Mark 10_17 Devotional

Text: Mk 10:17–27.

Title: Heart Issue

The man’s question Vs 17-18

Some saw Jesus as a Rabbi – Great religious Teacher

– Niccodimos “said Rabbi we know you are a teacher sent from God because no one can do these signs you do unless they are sent from God.

This young man called Him good. – this is not customary for Jews to call a rabbi good.

He understood there was something different about Jesus – by asking Him what should He do to inherent eternal life. – he knew the Sunday school answer

Most Rabbis would say keep the Law.

Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone.

Jesus is good – He is God.

Jesus’ answer Vs. 21

You know the commandments.

Interesting Jesus brings up commands that have to do with our relationships to other

1st half Vertical – our relationship with God

Shall have no other god’s before me, shall not make for yourself any idols, Lord’s name in vain, remember the Sabbath,

2nd half horizontal – relationships with people

DO NOT MURDER, DO NOT COMMIT ADULTERY, DO NOT STEAL, DO NOT BEAR FALSE WITNESS, Do not defraud, HONOR YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER.’ ”

Jesus summed up the Law by saying the 1st Commandment is to Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, strength, and mind. The 2nd is like it love your neighbor as yourself.

He said teacher I have kept all these from my youth – I have loved my neighbor as myself –

Jesus brings up the law to produce a knowledge of sin. – the man is under the delusion that he could inherent the kingdom of God on the principle of doing.

Jesus looked at Him with love and said you are lacking one thing still.

Test Him – “do you really love your neighbor as yourself?

Go sell everything you have and give it to the poor, THEN FOLLOW ME

Nobody is saved by selling everything and giving the money to the poor. We are saved by trusting the Son of God who gave everything to make us rich

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich. (2 Cor. 8:9).

Trust me – in faith – what is he missing faith – follow Jesus

Then he will have exceedingly riches in glory

NB) Sad – he went away grieving because he had much

He loved his money more than people

**** this isn’t the main issue

He loved money more than he loved God

Do you love people? He answered yes – Jesus showed him that He did not

Do you love me?

Jesus doesn’t bring up the 1st commands - love the Lord but tells Him to Follow me!

Come to the end of yourself – your desires – your preferences – your opinions and follow me

See the man didn’t love the Lord …… How could he love people if he didn’t Love the creator of the people?

1st John 4:19 we love because He first loved us –

Jesus felt love for him – all He had to do was turn to Him in faith.

The disciple’s question. Vs. 26

Like many Jews, the disciples thought that wealth was proof of God’s blessing,

If this man who has so much can’t be saved by his works or possessions who can.

He was the epidemy of righteousness, he was wealthy, respectable, had knowledge of the law

– outer appearance was righteousness

His inner appearance was filth – sin – unrepented sin-

but Jesus corrected their wrong idea

Jesus’ answer to the disciples vs. 27

It is impossible with people to enter into heaven

Man has no such power, goodness or belongings that can qualify him for eternal life

Only God has the power……. His name is Jesus

Power of God unto salvation – for anyone who believes

App/conclusion: What are you trusting in?

This man trusted in his good deeds.

But, His good deeds were filth before God because his heart was filthy

He was a sinner who failed to repent of His sin and follow Jesus.

Jesus gave Him the option to repent and follow Him

what is repent – a double turn – turn away from sin and turn to God

His issue was a heart Issue - He loved money and possessions – that was his god

He didn’t love Lord

While faced with the answer to His question – what must I do to inherit eternal life - He saw that loving God first was more than he could give.

He traded being spared from God’s holy righteous wrath – for mere earthly possessions

He traded glory for dollars

He traded eternal peace – for pride

If you are trust in anything other than Jesus you are trusting in the wrong thing!

What are you going to trade?

– Eternal glory because of earthly desires

Everlasting life because of the pride of life

Heavenly peace and comfort because of a hardness of heart and ignorance!

Or

Will you trade the sickness of your heart for eternal treasure?

Jesus looked at this man with love, Jesus looks at you with love – will you receive His love right now by faith?