Mark 10 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Review Questions on Chapter Ten

Review Questions on Chapter Ten

• What question do some ask?
• To whom does the Kingdom belong?
• Who will have difficulty getting into the Kingdom?
• What request do John and James make, with what reaction?
• Who is the greatest among all Christians?
• What was the name of the blind beggar healed?

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Preceding

Mark 10 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Mark 10:1-12 – Pharisees Debate About Divorce

Mark 10 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Mark 10:13-16 – Kingdom Belongs to Child-like

Mark 10 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Mark 10:17-22 – Sell and Give to Poor

Mark 10 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Mark 10:23-31 – The Difficulty of Money

Mark 10 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Mark 10:32-34 – Predicts His Suffering

Mark 10 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Mark 10:35-40 – Nespotism and Baptism

Mark 10 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Mark 10:41-45 – The True Minister

Mark 10 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Mark 10:46-52 – Blind Bartimaeus Healed

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Additional reading

1. Today’s exhortation on Mark 10 With God all things are possible

Mark 10 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Mark 10:23-31 – The Difficulty of Money

Mark 10:23-31 – The Difficulty of Money

|| Matthew 19:27-30; Luke 18:26-30

MK10:23 Jesus studied the faces of his disciples and then said to them: “How difficult it will be for those with money[1] to gain entrance into God’s Realm!” MK10:24 Now this statement astounded the disciples, but Jesus responded, saying again: “Children, how difficult will it be [[for those who trust in riches]][2] to gain entrance into God’s Realm? MK10:25 It would be easier for a camel to thread the eye of a needle[3] than for a rich person to gain entrance into God’s Realm!” MK10:26 But the disciples were even more astonished and said among themselves: “Who can be saved, then?” MK10:27 Jesus looked intently at their faces and said: “With humans it is impossible! But, not for God! Because everything is possible with the God!”[4] MK10:28 Then Peter said to Jesus: “Look, we have left everything to follow you!”[5] MK10:29 So Jesus answered and said: “I tell you this truth: No one who has left behind[6] house, brothers, sisters, mother, father, children, or fields – in behalf of my name and the Good News – MK10:30 will receive a hundred times more now in this present season – houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, [[wife]][7] and fields, together with persecutions. And in the coming [New] Age[8] life everlasting. MK10:31 However, many of those who are ‘first’ will be last, and the ‘last’ first.”[9]

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[1] Those with money: Jesus parallels those with money as the rich. In the Scriptures the rich are defined as those with a surplus, while the poor are those who must depend on others for existence. Compare Luke 21:1-4.

[2] Bracketed words are recognized as not adequately supported.

[3] Camel to thread the eye of a needle: Or, cable, rope. Some manuscripts use “rope.” Others see this “eye” as a very narrow and low entrance where a camel had to get on its knees to pass through.

[4] Everything is possible with the God: The phrase has been much abused outside of its context. Jesus is describing the difficulty of a rich person entering the Kingdom. It would take a miracle for God for such to happen. For details on riches see this and related words in Luke.

[5] We have left everything to follow you: Peter says “left” and not “we have sold everything.” He is not actually being honest, for after the dead of Jesus he and others are seen still possessing fishing boats. Jesus asks Peter about this. Surely by Pentecost they had done exactly what the Nazarene had directed at Luke 12:32, 33.

[6] Left behind: Or, given up, sacrificed. Jesus has in mind putting discipleship before all other things. Elsewhere the Nazarene uses “hate” though he means to “love less.”

[7] Bracketed words are recognized as not adequately supported. Though Luke uses it.

[8] The coming [New] Age: Or, ABU: in the age to come; PME: in the next world.

[9] Those who are ‘first’ will be last, and the ‘last’ first: Here those ‘first’ are the rich with money, while the ‘last’ are the poor. Compare notes on 1 Corinthians 1:26.

 

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Preceding

Matthew 19:27-29 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: We Have Left Everything for You!

