Mark 10:23-27

C. THE RICH MAN AND HEAVEN 10:23-27

TEXT 10:23-27

And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto his disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God! And the disciples were amazed 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! It is easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. And they were astonished exceedingly, saying unto him, Then who can be saved? Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for all things are possible with God.

THOUGHT QUESTIONS 10:23-27

544.

Why mention the appearance or looks of Jesus?

545.

Show how appropriate this question was.

546.

What is the kingdom of God as used here?

547.

Why were the disciples so amazed?

548.

Show how the exaggerated illustration of the camel and the needle's eye fit the circumstance.

549.

Did the disciples believe there was some connection between being rich and God's approval? Discuss.

550.

Did the disciples thinkif a rich man cannot be saved no one can be saved? Why?

551.

What was impossible and possible in the salvation of a rich man?

COMMENT

TIME.MarchA.D. 30. Shortly after the conversation with the rich young ruler.
PLACE.In Pereathe east side of the Jordan, near the borders of Judea.

PARALLEL ACCOUNTS.Matthew 19:23-26; Luke 18:24-27.

OUTLINE.1. Jesus states the rich man's poor chances for heaven, Mark 10:23. Mark 10:2. The disciples are very surprised, Mark 10:24 a, Mark 10:3. Jesus repeats with emphasis and illustration His first assertion, Mark 10:24 b - Mark 10:25. Mark 10:4. Who can be saved?God can make it possible, Mark 10:26-27.

ANALYSIS

I.

JESUS STATES THE RICH MAN'S POOR CHANCES FOR HEAVEN, Mark 10:23.

1.

This was said as Jesus looked intently into the faces of His disciples.

2.

It is almost impossible for a rich man to be saved.

II.

THE DISCIPLES ARE VERY SURPRISED, Mark 10:24 a.

1.

This surprise was because of their thought that a man was rich because God had blessed him.

2.

Jesus had flatly contradicted their concept.

III.

JESUS REPEATS WITH EMPHASIS AND -ILLUSTRATION HIS FIRST ASSERTION, Mark 10:24 b - Mark 10:25.

1.

Jesus calls His disciples children (in understanding) as He repeats His statement.

2.

The possibility is like that of a camel going through the eye of a needle.

IV.

WHO THEN CAN BE SAVED?GOD CAN MAKE IT POSSIBLE, Mark 10:26-27.

1.

The increased amazement of the disciples.

2.

Jesus again looked searchingly at themwhat man cannot do, God can do.

EXPLANATORY NOTES

I.

JESUS STATES THE RICH MAN'S POOR CHANCES FOR HEAVEN.

Mark 10:23. Now again the deliberate look of Jesus round the whole circle of his disciples, gazing into each face, impressed itself on the memory of Mark's informant, His saying, How hardlyi.e. with what difficultyshall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!is amply confirmed by experience. Christian men often become rich, but rich men rarely become Christians. The reason is not far to seek: the process of gaining wealth encourages self-seeking, and the possession of it encourages self-importance; but the spirit that can enter the kingdom is the spirit of a little child.

II.

THE DISCIPLES ARE VERY SURPRISED.

Mark 10:24 a. This remarkable verse is peculiar to Mark. The astonishment of the disciples was natural, with their ideas of the kingdom. Hard for rich men! What can he mean? All the splendid imagery of the prophets (as in Isaiah 60) might rise in their minds to contradict him; and the idea of delivering Israel from oppression by a kingdom that rich men could scarcely enter must have seemed to them absurd.

III.

JESUS REPEATS WITH EMPHASIS AND ILLUSTRATION HIS FIRST ASSERTION.

Mark 10:24 b - Mark 10:25. Jesus solemnly repeated his hard saying; yet his mood was tender, as his word Children shows, here alone addressed to them. (Little children, in John 13:33.)According to the common reading, the repetition of the saying explains and softens it by the modification. How hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter. But there seems sufficient reason to accept the reading of ancient manuscripts by which the words for them that trust in riches are omitted. In that case the repetition of the saying removes it from the special case of rich men and applies the sentiment more widely: Children, how hard it is to enter into the kingdom of God!Plainly, such a remark was a natural outcome of the incident, for it was not chiefly his riches, but his heart, that sent the man away sorrowful, and a like heart is in all men. To all men, therefore, rich or poor, it is by nature hard to enter into the kingdom of Godhard in itself, since sin is what it is.Let us not be afraid that such a text will prove too discouraging. It is better to know things as they are; and perhaps the doctrine of free grace has been so used as to lead to an untrue idea of the easiness of salvation.

Mark 10:25. It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle. This comparison may have been proverbial, as the Talmud contains, at a later date, a closely similar saying. The Koran exactly reproduces it from the New Testament. As for the popular explanationthat the small gate in the city wall, too narrow for a camel to pass through, was called the needle's eyethere is no sufficient evidence of the antiquity of such a use of the name. The comparison needs no special explanation; it is a strong way of representing impossibility: It is so hard for sinful men, rich or poor, to enter the kingdom, that for a rich manone who is especially involved in the unchildlike habits of the worldto enter is harder than for a camel to go through a needle's eye. This is no contradiction of any gracious and winning Scripture. It is the Saviour's emphatic statement of a fact, parallel to Luke 13:24; Luke 14:26-33, and to many other of his words.

IV.

WHO THEN CAN BE SAVED?GOD CAN MAKE IT POSSIBLE.

Mark 10:26-27. Astonished before; astonished out of measure now.The inquiry was among themselves, a whispering of amazement. Who then can be saved?With such a standard, how would the kingdom receive any one? For was not the love of money everywhere? and how could the kingdom live, with a law so strict?Jesus looking upon them. Again Peter remembered his look. The word, both here and in Mark 10:21, is the same as in Luke 22:61; The Lord turned and looked on Peter,With men it is impossible, Not now difficult, but more. On human principles or by any power of man it cannot be done; the proud man cannot be brought into the kingdom of the humble, or the worldly-minded rich man into the kingdom of the poor in spirit, So in John 3:3: Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God,But not with God: for with God all things are possible, He can make new creatures of men; he can impart the spirit of the kingdom. He has command, too, of all means, earthly and heavenly. So he can bring into his kingdom men who are spiritually incompatible with it, (See 1 Timothy 1:12-17; 1 Corinthians 15:9-10,) The implication is that, even though this case looks so hopeless, God can yet find means of bringing the unwilling rich man to a better mind. In his hands are even life and death. (W. N. Clarke)

FACT QUESTIONS

10:23-27

583.

Why is it that Christian men often become rich, but rich men rarely become Christians?

584.

What could arise in the mind of the disciples to contradict the words of Jesus?

585.

Is the thought of difficulty in entering the kingdom general or specific? i.e. does this principle apply to allexplain.

586.

Is there any truth in the thought of a needle's gate in the city wall of Jerusalem? Why was this explanation offered in the first place?

587.

Why were the disciples particularly amazed at this time?

588.

How will God make the impossible possible? Discuss.