Eternal Life, What Must I do?

INTRODUCTION: The story of the rich young ruler was an amazing incident in the life of Jesus Christ. Perhaps the most remarkable part concerned the answers Jesus provided to this young man. Jesus wasted no time with being overtly gentle but pressed straight on to the heart of the issue.

There are three accounts of this interaction given in Matthew 19, Mark 10 and Luke 18. These parallel accounts are some of the most misinterpreted and in some cases damnable errors in Bible interpretation. The key to this scripture is CONTEXT…what is the CONTEXT of this passage? (Answer: Trusting in something for salvation.)

I. WHAT HE REQUESTED (Matthew 19:16; Mark 10:17; Luke 18:18)

REQUEST: What shall I do that I may inherit eternal life? First let’s consider this man who came to Jesus.

A. His Identity

1. A certain ruler (Luke 18:18)
2. A young man (Matthew 19:20)
3. A very rich man (Mark 10:22; Matthew 19:22; Luke 18:23)

B. His Approach to Christ (Mark 10:17)

1. He ran to Christ.
2. He kneeled to Christ.

C. His Address to Christ (Mark 10:17)

1. The title – Master, has the idea of teacher
2. The description – Good Master, though others identified Christ as Master, only the rich young ruler used the phrase “Good Master.”

D. His Inquiry of Christ (Mark 10:17)

1. What “good thing” shall I do? (Matthew 19:16);
   compare Acts 16:30-31. “What must I do to be saved?”

2. A certain lawyer asked, “What shall I do that I may inherit eternal life (see Luke 10:25-29)? Jesus asked him what was written in the law.

3. Note: The man’s question implied, “What good deeds can I do to get eternal life?” Christ answered THAT question.