LECTURE XLVIII.

CHRIST QUESTIONED BY A YOUNG RICH MAN.

MATT. xix. 16-30.

17-30.

16. And behold, one came and said unto him, Good Mark x. master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal Luke xviii. life?

17. And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God.1 But if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.

18. He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness,

19. Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

This young man had heard the report of our Lord's fame as a teacher sent from God, and seems to have come not as others, "tempting him," but like Nicodemus, to ascertain his doctrine: to see, how it differed from that of the scribes and Pharisees and how that eternal life was to be attained, which Jesus was understood to make the foundation of all his precepts. What good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?

A point is gained, when men come to inquire about eternal life at all. It is often heard of and talked of, without exciting any inquiry.

This condemns the pompous titles which the Jews were accustomed to give to their teachers the Rabbies, and which these expected and delighted in.

18-30.

S

Jesus reminds him of the law in which the will of God was declared. (Lev. xviii. 4, 5.) "Ye shall do my judgments, and keep mine ordinances, to walk therein: I am the Lord your God. Ye shall therefore keep my statutes and my judgments, which if a man do, he shall live in them: I am the Lord." This law he was "not come to destroy, but to fulfil:" not to make void, but to establish. It is as true under the gospel as under the law, that whosoever "will enter into life, must keep the commandments." This indeed would be, in itself, a very incomplete statement, and would convey a very incorrect description of gospel truth. But Jesus saw fit to use it as the basis of his teaching on this occasion. We may often properly do the "The law is as a schoolmaster, to bring us

same.

unto Christ."

20. The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?

It may be, that in this answer, he did not mean to boast of entire obedience, but only to observe, that he had received these commandments as the law of his forefathers and his country; had been taught from his youth to keep them, to consider them as his guide and rule. If indeed he intended to assert that he had never offended against them by omission or transgression, he gave a proof how little he knew himself and his own infirmity. Had he been sincerely endeavouring to regulate his thoughts, words, and works, according to the pure and holy law of God, his answer would have beenAll these I have been taught to follow: and " I

delight in the law of God after the inward man : but I see another law in my members warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members." Who shall deliver me from the power of this corrupt nature? The gospel has its ready answer to such inquiries as these: "Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling for it is God

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which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure." "Sin shall not have dominion over you for ye are not under the law, but under grace." "

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This young man, however, complains of no difficulty, and experiences no distrust of himself: and on his question, what lack I yet?

21. Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.

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You have the knowledge which must be the foundation of all; you have been initiated into acquaintance with God and his will; you have "the shadow of good things to come:" if thou wilt be perfect, wilt be completely instructed in the ways of wisdom, there is more to learn than a short discourse can tell ;-nay, there is much which cannot be yet fully explained:-but give up your earthly possessions, make common cause with my

2 Rom. vii. 23.

' Rom. vi. 14.

Teleios, is explained by a similar usage, 1 Cor. ii. 6, and Phil. iii. 15. "We speak wisdom among them that are perfect." Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded.

disciples, and come and follow me, that you may have eternal life.

These very words, Follow me, were addressed to Matthew, "and he arose, and followed him." Had this inquirer done the same, he like Matthew would have belonged to Christ's earthly kingdom: unto him "it would have been given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God:" and he too like Matthew might have obtained a place in his heavenly kingdom: the sacrifice was not to be unrequited; thou shalt have treasure in heaven.

22. But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.

23. Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven.

24. And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.

25. When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved?

26. But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are pos

sible.

How many are the temptations attached to! riches, which prevent a man from "seeking first the kingdom of God!" Riches have the advan tages of this world; and dispose the heart to set its affections here, instead of looking beyond, to "an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled." Riches can purchase pleasure: and he "that liveth in pleasure is dead while he liveth." Riches lead to honours; and there is danger of "loving the praise

of men more than the praise of God." But all these natural difficulties are surmounted by the energy of divine grace. With God all things are possible. And, taught of him, the rich may learn so to employ their wealth and their influence, as to "lay up for themselves a good foundation against the time to come."

27. Then answered Peter, and said unto him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee: what shall we have therefore?

28. And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration' when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

29. And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundred-fold, and shall inherit everlasting life.

30. But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first.

The expressions here, are taken from earthly judgments and dignities. Those who, for Christ's sake and the gospel's, have forsaken what is now dear to them, shall hereafter have high honour, high dignity, in that "new heaven and new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness." As the promise is expressed elsewhere, "To him that overcometh, will I give to sit with me on my throne." Then they who now despise and persecute my followers, shall see the men whom they despised and persecuted, ho

5 In the renovation or restoration of all things; in "the new heaven and new earth" which shall be, when "the first heaven and the first earth are passed away."-See Revel. xxi. 1.