What is the meaning of Luke 18:18? Then – Luke uses “Then” to tie this scene to the blessing of the little children in Luke 18:15-17. – Jesus had just said, “Whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it” (v. 17). The ruler’s self-confident question now contrasts sharply with that childlike dependence. – Similar narrative flow appears in Mark 10:13-17 and Matthew 19:13-15, underscoring that the timing is purposeful, not accidental. a certain ruler – This man is influential—Luke’s word often denotes a synagogue leader or civic official (cf. Luke 8:41; 23:13). – Earthly authority cannot purchase eternal life; Acts 10:1-6 shows another powerful man (Cornelius) needing the gospel, not status. – The parallel accounts call him “young” (Matthew 19:20, 22) and “rich” (Mark 10:22), reminding us that age, wealth, or prestige offer no spiritual advantage (James 1:9-11). asked Him – People repeatedly run to Jesus with life-and-death questions (John 3:2; Luke 10:25; Acts 16:30). – Approach matters: the ruler comes respectfully, but still assumes he can negotiate terms. In contrast, the leper in Luke 5:12 falls on his face and simply pleads for mercy. “Good Teacher” – The ruler speaks politely, yet Jesus immediately challenges the word “good” in v. 19: “No one is good except God alone.” – By accepting or rejecting Jesus as truly “good,” the man will reveal whether he recognizes Christ’s deity (John 1:1; Colossians 2:9). – Psalm 34:8—“Taste and see that the LORD is good”—shows goodness is a divine attribute, not a mere compliment. “what must I do” – His verb is active and self-centered. He assumes eternal life is earned, much like the crowd in John 6:28: “What must we do to perform the works of God?” – Romans 3:20 answers flatly: “No one will be justified in His sight by works of the law.” – Jesus will redirect the ruler from doing to depending (Luke 18:22-23). “to inherit eternal life?” – Inheritance comes by relationship, not performance (Galatians 4:7; 1 Peter 1:3-4). – Eternal life is a gift God grants to those who trust His Son (John 3:16; 1 John 5:11-12). – The man senses the right goal yet misses the right path; Titus 3:5 declares we are saved “not by works of righteousness we have done, but according to His mercy.” summary Luke 18:18 spotlights a respected, morally serious man who still misunderstands salvation. His courteous address and ambitious question expose a heart relying on personal effort rather than humble faith. Jesus will patiently dismantle that confidence, revealing that only God is truly good and only grace can grant the inheritance of eternal life. |
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