Lesson No. 33 The Rich Young Ruler The Scripture Lesson Luke 18:18-30 One day as Jesus was walking down the road with His disciples, a young man came running up behind them. When he reached them he came to Jesus and kneeled before Him. Now, it happened that this was a ruler among the Jews, and he was a very rich. Most of the rulers, you know, hated Jesus; and the few who did believe in Him tried to keep it a secret so that they would not be mocked by the others. But this ruler did not care what others might think. He had a problem which was bothering him, and he believed that Jesus would be able to help him. This young man was concerned about eternal life. He was a man who was very careful about obeying all the laws of God, but he felt that something was missing. He did not have in his heart the assurance of God s favor. So he figured that there must be something else he was supposed to do something in addition to obeying the laws of God. And he believed that Jesus would know what that was. So he came to Jesus and asked, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life? In answer to the man s question, Jesus said, If one wishes to merit eternal life, he must keep OUR GUIDE is published by the Protestant Reformed Sunday School Association. the commandments. Ah, but that is just the problem, replied the rich young ruler, I have kept all of the commandments of God, ever since I was a little boy. What is it that I am still lacking? I have kept all of the commandments of God. If that were really true, the young man would have lacked nothing; for that is all that the law demands. But the problem was that the man did not see the sin which was in his heart. Jesus, however, knows the hearts of men. And He knew, without being told, that this young ruler loved his riches. That was why he could not find peace with God. So Jesus said to the young man, You are right. You are lacking something. What you must do is sell all of your goods, give the money to the poor, and come and follow me. The rich young ruler suddenly realized how much his riches meant to him. And he knew that he would not be able to do what Jesus said. So he turned and walked sadly away. Then Jesus turned to His disciples and said, How hard it is for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God! It is harder, Jesus continued, than for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle. Jesus was talking about the love of riches, of course. And what He said about the love of riches can be said about anything else
Lesson 33 which keeps us from serving God as we should. What Jesus taught is that we must seek the kingdom of heaven first, in everything. Nothing must come ahead of our service to God. To the disciples it seemed that, if God requires that kind of obedience, then no one can be saved. And Jesus agreed with them. He said, With man it is surely impossible. But Jesus added, with God all things are possible. And that is our only hope. Parable of the Laborers in the Vineyard Matthew 20:1-16 After the rich young ruler had left, Peter asked Jesus what they, the disciples, would receive, since they had left all in order to follow Him. Jesus told them that they would surely be rewarded with places of honor in the kingdom of heaven. But then He went on to tell them a story, to warn them against thinking that the reward was something they earned by their good deeds. The story Jesus told them is called the Parable of the Laborers in the Vineyard. In this story there was a man who owned a large vineyard. There was much work to be done in the vineyard, so he went to the marketplace to find workers. There he found men who agreed to work for him that day for a penny. That does not sound to us like very much, but at that time it was considered to be fair for one day s work. After these men were working for several hours, the owner of the vineyard went out and hired more workers. He did that at 9:00, again at 12:00, and at 3:00, and finally at 5:00 in the afternoon. Then at 6:00 he told his steward to give the workers their pay. So the steward called all of the workers together and first of all paid those who had been working for only an hour in the vineyard. He gave to each of them a penny. Those workers must have been surprised that the owner was so kind and generous to them. Then he called those who had started at 3:00 and gave them each a penny. He did the same with those who started at noon and at 9:00 in the morning. Last of all he came to those who had worked through the whole 2 Rich Young Ruler/Laborers in the Vineyard day. They thought to themselves that they would surely get more than the others did, but to their disappointment the steward gave each only a penny. These men then went to the owner and complained that they should have received more pay. The owner, however, reminded them that they had agreed to work for a penny. He was being fair therefore by giving them that; and if he wanted to give the others more than they deserved, that was up to him. Do you see that the Pharisees were like these first workers? They thought that God owed them salvation because they worked so hard in His kingdom. But do you see, too, how this can be a warning for us? We must never think that by our being good and keeping God s commandments we earn salvation. Salvation is a free gift of God s grace to us. We must be like the other workers in Jesus parables, those who were thankful that they were rewarded far better than what they deserved. We are warned also by this parable not to judge by outward appearances. There may be some who seem to be nobodies in the church on this earth, but who are sincere, faithful Christians who go about their work in a quiet, God-glorifying way. Many of these will have places of great honor in heaven. For God judges the hearts. As Jesus told His disciples, Many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first. Memory Work Group A Mark 10:24b & 25 How hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God! 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. Group B Mark 10:27b With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.
