Bible Stories for Adults

Jesus Talks with a Rich Young Man

Matthew 19:17-31; Mark 10:17-31; Luke 18:18-30

Next Week - The Parable of the Foolish Rich Man (Luke 12:13-34)
Bible Words to Remember:
It is easier for a camel to to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God. ... With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God. Mark 10:25, 27

How does today's story begin?
Matthew 19:16
What else does Matthew tell us about this man?
Matthew 19:22
What else do we learn about this man from Luke?
Luke 18:18

What was this man's concern?
Mark 10:17
How sincere was his concern?
Mark 10:17
How did the man show his respect and belief that Jesus had God's truth on this matter?
Mark 10:17
Greek for good is agathos - means intrinsic goodness (vs. kalos meaning externally pleasing)

What was wrong about the man's question of what he should do to get eternal life?
Ephesians 2:8-9
EBC: Many Jews believed that a specific act of goodness could win eternal life
What lesson had Jesus just taught that should have made this clear?
Mark 10:13-15
How does Jesus begin to point out the error in the man's understanding?
Mark 10:18
Jesus was also giving the man an opportunity to recognize Him as the holy Son of God

Did the Jews understand the perfect goodness of God?
Psalm 106:1
What level of goodness does God require?
Matthew 5:48
How likely are we to be able to meet these requirements?
Romans 3:10-12, 23
So what is the purpose of God's Law if we cannot follow it to earn our way into heaven?
Romans 3:20-22

What did the Old Testament teach about what is needed for eternal life?
Deuteronomy 30:15-16
How did the Jews summarize the many commands, decrees and laws?
Deuteronomy 5:7, 11-12, 16-21
How are the first three commandments even further summarized?
Deuteronomy 6:5
How are the remaining seven commandments summarized?
Leviticus 19:18b
Did the Jews recognize these as valid summaries of the two tables of the Ten Commandments?
Luke 10:25-28

How did Jesus try to help the man start to see the futility of looking to deeds for eternal life?
Mark 10:19
How does Matthew, writing to Jews, point out that Jesus was referring to the Second Table?
Matthew 19:17-19
Why does Jesus begin by having the man reflect on the Second Table of the Ten Commandments?
Philippians 3:4a-6

How did the man feel about how he measured up to this list?
Mark 10:20
Why did he qualify his statement by saying he had obeyed since he was a boy?
Luke 2:42
Although most Jews said they obeyed these commands, what kept them from true obedience?
Matthew 5:21-22a, 27-28

How did Jesus show the man that his external obedience to God's commands was inadequate?
Luke 18:22
How was this pointing the man to evaluate his internal obedience to the First Table?
Luke 16:13
Which commandment would the man be breaking if he had trouble with Jesus' instruction?
Deuteronomy 5:7

Why did Jesus pick this test to help the man see his inability to save himself through works?
1 Timothy 6:10
This was a difficult request. Did Jesus make it to make an example and put this man in his place?
Mark 10:21

Did the man recognize his sin and inability to save himself?
Luke 18:23
Did he take this opportunity to confess his sin and turn to Jesus for salvation?
Mark 10:22
How did the man's response to Jesus' guidance fit within Jesus' parable of the sower?
Mark 4:14, 18-19
What had Jesus described earlier was required for someone to receive eternal life?
Mark 8:34-37

What rich man did Jesus encounter soon afterwards who had a similar opportunity?
Luke 19:1-7
How did Zacchaeus respond to his choice between God and money?
Luke 19:8
Did Jesus recognize his response of faith?
Luke 19:9-10

How did Jesus response to the man's reluctance to turn his devotion from his wealth to God?
Mark 10:23
How did the disciples respond to what they had seen and what Jesus had said?
Mark 10:24a
Why were the disciples amazed at His words?
Job 1:10
Did Jesus mean that those who are not rich won't have this problem of money before God?
Mark 10:24b

How did Jesus go on to explain that it is impossible for someone who trusts in riches to be saved?
Mark 10:25
"Eye of the Needle" Gate added to Jerusalem in medieval times just too small for a camel
Did the disciples understand the impossibility that Jesus was trying to convey?
Mark 10:26
D. Pentecost: If the rich whom God loved and blessed and with whom He was pleased could not enter the kingdom, what chance was there for the multitudes?
How did the disciples' question help lead them to the whole point Jesus was trying to make?
Mark 10:27

Did the often slow-to-learn disciples catch what Jesus was saying?
Mark 10:28
Was Peter bragging and claiming they had done better than the rich man?
Matthew 19:27
What had Peter meant by saying that they had left everything to follow Jesus?
Matthew 4:18-22
Matthew 9:9
How had Jesus earlier taught these disciples a stronger lesson in trusting in Him and the Father?
Mark 3:7-10

Would there be any special reward for the apostles who had left all to follow Jesus?
Matthew 19:28
Did John get a glimpse of this in the revelation he was given of the end times?
Revelation 20:4
Did Jesus only offer rewards in His kingdom to the apostles?
Matthew 19:29

Is Jesus saying that we are to neglect or desert our families in order to receive eternal life?
Matthew 10:37-39
How are we to deal with non-Christian family members who threaten our relationship with Christ?
Matthew 10:34-36
How did Luke word the seriousness of putting Jesus before even the members of our family?
Luke 14:26

Besides putting Jesus before our own family, what else does Mark include as a cost of discipleship?
Mark 10:29-30
How was this leading the disciples to better understand what Jesus was next going to tell them?
Mark 10:32-34
What is our promise as we are persecuted for His sake?
Romans 8:17