Matthew 19:16-22 #3

Matthew 19:16-22 #3
After Jesus listed some of the commandments, the ruler replied, “All these things I have kept from my youth.” Please excuse me when I doubt the truthfulness of this man’s reply. It is not that I believe he is deliberately lying, but I do not believe he has accurately assessed the significance of each of the ten commandments. Is it true that he never lied? Was covetousness never in his heart or idolatry (putting things above God – as Jesus soon proves he had done) in his life? How simple it is for us to evaluate ourselves by outward visible sins. We reason that since we have not shoplifted, stolen another man’s wife, or committed murder, we are in good standing with the Lord. But the more challenging sins are those which are not so visible and are not as obvious to ourselves or to others. In Galatians 5:20, Paul lists such sins as, “enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy” that will just as clearly keep one from heaven as adultery, murder, or drunkenness. Further, keeping the Lord’s commandments is never as black and white as, “I have or have not kept them.” Many, if not most, commands are kept in degrees and are not fulfilled perfectly. Who can say that he has perfectly kept the two greatest commands, loving God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength and loving our neighbor as ourselves? Who can say that he is perfect in patience, self-control, or godliness? It was the self-righteousness of this ruler that was his most egregious sin. It is that same self-righteousness that will keep us from heaven.
When we examine our own lives, we should be confronted with the stark reality of our own continuing sinfulness and our daily need for the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Berry Kercheville