Tag: Rich Young Ruler

Mat 19:16  And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?

This seems like a very important question and one that requires a serious answer. Our lord is approached and given an opportunity to resolve, once and for all, the all-important question that man should be asking. Forget John 3:16 for a moment. Here in Matthew 19 the Lord can put to rest, once and for all, the debate on whether or not eternal life is by faith or by works. Whether the Baptist are right concerning “Faith alone” or whether the Catholics are correct with keeping the commandments. And this opportunity is given by none other than a “rich young ruler”. Oh that many more would ask Jesus the same question! That people would take opportunities in this life to be concerned with their eternal state. Most are just concerned with their present life; on whether or not they should tear down their barns to build bigger.

The man who dared to ask Jesus the most important question.

We call him the Rich Young Ruler, and we do so by comparing both accounts of Matt and Luke. This is an example of comparing scripture with scripture.

1. He is a young man Matt.19:20
2. He is a ruler Luke 18:18
3. He is rich Matt.19:22,23

I will use the same concept of comparing various passages to show that the “Rich Young Ruler” unless he repented, will miss the 1000 yr Kingdom of God and will have his name blotted out of the book of life.

Jesus refers to the 1000 yr kingdom of God as “entering life”

Mat 19:17  And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.

 Whether or not the young man understood that eternal life was freely given to all that “called upon the Lord” makes no difference to us at this point. The Lord’s answer to him gives us the understanding of what God wants us to come away with. The fact that the young man was told; “but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments” suggests that this was not the initial salvation that accompanies belief apart and separate of works. The scripture is so clear on the topic of salvation from God’s eternal wrath. So clear, in fact, that this has to be a different salvation. A salvation that requires keeping commandments. If you don’t slow down and listen carefully to our Lord’s words, you will stumble and get tripped up.

 Jesus does indeed connect “life” with the 1000 year kingdom in verse 23,24. Verse 17 and 23 are parallel verses. You will find many instances, in the scripture, where the Spirit of God will teach a new concept by using two different phrases to state the same. You can exchange the two phrases and the concept is the same. Another example would be the word of God , truth and Jesus. These three titles are given throughout the Gospel of John and yet are the same; John 1:1,14,17;17:17.

Mat 19:23  Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven.  [Or enter life; verse 17]

Mat 19:24  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.

Here, not only is “entering in life” the same as the “kingdom of heaven”, but “kingdom of God” is referenced with “kingdom of heaven”.

This warning is not just directed at a Jewish man two thousand years ago; but unto New Testament believers as well. Paul warns rich believers against trusting in their riches 1Tim.6:17. (Those who trust in their riches cannot enter the kingdom of God).

Now concerning the “Lambs book of Life” and “The book of Life”[or Kingdom], lets look at a few passages.

We know there is more than 1 book at the final judgment.

Rev 20:12  And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.

Here is where you have to rightly divide the word using the context. It is true that in verse 12 the “Book of life” is mentioned instead of the “Lambs book of life”, but the context is referring to final judgment and Lake of Fire. And besides that in the very next Chapter 21, the saved that are written in the “Lamb’s book of life” walk the streets of New Jerusalem. Once again context is important.

Here are some other books that the Scripture mentions:

Psa_69:28  Let them be blotted out of the book of the living, and not be written with the righteous.

A book where all the living of the earth are written, possibly the moment they are conceived. David talked about his members being written down while God created him in the womb.

Ps 139:16  Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.

But yet, David talks about the wicked being removed from one book (possibly when they die) and not even written in the same book the righteous are written in.

Ps 69:28  Let them be blotted out of the book of the living, and not be written with the righteous.

Rev_13:8  And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

Rev_17:8  The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.  

The wicked are not written with the righteous. I believe the moment you believe in Christ as your Saviour, you are sealed with the Holy Spirit (Eph 1:13) and your name is written in the  “Lamb’s Book of Life” as well as the book of kingdom life.

Revelation 17 is the parallel verse to chapter 13 that explains in more detail the absence from the “book of life” from the beginning. This corresponds to Psalms 69:28..”Let them not be written with the righteous”.

Luk_10:20  Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.

All Christians are written down in at least three books, and possibly more. The three that the scripture makes a point to emphasis are; the “book of the living” which is a book that all people are in;Psa_69:28, Psa_139:16; The Lambs book of life, or just “book of life”; Rev 21:27; and then there is the “book of the First Born” Which I take to be the “book of life[kingdom]” (Remember that the Kingdom of God is called life in Matt 19:17). There is also a “book of remembrance” wherein those that fear God and think upon him are written; Malachi 3:16.

The “First Born” in scripture were those of the household who would receive a double portion of the inheritance from the father. The firstborn can be disinherited if he provoked the father who gave the blessing. Esau is an example of the firstborn losing his blessing because of sin.

Heb 12:16  Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright.

Heb 12:17  For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.

Php_4:3  And I intreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellowlabourers, whose names are in the book of life.

Paul could either be referring to the “Lambs book of life” or the kingdom “Book of life”. In the context, these people that Paul mentioned were fellow laborers in the ministry.

Rev_3:5  He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.

Eight times Jesus, glorified in heaven, mentions “overcoming” for the Christians and the possibility of not overcoming.

One who overcomes this world’s system by the Spirit of God can only do so by the word of God.

1Jn_2:14  I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one.

1Jn 2:15  Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

1Jn 2:16  For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

1Jn 2:17  And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever

The Rich young ruler didn’t overcome the world with its lust of the eyes. He walked away from the very One who cared for his soul. Therefore he was in danger of missing the kingdom and having his name removed from the list of the Firstborn written in heaven.