Mark 10.AR 10{
Verse 1. The Lord comes into the coasts of Judea near the Jordan, and the people resort unto Him; and, as He was wont, He taught them again, unwearied in His service.
Verses 2-12. The Pharisees came to try Him, by the question: "Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife?" In return He asks them: "What did Moses command you?" And they said, "Moses suffered to write a bill of divorcement, and to put her away:”
The Lord uses this to teach us the sacredness of the marriage tie, the mystery of two becoming one flesh, as instituted of God at the beginning. Moses, for the hardness of their hearts, suffered them to put away their wives. But from the beginning God made them male and female. "For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife; and they twain shall be one flesh. so then they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder." Here the Lord puts the marriage tie in its real and original place, and makes it thus binding on all Christians. God's creative hand formed the union, and does still. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder. It is very emphatic, His "I say unto you.”
In the house the disciples inquired more about this. He explained to them the seriousness of putting away.
“Whosoever shall put away his wife, and marry another, committeth adultery against her. And if a woman shall put away her husband, and be married to another, she committeth adultery.”
Matt. 5:32, and 19:9, makes an exception in putting away, that is: In case of fornication the offending one might be put away, it does not say must, but to marry her that is put away is committing adultery (Matt. 19:9), or to marry another after putting the one away is to commit adultery (Mark 10:12). How serious and sacred then is the marriage tie. Accordingly God has instituted it. (Heb. 13:4.)
The law of Moses, for the hardness of men's hearts, allowed it to be broken. The law of countries may and does allow it now. But the man of God will abide by God's institution, and refuse to take advantage of the legal deflection from the truth to gratify his fleshly desires. Like his Master, and precious Exemplar for his path, he will say, "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God." (Matt. 4:4.)
Verses 13-16. And they brought young children to Him, that He should touch them: and His disciples rebuked those that brought them. But when Jesus saw it, He was much displeased (indignant), and said unto them, "Suffer the little children to come unto Me, and forbid them not: for of such is the Kingdom of God." How different are the disciples in their feelings from the Lord. How deeply He is interested in their welfare. He looked with God's compassionate eye upon them, and those who brought them and He was indignant that His disciples should treat them as they did. He saw in those dear children, the simplicity and confidence that was characteristic of all suitable for the Kingdom of God, those who would trust Him implicitly: they had not yet learned the deceitfulness of this world. God values the simple confidence of implicit trust in Him. "Verily I say unto you, whosoever shall not receive the Kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein.”
Verses 17-22. As He went on 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?" This man was honest, moral, instructed in the law, a lovely character, amiable and well disposed, yet altogether blind to his real condition before God. He takes Jesus as a teacher who can inform him just what is lacking to make himself perfect to obtain eternal life. Jesus was only a man to him, so He answers, "Why callest thou Me good? there is none good but one, that is, God." This should have let him see his own sinfulness, and that Jesus is God. The Lord adds, "Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honor thy father and mother." The man answered, "Master, all these have I observed from my youth." Jesus, beholding him, loved him. Such a fine disposition, and yet the Lord saw in him that his heart was in his possessions, so 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." This disclosed his heart's object, it was earth and possessions, rather than Christ and heaven. A cross here, and glory with Christ above, did not suit him, and one so amiable and moral turns his back on Christ and heaven, and chooses earth, and at the end the lake of fire.
Reader, what is your object? Is it Christ or self? Is your destiny heaven or the lake of fire? 'Ye cannot serve God and Mammon. Be warned by this young man who had great possessions; but only for time. He wanted to serve God, but just for his own benefit, though he would not if it took his riches away. His righteousness was all his own work and devising., (Rom. 10:3:)
He is the opposite of Paul who counted all things but loss for Christ, and the excellency of the knowledge of Christ eclipsed everything else. He pressed on that he might win Christ, and be found in Him, with nothing of his own righteousness, which is of the law, but the righteousness which is of God by faith. (Phil. 3:7-11.)
Verses 23-27. Jesus looked round about on the astonished disciples, and said, "How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the Kingdom of God!" He answered their astonishment by saying, "Children, how hard it is for them that trust in riches to enter into the Kingdom of God! 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." The disciples thought a rich man had the best opportunity, and say, "Who then can be saved?" Jesus said, "With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible." God can humble the richest and proudest of men to take their place as lost, ruined sinners. The proud, rich Nebuchadnezzar experienced this. (Dan. 4:34-37.) He filleth the hungry with good things, the rich He sends empty away. (1 Sam. 2:6-8, Luke 1:53.) The rich man must become poor in spirit, he must feel his need before God or he cannot be saved. He cannot save himself, nor help to save himself. If he attempts it, it is but "dead works." "filthy rags." (Isa. 64:6.) The grace of God brings salvation; those, who feel their need will accept it. (Titus 2:11.) They have nothing to recommend them but their need.
Verses 28-31. Then Peter began to say unto Him, "Lo, we have left all, and have followed Thee."' Jesus answered, "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, 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 life everlasting." The hundredfold is the compensation the soul experiences, given to all that put Christ first, both now and in the future. Israel's "world to come" is the reign of Christ over the earth. We have the promise, in godliness of behavior, of the life that now is, and of that which is to come (1 Tim. 4:8), not of wealth in this world, but of the enjoyment of communion and favor of God that sustains now in the midst of opposition or persecution, and gives a reward in the future. But many that are first shall be last; and the last first. We must leave the dispensing of rewards to the One who can rightly value what is done, and give each his place in the kingdom according to His divine wisdom, and not as we would think.