3 ACTIVITIES This paper has been prepared in the hope that it will be used by students of all ages. The activities are designed so that the oldest will be challenged, and the youngest will find some of it within reach. Parents should encourage their children to attempt only what they can handle without frustration. For some that will be much, for others little. DO YOU AGREE? If you do, write Yes; if you do not, write No. 1. In answer to the young man s question, What shall I do to inherit eternal life? Jesus replied that God requires nothing except perfect obedience to His law. 2. When the young man said to Jesus that he was sure that he still lacked something, Jesus told him that he should sell everything that he had and give the money to the poor. 3. We can learn from this instruction of Jesus to the rich man that it is wrong for a Christian to have great possessions. 4. When Peter reminded Jesus that they had left all to follow Him, Jesus promised that such sacrifice in this life will be rewarded. 5. In fact, Jesus declared that all who give up their money for His sake will receive back from God a hundred times as much money. 6. In the Parable of the Laborers a certain householder went out at five different times during the course of one day to find laborers to work in his vineyard. 7. The last to be hired were disappointed that they received only a penny for working for a whole hour. QUESTIONS FOR YOUNGER READERS 1. How was the rich young ruler in our story today different from other rulers of the Jews? How did he show his respect for Jesus both by what he did and by what he said? 2. What was the young man s question? How did Jesus answer the question? Why did that answer not satisfy the man? 3. If the ruler really believed that he had kept the commandments of God, why was he still convinced that he should do something more? 4. Jesus, who knows the hearts of men, knew why this young man had not found peace with God. What was the reason? What did Jesus tell him he should do? 5. The young man then went away sad. And when he was gone, Jesus talked to His disciples about riches. How hard is it, did Jesus say, for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God? If it s impossible for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle, how can a rich man ever be saved? 6. Jesus is teaching us here, really, that we must not let anything interfere with our serving God with all our heart. Can you think of things in your life that mean too much to you things that you think about more than you think about God? 7. The disciples heard Jesus tell the rich young ruler that if he sold all that he had, and followed Jesus, he would have treasure in heaven. That made the disciples think of themselves, of what they had done. What did Peter ask Jesus? What did Jesus say would be their reward? 8. In that parable, why did the laborers who had started working early in the morning think that they should receive more than a penny? Do you see how that was like the Pharisees of Jesus day? Are we ever like that? 9. How did those who were hired last feel about receiving a penny for their work? Can you explain how we must be like them? 10. Jesus told His disciples that many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first. What kind of people are those who are last and will be first?