Mark 10 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Mark 10:1-12 – Pharisees Debate About Divorce

Mark 10 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Mark 10:13-16 – Kingdom Belongs to Child-like

Mark 10 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Mark 10:17-22 – Sell and Give to Poor

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Additional reading

1. Ability (part 5) Thought about the abilities to be under God\’s Spirit

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Related

1. Of Camels and NeedlesIt’d be Easier for a Camel…
2. The Eye of the Needle
3. Money in Mark’s Gospel
4. Goodness Gracious
5. Questions of the Soul
6. Astonishing Words About Wealth

Mark 10 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Mark 10:13-16 – Kingdom Belongs to Child-like

Mark 10:13-16 – Kingdom Belongs to Child-like

|| Matthew 19:13-15;[1] Luke 18:15-17

MK10:13 Then they brought little children to Jesus so that he might touch them. But his disciples rebuked the parents[2] who brought them. MK10:14 Now when he was aware of this he was very upset,[3] and so he told the disciples: “Allow the little children to approach me and do not try to stop them! Because those [who are ‘little children’] belong to the Kingdom of the God. MK10:15 I tell you this truth: Whoever does not accept God’s Realm like a ‘little child’[4] will never gain entrance.”[5] MK10:16 Then Jesus took the children in his arms[6] and laid his hands upon them, blessing them.

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[1] Matthew 19:13-15: For details see notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000 on Matthew.

[2] Disciples rebuked the parents: Our patient grows thin for these men. If these represent the best of the Jews at the time, we begin to understand why Jesus calls the whole generation adulterous and wicked.

[3] He was very upset: Or, displeased, angry, indignant.

[4] Little child: These self-righteous, arrogant and jealousy ambitious men needed to make a great change. This they finally do after Pentecost.

[5] Gain entrance: Not only is it hard for the arrogant and ambitious to even become members of the Church – the Realm of Profession – it is virtually impossible for such to ever gain the celestial Kingdom of the Father. [Matthew 13:40-43]

[6] Jesus took the children in his arms: This is surely an endearing sight, as we watch the faces of the apostles who had opposed the children. They must surely feel ashamed.

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Preceding

Mark 10 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Mark 10:1-12 – Pharisees Debate About Divorce

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Related

1. 7th-week-of-ordinary-time-cycle-1-saturday- gospel-reading – Mark 10:13-16
2. 7th week of ordinary-time-cycle-2 – Saturday-gospel-reading – Mark 10:13-16
3. Twenty-seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time (B)
4. Creation & Stewardship 2
5. How Approachable Are We?
6. Let the Children Come to Me
7. Inclusive Welcome (Mk 10:13-15)
8. Re-Learning to Be Like Children
9. Child-Like Living
10. Do Not Hinder Them
11. Daily Devotion: Mark 10:15

Matthew 23 – A Jeremiad against the religious hypocrites

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE:
A JEREMIAD AGAINST THE RELIGIOUS HYPOCRITES

[“Woe to a Generation of Vipers”]
(Key word: Woe!)

Already in chapter 16 of Matthews’s account of Jesus his life the apostle wrote about Jesus warning them to be careful and to pay attention regarding the leaven (Pharisees, Sadducees, and Herodians (Matthew 16:6, 11, 12; Mark 8:15; Luke 12:1) or particular people who claim to be speaking in the name of God.

Today we start looking at chapter 23 of Matthew’s gospel where Jesus speaks directly to those who claim they are the only ones who have the right to speak about God and His commandments and demanded followship.

This chapter clearly shows the extent to which the disciples are viewed as Jews in relation to the nation, even though their master condemned the leaders who misguided the people and dishonoured Jehovah God by their hypocrisy.

To speak to the crowd and to His disciples, Jesus says:

“The scribes and the Pharisees have sat down in Moses’ chair”;

and though their behaviour was only hypocrisy, they had to follow them, as the interpreters of the law, yet in all that they spoke in accordance with it.

We find Jesus speaking to the multitudes and to his disciple in the most public manner.

First of all, Jesus acknowledges the official position and the orthodoxy of the leaders of the people, and therefore encourages his disciples to bear the fetters of the stricter statue even longer than by premature dropping the semblance of indiscipline (the temple falls soon enough) V. 36).

On the other hand, he recommends to the disciples the harmony of change with doctrine, fraternal equality and humble service (his, the Messiah’s, as the sole leader V. 10); that was the basis of all greatness in his kingdom.

