow Him is a reminder that we are to look outside ourselves to our God who is faithful in all things. “O Lord, help us to look to Your Son as our source of everything. Teach us, O Savior, to drop our idols, knowing that we can not find our hope in them, but our hope is that You bring us closer to You for our hope and salvation. In Christ, Amen”

Thy Strong Word reveals the light of our salvation in Christ through study of God’s Word, breaking our darkness with His redeeming light. Each weekday, two pastors fix our eyes on Jesus by considering Holy Scripture, verse by verse, in order to be strengthened in the Word and be equipped to faithfully serve in our daily vocations.

Thy Strong Word is hosted by Rev. Brady Finnern, pastor of Messiah Lutheran Church in Sartell, MN, and graciously underwritten by the Lutheran Heritage Foundation.

Matthew 19:16-30

The Rich Young Man

16 And behold, a man came up to him, saying, “Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?” 17 And he said to him, “Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. If you would enter life, keep the commandments.” 18 He said to him, “Which ones?” And Jesus said, “You shall not murder, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness, 19 Honor your father and mother, and, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 20 The young man said to him, “All these I have kept. What do I still lack?” 21 Jesus said to him, “If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” 22 When the young man heard this he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.

23 And Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly, I say to you, only with difficulty will a rich person enter the kingdom of heaven. 24 Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” 25 When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished, saying, “Who then can be saved?” 26 But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” 27 Then Peter said in reply, “See, we have left everything and followed you. What then will we have?” 28 Jesus said to them, “Truly, I say to you, in the new world,[a] when the Son of Man will sit on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for my name’s sake, will receive a hundredfold[b] and will inherit eternal life. 30 But many who are first will be last, and the last first.

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Footnotes

Matthew 19:28 Greek in the regeneration

Matthew 19:29 Some manuscripts manifold

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. esv.org