SF026 - LESSONS IN EVANGELISM (Matthew 19 16-22)
MATTHEW 19:16‑22
INTRODUCTION
Background
Chapter 18 Jesus teaches that the Kingdom is made up of those who exercise childlike faith in God and who live that faith in childlike obedience.
Chapter 19 He begins with teaching the sacredness of marriage, followed by a lesson on the evangelizing of little children. Here he continues that theme of evangelism and sets before us “Lessons in Evangelism.”
Context
From verse 20 we learn that the one who came to Him was a young man, and from verse 22 that he was wealthy.
Luke informs us that he was also a ruler (18:18), probably a ruler in the synagogue, an especially honored position for a young man.
He was a religious leader—devout, honest, wealthy, prominent, and influential. He had it all.
Behold suggests how unusual and unexpected it was that he would admit he lacked eternal life and come to Jesus to find it.
In this text the Lord teaches about true evangelism, He shows us the deceptiveness of the heart, the demands of the Lord; the depravity of man.
1A. The Deceptiveness of the Heart
Jeremiah 17:9 "The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it?
1B. He sought the right thing - “eternal life”
In the context he sought a life that was more fulfilling and peaceful (19:20)
2B. He came the right way
Mark 10:17 Now as He was going out on the road, one came running, knelt before Him, and asked Him, "Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?"
Ø He came publicly
Ø He came urgently
Ø He came humbly
3B. He came to the right source – “Jesus”
John 14:6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
Acts 4:12 "Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved."
1 John 5:11 And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.
4B. He said the right things
He asked the right question – “What good thing…”
He gave the right answer (19:20)
2A. The Demands of the Lord
1B. A correct Theology (19:17)
God is holy
Psalm 99:9 …the LORD our God is holy.
1 John 1:5 …God is light and in Him is no darkness at all.
God is just
Psalm 7:11 God is a just judge, And God is angry with the wicked every day.
God is merciful
Psalm 103:10-11 He has not dealt with us according to our sins, Nor punished us according to our iniquities. 11 For as the heavens are high above the earth, So great is His mercy toward those who fear Him;
2B. A correct Christology
Jesus is God incarnate.
John 10:30 "I and My Father are one."
3B. A correct anthropology (19:17-19)
Man without Christ is lost.
Law always precedes grace
Galatians 3:24 Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
4B. A correct soteriology (19:21)
Jesus calls him to turn from his gods “go, sell”
Jesus calls him trust only in Him – “come, follow”
This is the message of John the Baptist (Matthew 3:2), Jesus (Matthew 4:17) and the Apostles (Acts 2:38; 26:20).
3A. The Depravity of Man
1B. He was filled with pride
No sense of personal sin (19:20)
He wanted comfort not confrontation.
Ø Jesus refused to meet his needs until he confronted his sin.
He focused on himself
Ø Jesus focused on God.
2B. He refused to repent of his sin (19:20)
He was either a liar or self‑deceived.
Ø Refused to come clean with God.
Ø Self righteous religion is deceiving.
He wanted to come on his terms.
3B. He refused to follow Christ
Ø It is a question of authority.
He makes his decision (19:22)
"sorrowful" = to be sorry, grieve.
Application
“Salvation is for those who see themselves as living violations of His holiness and who confess and turn from their sin and throw themselves on God’s mercy.
It is for those who recognize they have absolutely nothing good to give God, that anything good they receive or accomplish can be only by His sovereign, gracious provision in Jesus Christ.” (MacArthur)
Matthew 19:16-22
1A. The Deceptiveness of the ____________________
Jeremiah 17:9 "The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it?
1B. He sought the right ____________ - “eternal life”
2B. He came the right __________________ (Mark 10:17)
3B. He came to the right _______________ – “Jesus”
John 14:6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
Acts 4:12 "Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved."
1 John 5:11 And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.
4B. He said the right __________________________
He asked the right question – “What good thing…”
He gave the right answer (19:20)
2A. The Demands of the Lord
1B. A correct ________________________ (19:17)
God is ______________________
Psalm 99:9 …the LORD our God is holy.
1 John 1:5 …God is light and in Him is no darkness at all.
God is just
Psalm 7:11 God is a just judge, And God is angry with the wicked every day.
God is _____________________
Psalm 103:10-11 He has not dealt with us according to our sins, Nor punished us according to our iniquities. 11 For as the heavens are high above the earth, So great is His mercy toward those who fear Him;
2B. A correct anthropology (19:17-19)
Law always precedes grace
Galatians 3:24 Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
3B. A correct soteriology (19:21)
Jesus calls him to turn from his gods “go, sell”
Jesus calls him trust only in Him – “come, follow”
Ø This is the message of John the Baptist (Matthew 3:2), Jesus (Matthew 4:17) and the Apostles (Acts 2:38; 26:20).
3A. The Depravity of Man
1B. He was filled with ___________________
No sense of personal sin (19:20)
He wanted comfort not confrontation.
He focused on himself
2B. He refused to _______________ of his sin (19:20)
He wanted to come on his terms.
3B. He refused to __________________ Christ