Single lesson
Jesus and the Rich Young Ruler
Matthew 19:16–30; Mark 10:17–31; Luke 18:18–30
Jesus is asked a serious question about eternal life. In this lesson, children trace the account in order, notice the man’s choice, hear Jesus’ words about riches and God’s power, and consider what it means to follow him.
Before you teach
In Matthew, Mark and Luke, a man comes to Jesus and asks how to inherit eternal life. Jesus speaks about God, the commandments, selling possessions, giving to the poor, following him, the difficulty of trusting riches, and what is possible with God. Peter then speaks about leaving everything to follow Jesus.
Students will be able to retell the order of the account and explain that riches can hinder people, but what is impossible with people is possible with God.
Welcome: Big question, big choice
5 minAsk children to listen for the question the man asks Jesus and for the choice he makes at the end. Say that in these verses one person asks about eternal life, Jesus answers with commandments and a call to follow him, and the man responds sadly because of his possessions.
Matthew 19:16, Matthew 19:21, Matthew 19:22, Mark 10:17, Mark 10:21, Mark 10:22, Luke 18:18, Luke 18:22, Luke 18:23
Read and explain: What does the man ask?
8 minRead selected verses aloud. Point out that the man asks about inheriting eternal life. Jesus says no one is good except God and tells him to keep the commandments. Jesus names commands such as not murdering, not stealing, not giving false testimony, and honouring father and mother. The man says he has observed these from his youth.
Matthew 19:16, Matthew 19:17, Matthew 19:18, Matthew 19:19, Matthew 19:20, Mark 10:17, Mark 10:18, Mark 10:19, Mark 10:20, Luke 18:18, Luke 18:19, Luke 18:20, Luke 18:21
Discuss: Jesus’ call and the man’s sadness
6 minExplain that Jesus tells the man he still lacks one thing. He is told to sell what he has, give to the poor, and follow Jesus. Mark also says Jesus looked at him and loved him. The man becomes sad and goes away because he has great possessions. Discuss the choice between holding tightly to riches and following Jesus.
Matthew 19:21, Matthew 19:22, Mark 10:21, Mark 10:22, Luke 18:22, Luke 18:23
Make and respond: Sequence cards
7 minChildren make simple sequence cards for the story: the question, the commandments, Jesus’ call, the man going away sad, Jesus’ teaching about riches, and God making the impossible possible. After arranging the cards in order, ask each child to say one true sentence from the passage about God or people.
Matthew 19:16, Matthew 19:17, Matthew 19:21, Matthew 19:22, Matthew 19:23, Matthew 19:26, Mark 10:24, Luke 18:27
Closing: What can God do?
4 minFinish by reading Jesus’ words that with people this is impossible, but with God all things are possible. Then note Peter’s words about leaving everything to follow Jesus and Jesus’ reply about receiving much more and eternal life. End with the saying that many who are first will be last, and the last first.
Matthew 19:26, Matthew 19:27, Matthew 19:29, Matthew 19:30, Mark 10:27, Mark 10:28, Mark 10:30, Mark 10:31, Luke 18:27, Luke 18:28, Luke 18:30
Questions to explore
What did the man ask Jesus at the beginning of the account?
Look for the repeated question about inheriting or having eternal life, because that question begins the whole conversation.
Matthew 19:16, Mark 10:17, Luke 18:18
What one thing did Jesus tell the man to do after speaking about the commandments?
Find the verse where Jesus says the man still lacks one thing and notice the linked actions: sell, give, and follow.
Matthew 19:21, Mark 10:21, Luke 18:22
What did Jesus say when people asked, ‘Who then can be saved?’
Read Jesus’ answer carefully and compare what is impossible with people and what is possible with God.
Matthew 19:25, Matthew 19:26, Mark 10:26, Mark 10:27, Luke 18:26, Luke 18:27
Make, think or respond
Rich Young Ruler Sequence Cards
What you’ll need
- paper or thin cardboard
- pencils or markers
- scissors
- Bible verses for reference
Try it together
- Draw six simple cards showing key parts of the account: the question, the commandments, Jesus’ call, the sad departure, the camel and needle image, and God making the impossible possible.
- Write a short label or verse phrase on each card.
- Mix the cards and have children place them in the order the passage gives.
- Ask children to retell the account using the ordered cards in their own words.
