The Pilgrim Path---Matthew 19: 16 – 22 (1—9—23)

And behold, a man came up to him, saying, “Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?” And he said to him, “Why do you ask me about what is good. If you would enter life, keep the commandments.” He said to him, “Which ones?” And Jesus said, “You shall not murder, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother, and, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” The young man said to him, “All these I have kept. What do I still lack?” Jesus said to him, “If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” When the young man heard this, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.

“ALL THESE I HAVE KEPT”

May any human being say they have kept every command within the Second Table of The Law (The Ten Commandments) ? Well, The Rich Young Man “believed” he had. Such is the blinding, captivating, confounding, and ensnarling nature of idolatry (loving someone---or something more than the true and Living God). Unless the gracious Holy Spirit opens your eyes---you never “see” your enslavement…

May a Follower of Jesus Christ have struggles with idolatry? Please see I John 5: 21.

We may get behind the tyranny of any number of gods: money, sex, applause of people, power, desire to be left alone, abuse of others, control, gambling---and on and on and on…We must daily surrender to Jesus Christ the LORD---and be in His Word---and within the nurture of His Church.

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Romans 12: 1

From Andrew Murray: How different our standard is from Christ’s. We ask how much a man gives. Christ asks how much he keeps.

From Thomas Watson: To serve the true God is our true interest. God has twisted his glory and our salvation together. He bids us believe; and why? That we may be saved. Therefore, renouncing all others, let us cleave to the true God.

Grace & Peace in Jesus, the Only redeemer of broken and wretched souls, Pastor Jason