Journey With Jesus 365নমুনা

The incident of the rich young ruler is told in the gospels of Matthew, and Luke. Mark illustrates the anxiety and humility of this young man: “There came one running, and kneeled to him.” When a rich man runs and kneels, it is a sign of earnestness. However, a fatal selfish pride is revealed in his approach. Unlike the Philippian jailer who asked, “What must I do to be saved?”, the rich young ruler asked, “What good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?”. He sought salvation through his own goodness and preferred salvation by works rather than by grace.

This reflects the sin of Cain, who brought the fruits of the ground as a sacrifice—representing his own labor—rather than a blood offering that symbolized the atonement of Christ. The human heart naturally leans away from the humility, confession, repentance, and trust required for accepting Christ as the sin-bearer. People often desire to reach heaven through their own good deeds. This attitude is similar to that of the Pharisee depicted by Jesus.

This misconception of salvation is at the heart of false religions. It glorifies human achievement instead of God, exalts good deeds over the sacrifice of Christ, and makes human effort appear significant. Those who believe that they are saved by going to church, being baptized, or doing good deeds are akin to this rich young ruler.

Understanding the attitude of the young ruler is key to understanding Jesus' response. Compare his question to those asked by the Jews at Pentecost, the jailer at Philippi, and the inquirers in John 6:28. The Philippian jailer, deeply convicted, wanted only to know what he must do to be saved. The response to him—and to all who genuinely seek salvation—was simple and direct: faith and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ's death on the cross is God's only plan for salvation.

The rich young ruler was not willing to repent and was not seeking to trust in Christ. He did not address Christ as Lord, Savior, Son of David, or Son of God. Instead, he called Him “Good Master,” a term for teacher, equivalent to calling Him a rabbi. The ruler sought salvation through good works, hoping to earn it and take credit for it. Because of this, Jesus gave him the only answer that fit: One who seeks to be saved by good works must keep every part of the law perfectly.

A person who had never sinned would not need a Savior; such a person would be a perfect human being.

It is important to remember: if one will not accept the atonement offered by Jesus Christ, the only other option is absolute perfection in every moment of one’s life.

In what ways do you find yourself relying on your own good deeds or accomplishments for a sense of worth or salvation? How can you shift your focus to relying solely on Christ's atonement?

Do you sometimes struggle with pride or the desire for personal credit in your spiritual life? What steps can you take to cultivate humility and recognize that salvation is only by grace?

What lessons can you learn from the rich young ruler’s unwillingness to give up his reliance on his own goodness? How can you apply these lessons to overcome similar challenges in your own life?