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Mark: 10:17-31
The believers reward 17 And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life? 18 And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God. 19 Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother. 20 And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth. 21 Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me. 22 And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions. 23 And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto his disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God! 24 And the disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God! 25 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. 26 And they were astonished out of measure, saying among themselves, Who then can be saved? 27 And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible. 28 Then Peter began to say unto him, Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee. 29 And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel's, 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. 31 But many that are first shall be last; and the last first. |
Margin notes:
"When he was gone forth into the way." (10:17) - Means, "When he had started on the road (to Jerusalem)." "There came one running." (10:17) - This was a young, rich man (10:22). "Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God." (10:18) - Since only God is truly good, Jesus is indirectly asking the man if he understands that he is talking to God. "The commandments." (10:19) - These are six of the Ten Commandments. The rest are outlined in Exodus 20:3-26 and Deuteronomy 5:6-22. "Al these have I observed from my youth." (10:20) - "I've obeyed all these (commandments) since my youth." "Sell whatsoever thou hast." (10:21) - Jesus doesn't require all Christians to sell everything they own, just the people who put wealth before God. See Today's Question below. "How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!" (10:23) - "How hard it is for the rich to enter into the Kingdom of God." Jesus' statement is answered in Proverbs 11:28. "The disciples were astonished at his words." (10:24) In Jesus' day, it was a common belief that the rich were blessed by God and the poor were being punished. Jesus' words went against everything the disciples had been taught. "They were astonished out of measure." (10:26) - People were frequently astonished by Jesus (Matthew 7:28; 13:54; Mark 10:24; Luke 2:47; 4:32) or marveled at Him (Matthew 8:27; 9:8; John 7:15). Why? Read John 7:46. "With God all things are possible." (10:27) - It is impossible to earn eternal life in paradise through our own efforts (Romans 3:20). But with God, the impossible is made possible. With faith in Jesus Christ, mountains are moved, camels pass through the eye of a needle, and we can find heaven (Galatians 3:11). "Lo, we have left all." (10:28) - "Look, we left everything.' "Many that are first shall be last; and the last first." (10:31) - After death, the last will be first. Jesus repeats this teaching in Matthew 19:30; 20:16; and Luke 13:30. |
