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The Problem of Self-Righteousness

Text: Matthew 19 : 16 - 30

As Jesus spoke about the keeping of the commandments, the ruler replied in obvious self-righteousness.

“The young man said to Him, ‘All these things
I have kept from my youth. What do I still lack?'”
MATTHEW 19:20

Matthew introduced yet another thing about this ruler at this juncture. This man was relatively young. He probably wasn’t a teenager, for he was a “ruler” (Cf. Luke 18:18). The youth of the ruler may have contributed to his perception of himself.

1. The claim to have kept all God’s commandments

Jesus did not state all the commandments of God. The Jews counted that all God’s laws numbered 613! If we were to accept that number is correct, then Jesus highlighted a few of God’s commandments in His dialogue with the young man. Could the young ruler truly have kept ALL God’s commandments?

2. The problem of self-righteousness

The young ruler probably was not obnoxious when he declared plainly that he had been taught God’s commandments from a very young age, and that he had assiduously kept them all his life! However, there seemed to be something lacking and he wondered if Jesus could enlighten him so that he could continue with his understanding of faith and life.

This young man was so caught up with his self-righteousness that he was not even able to see just how sinful he was before God Himself! We are reminded of a very sharp contrast in the experience of Isaiah when he was allowed on one occasion to stand in the Presence of God.

“Woe is me, for I am undone!
Because I am a man of unclean lips,
And I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips;
For my eyes have seen the King,
The Lord of Hosts.”
ISAIAH 6:5

THE DREAM OF “PERFECTION”

Jesus had sought to engage the young ruler to evaluate his life humbly in the hope that his conscience would prick him and he would realize that he was nothing but a wretched sinner. The young ruler was so sure of himself that he saw himself as one who had been able to keep all of God’s laws consistently for years!

There was one more approach Jesus employed to reach out to this young ruler.

“Jesus said to him, ‘If you want to be perfect,
go, sell what you have and give to the poor,
and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.’
But when the young man heard that saying, he went away
sorrowful, for he had great possessions.”
MATTHEW 19:21-22

Matthew added yet another perspective concerning this young ruler. He was also a very rich young man!

1. The acid test of faith

The rich young ruler had prided himself concerning the keeping of God’s laws. He probably did keep them far better than other people did. However, that was all “relative”. What Jesus said now – about giving his wealth away, and following Jesus – that was the acid test that finally helped the young man to see himself as he ought to, in the first place.

2. Unable to give away wealth

The rich young ruler had probably built a large comfort zone around himself. Because of his wealth, he would not have to murder, or bear false witness, or to steal. On the outside, he was a respectable young man.

It never occurred to him that his “faith” could be tested in other ways. The thought of giving up all he comforts of life, all in the name of searching for eternal life, was too much to bear! How could he go around, living the kind of life Jesus had adopted? He had no home to call his own. He walked from one place to another. No, he could not give up his wealth!

3. Who possesses what?

The young man probably understood what Jesus meant now, when He said “No one is good but One, that is, ‘God'”. (Matthew 19:17).

a) He was not all that good in God’s sight

He was not all that good before God. If the Lord were to ask him to give away all his wealth, he knew that he could not obey Him! How could he have thought of himself as being all that righteous and good?

b) He was not all that good compared to Jesus either

Did he think that he was that good? He did not think that way anymore. For a person to live as Jesus did, wandering from place to place, preaching the Kingdom of God, ministering to everyone who came – that was GOOD! He knew that he could never adopt that lifestyle!

c) Sorrow instead of confidence that arose from self-righteousness

Jesus was not being mean to the young man. The synoptist Mark made a significant observation, “Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him…” (Mark 10:21). The kind of sorrow felt in his heart could be the first step that would lead him to humble himself before God. Sadly, this rich young ruler went away from Jesus after this conversation with Jesus. His “great possessions” had possessed his soul!