Mark 10:17-27 & 10:31

Jesus Speaks to the Rich Young Man

 

18 'Why do you call me good?' Jesus answered. 'No one is good -- except God alone.

 

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 'Teacher,' he declared, 'all these things I have kept since I was a boy.'

 

21 Jesus looked at him and loved him. 'One thing you lack,' he said. 'Go sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.'

 

22 At this the man's face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth.

 

23 Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, 'How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!'

 

24 The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said again, 'Children, how hard it is to enter 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 the kingdom of God.'

 

26 The disciples were even more amazed, and said to each other, 'Who then can be saved?'

 

27 Jesus looked at them and said, 'With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.'

 

31 'But many who are first will be last, and the last first.'"

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This is the Word of the Lord ... It is meant to change the way that we think, and the way that we live.

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Commentary by Bob Pardue

Christ talks to the rich young man about heaven

There are two points to consider here. The young man was willing to do anything to have eternal life; anything except give up his material wealth and follow Jesus.

 

Even though this young man had obeyed all the commandments in his mind, his pride and love for wealth kept him from obeying the first commandment which says to put God first.

 

This passage does not mean that a person of means cannot get into heaven. Jesus knew what was in the young man's heart and what was important to him.

 

Do we struggle with these same obstacles? It is very difficult to love God with all our hearts and all our minds if we love money, wealth, possessions or power even more than we love Him.

 

I am comforted by Jesus' words that say, "all things are possible with God" because I struggle with these things just as you might. Turn it over to God and ask Him to help you overcome weaknesses such as these.

 

Let's try to keep balance in our lives and know what is more important than physical possessions. No matter how much we accumulate on earth we are going to leave it all behind one day. I have never heard of a person on their death bed saying; "I wish I could have had more money in my life."

 

I pray that we can be followers of Jesus Christ and lovers of God instead of becoming the "camel".

 

Love in Christ

- Bob

Mark 9:33-37 - The Disciples Argue about Who is the Greatest