In Matthew 19:16-22, we find a profound encounter between Jesus and a rich young man, offering deep insights into the nature of goodness and salvation. This well-known story challenges our understanding of what it means to be “good” and invites us to reflect on the true source of eternal life.
Am I a Good Person?
The rich young man approached Jesus with a question many of us have asked: “What good deed must I do to have eternal life?” Beneath his query lies a presumption that resonates with our modern sensibilities—that eternal life can be earned by human effort. His approach reflects a common human tendency to assess goodness by comparison: “I haven’t committed heinous crimes, so surely I must be good.” Yet, Jesus challenges this shallow standard by pointing to a deeper truth about goodness.
Who Defines Goodness?
Jesus’ response immediately reframes the discussion: “Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good” (v. 17). By this, He asserts that true goodness belongs to God alone. Our finite, flawed understanding of morality falls short of the divine standard. The rich young man’s question assumed that goodness was achievable by human effort, but Jesus dismantled this notion by pointing to God’s perfect holiness as the benchmark.
When Jesus directs the man to keep the commandments, the young man confidently claims, “All these I have kept. What do I still lack?” His response exposes his spiritual blindness. Despite his outward adherence to the law, his heart remained captive to sin. Jesus lovingly unveils the idol that enslaves 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” (v. 21). What then follows? The rich young man departs in sorrow because his wealth, not God, holds his allegiance.
What Does This Teach Us?
This exchange between Jesus and the young rich man reveals the impossibility of human effort in attaining salvation. Jesus does not condemn wealth itself but exposes the man’s misplaced trust in it. The young man’s unwillingness to relinquish his possessions demonstrates that his heart was not wholly devoted to God. As Charles Spurgeon aptly observed, “the man failed to fulfill the essence of God’s law—to love God with all his heart and his neighbor as himself” (paraphrased).
The story also underscores a foundational truth: salvation is a divine work. Human goodness, even at its best, cannot satisfy the demands of God’s perfect law. The Apostle Paul echoes this in Romans 3:23: “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” The only path to eternal life lies in God’s grace through Jesus Christ.
The Gospel’s Call
Jesus’ words, “Come, follow me,” calls us to surrender our idols and entrust ourselves entirely to Him. For the rich young man, his idol was wealth. For others, it may be moral self-righteousness, career ambitions, or social status. Whatever the idol, Jesus demands undivided allegiance. He does so, not to impoverish us, but to free us from bondage to sin and to give us the surpassing treasure of life in Him.
Salvation, contrary to what the young rich man thought, rests not on our works but on Christ’s. Through His perfect obedience and sacrificial death on the cross, Jesus bore the penalty for our sins and imputed His righteousness to us who believe. The Holy Spirit applies this salvation to our hearts, transforming us from spiritual death to life. Our response is one of repentance, faith, and a willingness to follow Christ wherever He leads.
A Call to Reflection
In light of Matthew 19:16-22, we ought to ask ourselves: Are we trusting in our goodness to inherit eternal life, or have we placed our trust in the goodness of Christ? Do we cling to idols that hinder our walk with God, or have we surrendered them at the foot of the cross?
We ought not to walk away in sorrow like the rich young man, clinging to the fleeting pleasures of this fallen world. Instead, we ought to embrace the free gift of eternal life in Christ. Let us live lives marked by faith and obedience, demonstrating the transformative power of the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. And let us remember the greatest commandment: to love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, and mind, and to love our neighbor as ourselves.
In Christ, we find the answer to the question, “Who is truly good?” It is not us, but Him—the only one who is good. To Him be the glory forever. Amen.