Rich Young Ruler/Laborers in the Vineyard 4 Lesson 33 COMPLETING SENTENCES 1. We cannot determine with certainty where the events of this week s lesson occurred. We think that Jesus was still in Perea, but probably on His way to Jerusalem, in Judea, for the celebration of the last Passover. Mark s account suggests that Jesus was staying there in a house, and that one day, when He left the house and went forth into the, there came a man and to Him (Mark 10:17). 2. Luke informs us that the man was a (18:18), probably of the local synagogue, and therefore of some importance in the community. Matthew adds this information, that he was a man (19:20); and from three gospel accounts we know also that he had great (Mark 10:22). Whereas others of his class either hated Jesus or kept very quiet about their sympathy towards Him, this man did not hesitate to come openly to Jesus with the question which was troubling his soul. He lacked the assurance of salvation; and he was confident that Jesus, whom he saw to be a good man and a great teacher, could surely help him. So he asked, Master, what thing shall I do that I may have life? (Matt. 19:16). 3. In His reply, Jesus first taught the young man that he must not think of Him as only a good master among other good masters. Why callest thou me? Jesus asked. There is none good but one, that is, (Matt. 19:17). Jesus dropped the matter at that, content to let the man ponder His words later, when he would consider by himself the question of Jesus authority. 4. Jesus then answered the man s question by pointing him to the law. For if the man wishes to know how salvation can be earned, he must understand that there is only one way, and it is sure: If thou wilt into life, the commandments (Matt. 19:17). 5. The young man must have been disappointed at that answer. To make sure that he understood what Jesus meant by the commandments, he asked,? And Jesus assured him that He was indeed talking about the moral law, the Ten Commandments; and He proceeded to enumerate those of the second table: Thou shalt do no, etc. (Matt. 19:18, 19). 6. But therein lay the man s problem. All these things have I from my up, he said. Having been himself taught by the Pharisees, he had come to see obedience to the law as nothing more than outward conformity to the letter of it. From that obedience, however, he had found no peace of heart. Convinced that something else was necessary, and having learned nothing about a Savior from sin, he was sure that there was something else he had to do, beyond the law, in order to find peace. So he asks Jesus, What I yet? (Matt. 19:20). 7. Jesus knows the hearts of men. He therefore knew also that there was indeed a special problem in this young man s life. It had to do with his wealth. It had to do with the first table of the law: Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart... Jesus did not however simply say, Your problem is that you have too great an attachment to your riches. He rather instructed him to do something which would prove to the man himself that his riches were a snare to him. Jesus said, Yet lackest thou one thing: all that thou hast, and distribute unto the, and thou shalt have in heaven: and come, me (Luke 18:22). 8. Apparently that was the end of the conversation. For when the man heard that, he went away ; for he had possessions (Matt. 19:22). 9. What Jesus was teaching here is that the things of the kingdom of heaven must always and in everything be first in the life of a child of God. Possessions are of course not the only thing that can interfere with one s serving God with all his heart; but it is true that especially riches can very easily become a snare. Jesus therefore said to His disciples, How shall they that have enter into the of God (Luke 18:24).
Lesson 33 10. The disciples were at His words, for they knew from their own experience how impossible it was to serve God perfectly, wholeheartedly, always. When Jesus went on to say that it is easier for a to go through the eye of a, than for a man to enter into the of God, the disciples were astonished out of, saying among themselves, Who then can be? (Mark 10:25, 26). 11. And that is the purpose of the law to lead men to Christ. For with men it is impossible. But, Jesus said, not with. For with God all things are (Mark 10:27). By are ye saved; and that not of : it is the of God (Eph. 2:8). 12. We read nothing more of the rich young ruler. Mark tells us, however, that Jesus beholding him him (Mark 10:21). We may therefore safely conclude that he was a child of God, and that he was by Christ s instruction convicted of the sin which had kept him from the assurance of God s favor, and that he was led by the Spirit to put his possessions in their proper place in his life. 13. Jesus disciples must have noticed, with interest, that He had promised the rich man that, were he to give up everything and follow Christ, he would have treasure in heaven. Behold, said Peter, have forsaken all, and thee; what shall have therefore? (Matt. 19:27). 14. Jesus answered, first of all, that they would indeed have a place of distinction....when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his, ye also shall sit upon thrones. More than that, that hath houses, etc., for my name s, shall receive an. The greatness of the reward, in other words, shall be entirely out of proportion to the greatness of the work (Matt. 19:28, 29). 