Conversations: Jesus and … the rich young man
(Matthew 19:16–26; Mark 10:17–31; Luke 18:18–30)
A rich man approaches Jesus.
What is this conversation teaching us about Jesus and the Kingdom of God for our own lives?
For this study, I recommend you elect three Bible readers from your group, one for each gospel version.
Read Matthew 19:13–15; Mark 10:13–16; Luke 18:15–17
Does the same story precede the story of the rich young man in each Gospel?
Who does Jesus say people need to be like, in order to enter the kingdom of God?
Can you describe what is meant by child-like faith?
Does this teaching of Jesus confuse you or does it give you comfort?
Immediately after, Jesus teaches that nothing but child-like faith is required to enter the kingdom of God. A rich man approaches him to ask how to inherit eternal life.
Read Matthew 19:16; Mark 10:17; Luke 18:18
Is ‘entering the kingdom of God’ and ‘inheriting eternal life’ the same thing?
Do you notice subtle differences in the way the man is described in each gospel account?
What sort of picture are you getting of the man approaching Jesus and how does he compare to the small child in the preceding story?
Read Matthew 19:17–21; Mark 10:18–21; Luke 18:19–22
What differences and similarities do you notice between the different accounts?
Thinking about your own life, how would you go with the check list that Jesus gives to the rich man?
Can you tick any of them off as “kept since you were a young girl”?
Do you think it is achievable to keep all of these commandments?
Do you think the rich man is right in saying he has kept them all since his youth?
Jesus is using the conversation with the rich man to teach that, however hard we try, we cannot possibly in our own strength fulfil everything that God requires of us. Instead, we are asked to surrender to God and his grace in child-like faith. Only by acknowledging that we cannot achieve the perfect life in our own strength, can we look to God to give us what we need from him as a free (and undeserved) gift. But the rich man in the story cannot comprehend grace, or full reliance on God, and when faced with the reality that he cannot earn eternal life by his own doing, he gives up.
Read Matthew 19:22–25; Mark 10:22–26; Luke 18:23–26
Do you agree that it is much harder for wealthy people to put their faith in Jesus than for the poor? Why?
What is the standard of poverty/wealth? Do you consider yourself poor or wealthy?
Read Matthew 19:26–30; Mark 10:27–31; Luke 18:27–30
What is meant by “the last shall be first, and the first, last”?
Do you have an example of the “divine compensation” Jesus mentions (whereby if people have lost home, property or loved ones for the sake of the gospel, these things will come into their lives by other means)?
The conversation between Jesus and the rich man teaches us that relying on God for all things and not leaning on our own achievements is core to our Christian faith. It can be hard for us to accept grace as a free gift from God, but instead of sadly walking away from Jesus like the rich man, all we need to do is to admit our shortcomings and commit ourselves to God empty-handed.
Let us pray with Martin Luther:
Lord, you have redeemed me, a lost and condemned creature, purchased and delivered me from all sins, from death, and from the power of the devil, not with gold or silver, but with your holy, precious blood and with your innocent suffering and death, in order that I may be wholly your own, and live under you in your kingdom. Help me to put my trust in you today and every day and bring me to eternal life with you. Amen.
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