Let’s Make a Deal Mark 10:17-22

17. As He was setting out on a journey, a man ran up, knelt down before Him, and asked Him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 18. “Why do you call Me good?” Jesus asked him. “No one is good but One—God. 19. You know the commandments: Do not murder; Do not commit adultery; Do not steal; Do not bear false witness; Do not defraud; Honor your father and mother.”

20. He said to Him, “Teacher, I have kept all these from my youth.” 21. Then, looking at him, Jesus loved him and said to him, “You lack one thing: Go, sell all you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow Me.” 22. But he was stunned at this demand, and he went away grieving, because he had many possessions. Holman Christian Standard Bible

Personal Profile Rich – Not Bill Gates rich, but very wealthy –Vs. 22 “He had many possessions” Young – Between 20 & 40 Ruler – Probably an elder in the local synagogue Successful young business man, who is a deacon at the First church, in a small southern town

Sincere Aspiration Eternal Life Life – Quality Eternal - Duration

Let’s Make a Deal The Working Assumption of a Deal Maker –Vs. 17 “Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” Sees Salvation as a Transaction Instead of Transformation Tired doing what his life experience had taught him would work.

A Person Can Feel Great Emotion & Miss It A Person Can Feel Great Emotion & Miss It Vs. 17 “As He was setting out on a journey, a man ran up, knelt down before Him…” Felt Urgency – he ran Felt Reverence – he knelt Felt Desire – he left sad –Vs. 22 “But he was stunned at this demand, and he went away grieving”

A Person Can Be Considered a “Good Guy” and Still Be Lost Vs. 19 “’You know the commandments: Do not murder; do not commit adultery; do not steal; do not bear false witness; do not defraud; honor your father and mother.’ “ Vs. 20 “He said to Him, ‘Teacher, I have kept all these from my youth.’”

If You Stand on Your Record, It Had Better Be Perfect Vs “He said to Him, ‘Teacher, I have kept all these from my youth.’ Then, looking at him, Jesus… said to him, ‘You lack one thing:…’” Missing Commandment: “You shall not covet” James 2:10 “For whoever keeps the entire law, yet fails in one point, is guilty of breaking it all.”

Jesus’ Heart Can Go Out to You and You Can Still Be Lacking Vs. 21 “Then, looking at him, Jesus loved him and said to him, ‘You lack one thing…’”

Issue One: The Identity of Jesus Vs. 17 “ Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” Vs. 18 “’Why do you call Me good?’ Jesus asked him. ‘No one is good but One—God. ‘” Spurgeon: “The argument is clear: either Jesus was good, or he ought not to have called him good, but as there is none good but God, Jesus who is good must be God. “

A Radical Demand Vs. 21 “Go, sell all you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow Me.”

The Identity of Jesus Question Should Have Settled the Question of Obedience Vs. 18 “Why do you call Me good?” Jesus asked him. “No one is good but One—God Vs. 21 “Go, sell all you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow Me.”

A Person Can Hear The Message Clearly and Still Reject It Vs. 22 “But he was stunned at this demand, and he went away grieving…” The Message: “The man's face clouded over. This was the last thing he expected to hear, and he walked off with a heavy heart. He was holding on tight to a lot of things, and not about to let go.”

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