Why did Jesus preach laws to the rich man Matthew 19:16-22

1. Jesus answered the man based on his question
The man asked, “What must I DO to inherit eternal life?”
He wanted to EARN eternal life by his own righteousness.
So Jesus gave him the Law — because that’s what the Law is for:
Romans 3:20 – “By the law is the knowledge of sin.”
Galatians 3:24 – “The law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.”
Jesus wasn’t teaching salvation through law — He was showing the man the impossibility of it.
2. Jesus was exposing the man’s heart
When the man claimed he had kept all the commandments, Jesus exposed his true god — money.
Matthew 19:21 – “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor… and follow Me.”
Here, Jesus revealed:
The man didn’t really love God with all his heart, as the law requires (Deut. 6:5).
He trusted in riches, not God (breaking the first commandment – Exodus 20:3).
He loved self, not neighbor (breaking the second great commandment – Leviticus 19:18).
Jesus used the Law to show him his sin, not to offer it as a way to be saved.
🕊️ Jesus Was Leading Him to Grace
Jesus never said:
“Obey the law and you will be saved.”
Instead, when the man walked away sad, Jesus turned to His disciples and said:
Matthew 19:26 – “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
That’s the whole point.
You can’t be saved by keeping the commandments.
The law shows us we are guilty and need mercy.
Jesus wanted him to see this and follow Him instead — not the Law.
🧾 Old Covenant vs. New Covenant
The Old Covenant (Law) said: “Do this and live.”
The New Covenant (Grace) says: “Believe in Jesus and live.”
Hebrews 8:13 – “In that He says, ‘A new covenant,’ He has made the first obsolete.”
But during Jesus’ earthly ministry, He was still dealing with Israel under the Old Covenant — the Cross had not happened yet. So He often answered people according to their pride, not to give salvation but to bring them to humility.
💡 Summary:
Why did Jesus say “Keep the commandments”?
✅ Because the man asked how he could earn eternal life
✅ Jesus showed him the standard of perfection — which the Law demands
✅ Then He exposed that the man had not truly kept the Law
✅ Jesus was using the Law to lead him to the truth — that he needed a Savior, not self-righteousness
✅ He pointed to Himself as the real way: “Come, follow Me.”
🔑 The Real Answer to His Question
If that man had said, “I can’t keep the law. I need mercy!”, Jesus would have said what He told others:
John 6:29 – “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.”
John 3:16 – “Whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life.”
Luke 18:13-14 – The tax collector cried, “Have mercy on me, a sinner!” and he went home justified.
💬 Final Word
Jesus wasn’t teaching salvation by Law —
He was exposing the man’s pride and pointing to the need for faith in Him.
The rich man wanted to do something to be saved —
Jesus wanted him to die to self and trust in Him.
That’s the same call today.