What do I do to enter the Kingdom
hungry4grace (#37)
114 Plays

Young rich ruler

We all heard about this young rich ruler, and this account is recorded in all the three Synoptic gospels, I.e. Matthew 19, Mark 10 and Luke 18. It's a shocking message, even to the disciples! The bible recorded their responses as marveled, amazed, shocked! Why? They are asking, "Who then, can enter the heavenly kingdom?"

Why you call me good?

The story starts when that young ruler called Jesus "good", and Jesus said there is only one that is "good", then Jesus explain what "good" really means! By just keeping the commandments does not make us good. Good is not the conformation from outside, but the transformation from the inside.

Inner Life

As we continue to gaze upon Jesus, we are transformed to his likeness (2 Corinthians 3:14-18). One day, when we face to face with Jesus, he will call us good (Matthew 25:23)

Jesus looked at him, and loved him, yet...

The young man is too rich to be saved? No, he put his trust on the earthly things. It's not just money, it can be your talent, gift, ministry, influence, looks, friends etc. Jesus loves him, but that does not save him! Jesus offer the salvation to us, but it's up to each of us individual to receive! The thing is, if we let ourselves be hand-cuffed by the treasure of this world, our hands are full, and can no longer grab to the gift of eternal salvation that a loving Jesus want us to have.

You lack one thing

If you come face to face to Jesus today, and Jesus look deep inside your heart, what would he say to you? "You are missing one thing. Go and ..., and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come back and follow me." What is the "..." to you? When you hear that, what would be your response? Are you shocked and downcast and leave? Or you happily receive, submit and obey?


1. Mark 10:17-20 (NIV)
As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. “Good teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. You know the commandments: ‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, you shall not defraud, honor your father and mother.’ ” “Teacher,” he declared, “all these I have kept since I was a boy.”
2. Mark 10:21 (NIV)
Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
3. Mark 10:22-26 (NIV)
At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth. Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!” The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said again, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” The disciples were even more amazed, and said to each other, “Who then can be saved?”
4. Matthew 5:17-20 (NIV)
"Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I didn't come to destroy them, but to fulfill them, because I tell you with certainty that until heaven and earth disappear, not one letter or one stroke of a letter will disappear from the Law until everything has been accomplished.   So whoever sets aside one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom from heaven. But whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom from heaven  because I tell you, unless your righteousness greatly exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom from heaven!"
5. Matthew 5:21-22 (NIV)
"You have heard that it was told those who lived long ago, 'You must not murder,' and 'Whoever murders will be subject to punishment.'    But I say to you, anyone who is angry with his brother without a cause will be subject to punishment. And whoever says to his brother 'Raka!' will be subject to the Council. And whoever says 'You fool!' will be subject to hell fire.
6. Matthew 5:27-30 (NIV)
"You have heard that it was said, 'You must not commit adultery.'   But I say to you, anyone who stares at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.   So if your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one of your body parts than to have your whole body thrown into hell.  And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away from you. It is better for you to lose one of your body parts than to have your whole body go into hell."
7. Matthew 25:23 (NIV)
His master told him, 'Well done, good and trustworthy servant! Since you have been trustworthy with a small amount, I will put you in charge of a large amount. Come and share your master's joy!'
8. Matthew 25:25-30 (NIV)
Being afraid, I went off and hid your talent in the ground. Here, take what is yours!'    "His master answered him, 'You evil and lazy servant! So you knew that I harvested where I haven't planted and gathered where I haven't scattered any seed?    Then you should have invested my money with the bankers. When I returned, I would have received my money back with interest.'   Then the master said, 'Take the talent from him and give it to the man who has the ten talents,    because to everyone who has something, more will be given, and he will have more than enough. But from the person who has nothing, even what he has will be taken away from him.   Throw this useless servant into the darkness outside! In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'"
9. Romans 12:1-2 (NIV)
Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
10. Philippians 2:12-16 (NIV)
Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose. Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life. And then I will be able to boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain.
11. 2 Corinthians 3:14-18 (NIV)
But their minds were made dull, for to this day the same veil remains when the old covenant is read. It has not been removed, because only in Christ is it taken away. Even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts. But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

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