Jesus is not arguing against the description “Good Teacher,” but rather, He is confirming it.

2. The Gospel According to Mark part 22“What shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?”Mark 10:17-31

3. Jesus is not arguing against the description “Good Teacher,” but rather, He is confirming it. Jesus is really saying, “I am good, because I am God. Therefore, you are right to call me “Good.”

4. The Jewish people had always understood; and without dispute, that eternal life was predicated upon the perfect adherence to the Law.

5. All of these commands are concerned with the fair and ethical treatment of other people. The Jews had practiced finding loopholes in the way the treated each other, this is especially true of the leaders.

6. First, He looked at him. Jesus doesn’t turn away or look down to the ground as He delivers the news. No, He looks right at him. Second, Mark says, “He loved him.” The intention here is not just inform us that Jesus loved the young man, but that Jesus actually was demonstrating that in how He looked at the young ruler.

7. What could a rich young ruler lack, he has everything right? A person with great wealth often places their trust in those riches. So, what is it then, what is it the young man lacks? A heart for God!

8. The word perfect in the Greek is, “Teleios.” and it means “lackingnothing.” Jesus is making us an offer, leave the worldly treasure to the world, make Me, He says, the love of your heart, and I will reward you with treasure beyond measure in the world to come.

9. Too often, the things in our lives are who we are, they define us.

10. Right in the middle of this text Jesus reveals the Achilles heal, Trust! The rich tend to trust in their own abilities and the ability of wealth to solve all their problems.

11. In human terms, a camel cannot pass through a needle, rendering the assertion Jesus is making as, impossible. Of course, it is also true that apart from God’s grace and mercy no one can be saved.

12. God desires to be pre-imminent, not simply prominent. The perception is that those that have much have been blessed much by God, but Jesus clearly did not assert those sentiments.

13. Notice Jesus doesn’t say with rich men it is impossible,” He says “with men it is impossible.” Salvation does not come by men at all, but through Christalone.

14. The Lord was not then, and is not now, calling us to forsake all; but, to make Him pre-imminent in our hearts, and to allow that pre-imminence to play out in our lives, letting the HolySpirit do the great works which we were made for; before the foundations of the world were even laid.

15. Jesus uses the phrase “in this time” which is another way of saying “in this age.” This is understood to mean the age between His first coming and His second coming.

16. “But many who are first will be last, and the last first.” The first, are those who are esteemed by their position and wealth on earth, in this age. The last are those who dedicated their lives to His purposes for them, an earthly life punctuated by humility and servanthood.

17. “What shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?” Confess Him as our Lord Believe in Him as God Accept His gift of propitiation Submit our hearts to Him Obey His Word

18. Jesus said unless we become as little children, we cannot enter the kingdom of God. That is what we must do. Surrender to Him, trust in Him just as a child trusts in their parents.

19. We may not be promised much in this life monetarily speaking, but even here we are promised something more valuable, Peace and Joy! But, in the life after this, in the coming age, we have the promise of eternallife with our Lord.