Mark 10:17-31

General Notes

All 3 accounts note he was rich. Matthew that he was young and Luke that he was a ruler

The entire section emphasizes that riches make being a disciple difficult but the rewards of discipleship are worth more than material possessions. Jesus did not teach that wealth is evil. He did not teach that poverty is better than riches. He did not teach that only the poor can be saved. He did teach that discipleship is costly and that wealth often is a hindrance to repentance and acceptance of the gospel.

The call to discipleship is the call to leave behind all obligations and allegiances to follow Jesus

Potential usage of the eclipse

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v.17 - Jesus is on his way to Jerusalem and the cross

His haste and submission suggest his earnestness to become a disciple (How can someone who is so eager to follow Jesus so quickly leave him?)

Odd question - There were no doubts about what to do to inherit eternal life — observe the law

v.19 - Jesus brings up the second half of the Ten Commandments because to do them would reflect that that first half was being observed

Despite his moral zeal… or maybe because of it, something is lacking in his relationship with God

Moralism is not the ultimate purpose of life. But to know God.

v.21 - It refers to genuine love based on need and not merit or response

Critical - Other persons may have to give up other things in order to follow Jesus: a vocation, a style of life, a sinful passion, or a relationship. The call is not to poverty but to discipleship, which takes many forms. Discipleship, however, is costly. It involves sacrifice. It involves obedience. It involves following the example of Jesus (Brooks)

The profound irony of this passage and the kingdom of God is is the children in the previous story who lacked nothing though they had nothing. This man has everything and lacks something

OBEDIENCE IS NOT THE SAME THING AS DISCIPLESHIP

It is all too possible to live a moralistic life of right actions without closely following in the footsteps of Christ

Discipleship does not work without obedience but it is not the same thing as obedience

Obedience refers to our external happenings

Discipleship requires the formation of not just your actions but your mind, you soul, your efforts, and your motivations

Orthodoxy - right thinking and orthopraxy, right actions without orthopathy, right motivations make us obedient scholars without a changed heart. This was the Pharisee’s who Jesus also called white-washed tombs.

The external is clean and presentable but it is still dead inside

Spurgeon: To wash and dress a corpse is a far different thing that making it alive: man can do one but God alone can do the other

The rich young ruler was concerned about his moralistic stance and desired Christ as a garnish on top of the meal that he already created

Christ is longing to remake the entire thing

v.22 - This is the only example in Mark of someone being called to discipleship but refusing. Not only did the man go away sad, but many of those who have read the account over the years have also been saddened. In fact, this verse has been described as the saddest in the Bible.

Discipleship is anchoring your life in only the security of Christ (think through story — if this doesn’t work, I will not make it — Clayton skydiving. Utter dependence on the parachute)

WITH REGARDS TO MONEY...

The greatest enemies to faith and obedience are self-satisfaction and pride. Nothing feeds those enemies like sole trust in wealth

While wealth can be a potential danger to faith it is not categorically condemned by Jesus. Others interact with Jesus and have wealth. But for this man, it was a danger. It was a blockage of his heart

v.23 - They provide false security and can be a temptation, a hindrance, and a diversion

v.25 - The contrast between the largest Palestinian animal and one of the smallest openings is clearly intended to indicate the impossibility of a rich person—or anyone else (v. 24)—entering the kingdom by doing something for himself or herself.

v.26 - Forces them to look inward where they only find weakness and inadequacy. They see that salvation is an impossibility.

v.28 - Peter, James, and John though exaggerating gave up much more than many others — much more than modern day disciples

The great irony of the rich man is that everything (100 fold) would have been his if he had had a willingness to leave it.

It’s only when you don’t desire those things and you seek first the kingdom of God that he gives much more

What Jesus gives us is far great, more substantial, and more ever-lasting than the very things we are trying to hold on to

v.30 Lest we think that following Jesus is a utopia, he includes persecutions.

Discipleship is not an insurance policy against adversity and hardship

SO IT’S BOTH/AND NOT EITHER/OR

This is where the prosperity gospel movement gets is wrong. A false narrative is being sold

Sometimes I wonder if we are more committed to our marriages than to Christ — not a slight on marriage

But we say in good times and in bad. In sickness and in health. For richer or poorer.

But with Jesus we sometimes say only in good times, only if I and those around me are always healthy. Only if I am rich

The point of discipleship to Christ is that he desires all of us

The sacrifice of discipleship looks insignificant in comparison to the lavish blessing of God

v.31 - The great irony of the kingdom

One of downward mobility

One of surrendering priorities and demands

Takes from those who follow Jesus and gives them things they could not imagine

Takes the things they stand and enables them to stand stronger and taller than previously

WHAT HAS YOU? (Commitment can’t be forced)

Tithing tells us that God actually is the source, provision, and provider

You can’t serve God and mammon the motivation of the heart)

WHAT SAVES YOU?

If our kids got everything they ever asked for, they would be terrible

Money magnifies more of who you are

WHATS IN OUR WAY… AM I GETTING IN THE WAY? (AM I BARRIER OR AM I BRINGER)