The Jailer and the Ruler

Both of these men came to Christ to be saved. 

Similarities

They were both men of authority. Their authority was not able to save them. Your stature in life doesn’t mean a thing to God. 

They also both came to Jesus in a hurry. We’ve heard it before, run to Jesus. But just running to Jesus doesn’t save you.

They both knelt before Jesus. After they ran to Jesus they fell at His feet. Kneeling before Jesus doesn’t save a person.

They both had a question about what they needed to do to be saved. Just because one asks the question also doesn’t mean you’re saved.

Differences

Their nationalities were different. Jesus doesn’t care about this. One was a Jew which would have meant he knew of Jesus. The other was a Gentile and knew nothing about Jesus. In your life, you may have attended church and been raised in it, but this doesn’t mean that you are saved. Churches are filled up today with a bunch of false teaching. Ephesians 2:14-16; Jesus made it level at the cross. 

One knew the law the other didn’t. The Jew knew what the commandments said and how to honor them while the jailer had no clue. In the end, the jailer was saved. The commandments will not save you. Many people know a lot about the Bible but they’ve never been saved. There are plenty of bible scholars and preachers in Hell simply because they were not saved.

Their riches or possessions. The ruler had a lot of money and had a lot of possessions. The jailer was a simple man just making ends meet. People are lustful and if they have a dollar they want to spend it. A child is more likely to be saved than an adult for one reason and that’s because they have nothing to give up. Rich people have a hard time giving up their possessions. The ruler had his trust in his riches. The jailer was about to kill himself because he had nothing else to live for. People think they can’t get saved today because they can’t give up what they are holding onto. 

Their hearts were also different. One had a lustful, hard heart they had a god of riches. He wasn’t saved because he thought he already had all he needed and didn’t need Jesus. The other had a willing heart and was saved. He was saved because he found something that he couldn’t live without.

Matthew 16:24-26; salvation is very exclusive.