THE SEARCHING TEST

LUKE 18:1

A. "AND A CERTAIN RULER ASKED HIM, SAYING, GOOD MASTER, WHAT SHALL I DO TO INHERIT ETERNAL LIFE?"
  1. Of special interest to the careful reader of the Bible is in the fact that similar questions were asked by different persons:
    1. John the Baptist was approached by the publicans, "Master, what shall we do?" - Luke 3:12
    2. The soldiers, listening to John, asked, "What shall we do?" - Luke 3:14
    3. The multitude, who had been stirred by Peter's sermon the day of Pentecost, asked "What shall we do?" - Acts 2:37
    4. A lawyer asked the Lord, "What shall I do to inherit eternal life?" - Luke 10:25
    5. Saul, of Tarsus, asked the Lord, "What wilt thou have me to do?" - Acts 9:6
    6. The startled Jailer said, "What must I do to be saved?" - Acts 16:30
  2. All these burning questions show that the salvation of man is, as it has been in the past, a very burning question for every judgment bound sinner:
B. THE SEARCHING TEST
  1. The petitioner in our text:
    1. A prominent man in Jewish Society -
      1. Very wealthy.
      2. Excellent in character.
      3. Apparently very sincere.
    2. Jesus loved him - Mark 10:21
  2. His attitude at first:
    1. Very eager -- he came running - Mark 10:17
    2. He kneeled to our Lord.
    3. He had sufficient faith in Christ to ask for guidance in spiritual matters; all this in spite of the bitter opposition of the leaders.
    4. This was noteworthy of this young man, worthy of our emulation.
  3. His question -- "What shall I do to inherit eternal life?"
    1. Is most revealing.
    2. He was wealthy and popular, but was not satisfied with his knowledge or his life.
    3. He longed for something better than he had.
    4. He was thinking of things eternal. All this is to his good.
  4. His attitude toward eternal life and its requirements show:
    1. That the schools of the Pharisees had left him in darkness on one of the most vital truths in the Bible - eternal life!
    2. He knew that only the Author of life (John 1:4; 14:6) could give the true answer.
C. THE SEARCHING TEST
  1. All went exceedingly well up to this point:
    1. The question was proper and worthy of an answer.
    2. The Lord loved him; he admired him for his moral attitude and a desire for eternal life.
    3. He was, indeed, an exceptional person.
  2. Until the all-knowing Lord and Master applied the divine test:
    1. "Keep the commandments"
    2. Obedience to God's law is the key to the straight gate and the narrow road that leads to life everlasting - Rev. 14:12; 22:14; 1 John 2:4-7; 5:4, 5
  3. The questioner's instant reaction was: "which?"
    1. That was the beginning of the unfolding of his misinformation because with God there is no difference -- all commandments are equally important and binding - Jas. 2:8-11
    2. The word "which" is selective and it has no place in God's plan - Matt. 5:17-19
  4. Our Lord referred him to the sixth commandment, and here is where he failed to meet the test: Deut. 6:4-9; Matt. 22:34-38
  5. He refused to comply with the requirements of heaven. Would you have done any better?


Design © John Bryant 2011