In this chapter we shall come to see how certain people shall try to convince people how they can not come in the Kingdom of God in case they do not follow their teachings. Also in our present day we do find such teachers of religion, Pharisees and hypocrites who love to prevent ordinary people from entering the kingdom of God (v 14) or who set up a show, putting themselves in the spotlights, doing as if they are very devout people and saying ‘great prayers’.

Today we still find people who are more attracted to the writings and sayings of so called theologians instead of concentrating on the words of the Holy Scriptures. They let themselves being carried away by the many theological theories even when those would be not according the Bible texts. Often those church leaders want to have full control over their congregation and therefore make them afraid with all sorts of stories which are not in accordance with the Bible, or of taking certain texts to literally instead of reading in between the lines and seeing the essence of the text.

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Preceding

Matthew 13:33 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Parable of the Fermented Whole

Matthew 16:5-12 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Watch Out for the Leaven of False Teaching

Matthew 22:41-46 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Jesus Asks a Trump Question

Additional readings to Matthew 22:41-46

Next

Matthew 23:1-12 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Prominence and Humility

Matthew 20 It is never too late

In the twentieth chapter of Matthew we can once more come to hear about the position of Jesus and our position concerning the Kingdom of God.

Jesus compares that Kingdom or the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire labourers for his vineyard. he wants us to to understand the secrets about that kingdom of heaven and how it shall be for those able to enter into the Kingdom of God.

Each person has a different path in life. For some it may take a long time before they come to God or before they come to realise who Christ is and what he really has done. We must understand that it may happen that a person comes later in the Biblical Truth than us, but shall receive the same promised salvation as us.

In our lifetime we also came to a point where we had to decide which way we wanted to follow. We too like every individual had to make the right choice. By choosing to follow Jeshua or Christ Jesus we had to know we had to become workers for him. When coming under Christ we have to follow up his teachings but also have to fulfil the tasks he has given his disciples to do. They and all those who say to be followers of Christ have to become labourers in ‘God’s garden’. Having become a Jesus follower (or a Jeshuaist if you want) we can all share in the fruit of our labours together, with all the saints who participate, we should not wait before taking action. As soon as you have chosen to follow Christ you should get at work for him.

Many people think that just because they have been a Christian longer than another, they are entitled to have a higher ranking place or to receive more rewards in heaven than a ‘newly born Christian’. People also should be aware that just because somebody may have believed in Jesus longer, it does not mean that they were actively seeking him or doing his will or where really giving their life to him. God is the Only One Who can see in the heart of a person. But He is also a righteous Father Who wants all to come to Him and all having the same rights in His Kingdom. He is not going to favour one above an other because that one has become first to Him or has been longer a follower of Christ.

To each person, God simply asks that we work in His vineyard. These are those that are part of the kingdom of heaven and are saved. All others that stand idly by, doing nothing, have nothing to show for themselves and therefore, have no rewards in heaven.This is one of the parables Jesus tells us to make sure we shall come to recognise we have to do works and should not sit on our ass to do nothing or should not worry any more about good and wrong, with the idea that we are saved and as such can do wrong without loosing the grace of salvation.

We should know that Jesus is the householder, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard. He might find in this world many who own things, while God continually calls unto them, but are so taken by the materialistic goods of this world they have not much interest in the heavenly goods. At the other hand Jesus also may find people who own less in this world, but who are with their heart by his heavenly Father . At a certain time in their life they may respond and by doing so shall be blessed by God.

We should know that everyone that loves and serves God is equal in the amount of blessings they receive. Therefore, it is better to work together in this world, going in union for God’s kingdom. For pride may bring you to a point where you no longer serve the Lord and shall come to see that his reward shall not be for you.

To those that are new to the faith, we should be pleased that they at last found the way and should welcome them in with our whole heart. They may not be treated differently. We also may never forget that many are called but few are chosen, this means that not everyone excepts the invitation to work in God’s garden or kingdom. The harvest is ripe but there are only few labours that listen to God’s calling and enter it, in order to do God’s will.

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Preceding

Matthew 20:1-7 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: The Kingdom and Vineyard Workers

Matthew 20:8-16 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Last, First; First, Last

Matthew 20:17-19 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Onward to Jerusalem!

Matthew 20:20-23 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: A Selfish Request Rejected

Matthew 20:24-28 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Authority Not the Way – Serve Others

Matthew 20:29-34 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Two Blind Men Pitied and Healed