5 Rich Young Ruler/Laborers in the Vineyard 15. There is therefore indeed a reward for works. Jesus would later say to the apostle John, Behold, I come quickly; and my is with me, to give to every man according as his shall be (Rev. 22:12). The reward is not, however, of merit that is, one does not earn the reward by his works. Man can take no credit; for, as Paul says, It is that worketh in you both to and to of his good pleasure (Phil. 2:13). Jesus, therefore, knowing that there was in Peter s question something of the old Pharisaic notion of earning God s favor, added this word of warning: But many that are shall be ; and the shall be (Matt. 19:30). The point is that, though the reward will be measured according to the work, the work is not measured by outward appearances, but by the state of the heart, which only God can see. We must therefore be content to leave the matter of reward entirely to God. We must never look at our works (as the disciples were evidently doing) and conclude that, in comparison to others, we certainly have reason to expect a great reward. It was in order to drive that point home, that Jesus told His disciples the Parable of the Laborers in the Vineyard. 16. In this parable, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an, which went out early in the to hire into his. That was probably at 6 o clock in the morning, at the very beginning of a long work day. The householder made an agreement with these men to pay them for the day s work a (a typical day s wage at that time), and then he sent them into his vineyard. It soon became evident, however, that the work was more than could be accomplished by that number of laborers, so the householder returned to the at about the hour and hired some more. To these he promised only to give them for their work whatsoever is. He did the same at about the 6th hour, the hour, and fi-
Lesson 33 nally also at the hour (Matt. 20:1-7). 17. At the end of the day the lord of the vineyard instructed his to call the and give them their pay, beginning from the hired, unto the first. To their surprise and delight, the ones last hired were given a full penny. When those who were first hired saw this, they that they should have received. But they likewise received every man a (Matt. 20:8-10). 18. Those who were hired first then against the goodman of the house, complaining that those who had worked but hour were made to those who had borne the and of the day. But the householder replied, Did you not with me for a penny? Take then what is yours. I will give unto the last even as to you. Is it not for me to do what I with my? (Matt. 20:11-15). 19. The vineyard, in the parable, stands for the church. The laborers, then, are all those who are called to work in it that is, all the members of the church. Members serve, of course, in different ways some evidently bearing the burden and heat of the day, while others labor almost unnoticed. Now (and this is the meaning of the parable) just as it was the householder s right to do what he willed with his own, so it is God s right to reward the workers in His vineyard as He sees fit. He is obliged to no one. He calls whom He wills, works in them to will and do of His pleasure, and then rewards what is the fruit of His own work in their hearts. And the work which He graciously rewards is only that which is selfdenying and God-glorifying. As far as outward appearances are concerned, Jesus warned His disciples again that many who are last shall be, and the first (Matt. 20:16). 6 Rich Young Ruler/Laborers in the Vineyard QUESTIONS TO THINK ABOUT 1. The rich young ruler had been looking for rest, and could find none. On another occasion, Jesus said, Come to Me, and I will give you rest. That is, Find your salvation in Me, for it can be found nowhere else. Why did He say to this man, If you want to be saved, keep the law? Was Jesus telling the man the truth when He said this... or was He merely showing him the futility of seeking salvation, and peace with God, by works? 2. The man claimed, concerning the commandments contained in the second table of the law, All these have I kept. How does that show that he had been taught well by the Pharisees? 3. Jesus could have said to the young man, Your problem is that you love your money. Can you explain why it was much more effective to say instead, Sell everything you have...? 4. Jesus said that it s easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God. Why would the disciples be astonished out of measure at that? 5. Do you have any idea what Jesus meant when He said that those who for His sake leave house or brethren or children will receive an hundredfold now in this time (Mark 10:29, 30)? 6. Do you see the connection between Jesus Parable of the Laborers in the Vineyard, and Peter s question: Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore? 7. Jesus said to John on the island of Patmos that, when He comes again to judge, His reward will be with Him, to give every man according as his work shall be (Rev. 22:12). Can you explain how that is true if, as is clear from the Word of God, we are saved not by works but by grace? 8. Jesus told the Parable of the Laborers in the Vineyard to illustrate the truth that many that are first shall be last; and the last first (Matt. 19:30). Can you explain how it did that?