- Finish by choosing one card and reading the matching verse aloud.
The cards help children sequence the account and remember the choices, responses and teachings in Matthew 19:16–30, Mark 10:17–31 and Luke 18:18–30.
Adapt for your group
- For younger children, prepare the six card titles in advance and let them draw pictures and place the cards in order with help.
- For older children, ask them to compare the three accounts and notice details such as the man being called young, a ruler, and very rich, or Mark’s note that Jesus loved him.
An optional closing prayer
You may pray: “God, please help us listen to Jesus, not trust in riches, and remember that what is impossible with people is possible with you. Amen.”
Read the Bible passage World English Bible Classic
Matthew 19
16 Behold, one came to him and said, “Good teacher, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?”
17 He said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good but one, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.”
18 He said to him, “Which ones?” Jesus said, “ ‘You shall not murder.’ ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ ‘You shall not steal.’ ‘You shall not offer false testimony.’
19 ‘Honor your father and your mother.’ And, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ ”
20 The young man said to him, “All these things I have observed from my youth. What do I still lack?”
21 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.”
22 But when the young man heard this, he went away sad, for he was one who had great possessions.
23 Jesus said to his disciples, “Most certainly I say to you, a rich man will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven with difficulty.
24 Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through a needle’s eye than for a rich man to enter into God’s Kingdom.”
25 When the disciples heard it, they were exceedingly astonished, saying, “Who then can be saved?”
26 Looking at them, Jesus said, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
27 Then Peter answered, “Behold, we have left everything and followed you. What then will we have?”
28 Jesus said to them, “Most certainly I tell you that you who have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of Man will sit on the throne of his glory, you also will sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
29 Everyone who has left houses, or brothers, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name’s sake, will receive one hundred times, and will inherit eternal life.
30 But many will be last who are first, and first who are last.
Mark 10
17 As he was going out into the way, one ran to him, knelt before him, and asked him, “Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?”
18 Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except one—God.
19 You know the commandments: ‘Do not murder,’ ‘Do not commit adultery,’ ‘Do not steal,’ ‘Do not give false testimony,’ ‘Do not defraud,’ ‘Honor your father and mother.’ ”
20 He said to him, “Teacher, I have observed all these things from my youth.”
21 Jesus looking at him loved him, and said to him, “One thing you lack. Go, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me, taking up the cross.”
22 But his face fell at that saying, and he went away sorrowful, for he was one who had great possessions.
23 Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How difficult it is for those who have riches to enter into God’s Kingdom!”
24 The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus answered again, “Children, how hard it is for those who trust in riches to enter into God’s Kingdom!
25 It is easier for a camel to go through a needle’s eye than for a rich man to enter into God’s Kingdom.”
26 They were exceedingly astonished, saying to him, “Then who can be saved?”
27 Jesus, looking at them, said, “With men it is impossible, but not with God, for all things are possible with God.”
28 Peter began to tell him, “Behold, we have left all and have followed you.”
29 Jesus said, “Most certainly I tell you, there is no one who has left house, or brothers, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or land, for my sake, and for the sake of the Good News,
30 but he will receive one hundred times more now in this time: houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and land, with persecutions; and in the age to come eternal life.
31 But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”
Luke 18
18 A certain ruler asked him, saying, “Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”
19 Jesus asked him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good, except one: God.
20 You know the commandments: ‘Don’t commit adultery,’ ‘Don’t murder,’ ‘Don’t steal,’ ‘Don’t give false testimony,’ ‘Honor your father and your mother.’ ”
21 He said, “I have observed all these things from my youth up.”
22 When Jesus heard these things, he said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell all that you have and distribute it to the poor. Then you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.”
23 But when he heard these things, he became very sad, for he was very rich.
24 Jesus, seeing that he became very sad, said, “How hard it is for those who have riches to enter into God’s Kingdom!
25 For it is easier for a camel to enter in through a needle’s eye than for a rich man to enter into God’s Kingdom.”
26 Those who heard it said, “Then who can be saved?”
27 But he said, “The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.”
28 Peter said, “Look, we have left everything and followed you.”
29 He said to them, “Most certainly I tell you, there is no one who has left house, or wife, or brothers, or parents, or children, for God’s Kingdom’s sake,
30 who will not receive many times more in this time, and in the world to come, eternal life.”
World English Bible Classic. Public domain.
Source passages
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