Matthew 19:13-30 Eternal Life and the Law 

The subject of eternal life was a cause for concern for many Hebrew Israelites in the days of Yeshua the Messiah. All four Gospel narratives cover the subject of eternal life and Yeshua teaches on eternal life extensively in its connection with the Law. Contrary to popular teaching, the subject of eternal life did not originate in the New Testament but was a subject of concern prior to the advent of Yeshua.

Most seminary taught theologians, denominational preachers, and teachers fail to make the connection of Yeshua’s coming and teachings to the fulfillment of what was written in the Law, the Prophets, and the writings concerning Him.

In this portion of Matthew, after Yeshua spoke on the subject of children coming to Him, a rich ruler asked Yeshua a specific question concerning eternal life. Yeshua’s response to this very specific question on eternal life is one that all of Christendom should take note of!

Mt 19:13 Then were there brought unto him little children, that he should put his hands on them, and pray: and the disciples rebuked them. 

This passage reveals one of those instances when Yeshua’s disciples operated in opposition to Him. They rebuked those who brought the little children to Him, but Yeshua corrected them.

Luke informs us that some of the little children were infants.

Lk 18:15 And they brought unto him also infants, that he would touch them: but when his disciples saw it, they rebuked them.

Mt 19:14 But Yeshua said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven. 

Mt 19:15 And he laid his hands on them, and departed thence. 

Parents, tell your children, even the newborns about Yeshua. Teach them from the time you start talking to them and tell them the stories of the Bible. Don’t teach them fairy tales. Teach them truth. Don’t raise them up with iPads’, cartoons, and video games without establishing the foundation of the Word in them. Don’t teach or sing to them senseless nursery rhymes. Create nursery rhymes from Biblical characters or stories from the Bible. Teach them courage, facts and faith; not fears, fiction and myths.

• Go beyond “Jesus loves me this I know”, or 

• “Abraham had many sons; I am one of them and so are you.”

• Challenge yourself to learn and teach them. 

• Etch the Word in their memory. 

Pr 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

Mt 19:16 And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?

Matthew identifies the man as “one came”, but later informs us that the one who came was rich.

Luke reveals the one who came was a ruler.

Lk 18:18 And a certain ruler asked him, saying, Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?

The word Luke uses indicates this man was a chief ruler.

758 ἄρχων archon {ar'-khone} 

Meaning:  1) a ruler, commander, chief, leader 

Usage:  AV - ruler 22, prince 11, chief 2, magistrate 1, chief ruler 1; 37

The question, “What good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?” 

PLEASE NOTE:

• First, this is the first time in Matthew the subject of eternal life is mentioned. 

• Second, it was not Yeshua who brought the subject up.

• Third, the knowledge of eternal life was a concern to the Hebrews before Yeshua came on the scene.

• Fourth, based on the question, the man was approaching eternal life from a works perspective as if he could earn it.

Eternal life is the gift of God (Elohim). Eternal life can only be obtained through faith in Messiah Yeshua. 

Ro 6:22 But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. 

Ro 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Yeshua Messiah our Lord.

Eternal life, everlasting life, and life eternal are one and the same.

Only the righteous will enter life eternal.

Mat 25:46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal. 

Righteous – 1342 δίκαιος dikaios {dik'-ah-yos} 

Meaning:  1) righteous, observing divine laws 1a) in a wide sense, upright, righteous, virtuous, 

keeping the commands of God 

Usage:  AV - righteous 41, just 33, right 5, meet 2; 81

Mt 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

Jn 17:1 These words spake Yeshua, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee: 

Jn 17:2 As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. 

Jn 17:3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Yeshua Messiah, whom thou hast sent.

Yeshua’s response to the question asked:

Mt 19:17 And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. 

 Yeshua taught that life was given by YeHoVaH, sustained by YeHoVaH, and to enter into life could only occur by keeping the Commandments of YeHoVaH. This is what was given to Moses to write: 

Lev 18:4 Ye shall do my judgments, and keep mine ordinances, to walk therein: I am the LORD your God. 

Lev 18:5 Ye shall therefore keep my statutes, and my judgments: which if a man do, he shall live in them: I am the LORD.

Dt 30:19 I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live: 

Dt 30:20 That thou mayest love the LORD thy God, and that thou mayest obey his voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto him: for he is thy life, and the length of thy days: that thou mayest dwell in the land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.

Luke wrote in Acts speaking of YeHoVaH: 

Ac 17:28 For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.

Mt 19:18 He saith unto him, Which? Yeshua said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, 

Mt 19:19 Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 

Mt 19:20 The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet? 

Mt 19:21 Yeshua said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me. 

This is the second time Yeshua uses the Greek word “perfect” in Matthew.

The first is in Matthew 5:48.

Mt 5:48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

 Yeshua invited the man to follow Him.

Mt 19:22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions. 

Mt 19:23 Then said Yeshua unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven. 

1423 δυσκόλως duskolos {doos-kol'-oce} 

Meaning:  1) with difficulty 

Usage:  AV - hardly 3; 3

Yeshua did not say it was impossible for the rich to enter into the Kingdom; He said it would be with difficulty. You cannot buy your way in, you cannot earn your way in, you must become as little children, you must put your faith and confidence in Yeshua being sent by YeHoVaH to give eternal life to those who would put their trust in Yeshua and keep the Commandments of YeHoVaH!

Mt 19:24 And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. 

Mt 19:25 When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved? 

Why would the disciples ask such a question inclusive of themselves? 

Keep in mind that several of Yeshua’s disciples were businessmen and possibly wealthy.

Peter and Andrew, his brother, and 

James and John, their business partners, were all in the fishing business.  They owned boats and property.

Matthew was a tax collector. 

Mt 19:26 But Yeshua beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible. 

Mt 19:27 Then answered Peter and said unto him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore? 

Forsaken has several meanings.

863 ἀφίημι aphiemi {af-ee'-ay-mee} 

Meaning:  1) to send away 1a) to bid going away or depart 1a1) of a husband divorcing his wife 1b) to send forth, yield up, to expire 1c) to let go, let alone, let be 1c1) to disregard 1c2) to leave, not to discuss now, (a topic) 1c21) of teachers, writers and speakers 1c3) to omit, neglect 1d) to let go, give up a debt, forgive, to remit 1e) to give up, keep no longer 2) to permit, allow, not to hinder, to give up a thing to a person 3) to leave, go way from one 3a) in order to go to another place

3b) to depart from any one 3c) to depart from one and leave him to himself so that all mutual claims are abandoned 3d) to desert wrongfully 3e) to go away leaving something behind 3f) to leave one by not taking him as a companion 3g) to leave on dying, leave behind one 3h) to leave so that what is left may remain, leave remaining 3i) abandon, leave destitute 

Usage:  AV - leave 52, forgive 47, suffer 14, let 8, forsake 6, let alone 6, misc 13; 146

Mt 19:28 And Yeshua said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 

Mt 19:29 And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life. 

Luke states it this way:

Lk 18:30 Who shall not receive manifold more in this present time, and in the world to come life everlasting.

Mark adds:

Mk 10:30 But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.

One might ask from whence cometh the persecution?

The persecution could from within one's house and or from those outside of your household. 

Remember Yeshua’s words earlier:

Mt 10:34 Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. 

Mt 10:35 For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. 

Mt 10:36 And a man's foes shall be they of his own household. 

Mt 10:37 He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 

Mt 10:38 And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. 

Mt 19:30 But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first.