Matthew 19:16-17: And behold, a man came up to him, saying, “Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?” And he said to him, “Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. If you would enter life, keep the commandments.”
Thanks to the Smart Search feature in Logos Premium, I found the Lexham Context Commentary, which points out the fault in the man’s question. It implies works-based salvation: “A rich young man runs to Jesus, falls at his feet, addresses Jesus as ‘good teacher,’ and asks what he needs to do to inherit eternal life. His question assumes works salvation, for he thinks that salvation is a matter of what he can do (Titus 3:5).”1
He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life (Titus 3:5–7).
Thank you for this beautiful reminder of how merciful you are to give us your righteousness. Look at all the “R” words in this passage: righteousness, regeneration, renewal, and richly; none of which are attainable on our own, plus eternal life! Saying “Thank You” will never be enough. You are worthy of all praise, glory, and honor.
- Douglas Mangum, ed., Lexham Context Commentary: New Testament, Lexham Context Commentary (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2020), Mk 10:17–22. ↩︎
Pingback: Smart Search Feature – Madden Makes