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

Mark 4 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Mark 4:30-32 – Kingdom Like a Mustard Seed

Mark 4:30-32 – Kingdom Like a Mustard Seed

|| Matthew 13:31, 32;[1] Luke 13:18, 19

MK4:30 Jesus said: “With what will we compare God’s Realm? Or, what parable might we use to explain it? MK4:31 It is like a mustard-seed[2] when first planted in the ground is among the tiniest of all seeds. MK4:32 But once grown it becomes one of the largest of all bushes, so even the birds of the sky nest in its shade.”

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[1] Matthew 13:31, 32: For details see notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000 on Matthew.

[2] Mustard-seed: The Church begins with essentially twelve men and a few score disciples. It grows over three centuries into a massive bush, almost like a tree. Had anyone predicted to the Jews or Romans that within three centuries the Nazarene movement would become the state religion and that Emperor himself would be a Christian – there would have been universal laughter. Had those persons in the 3^rd Century been told that Christianity would become the world’s largest religion with two billion adherents among the most powerful nations on earth – none would have believed it.

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Preceding

Matthew 13:31-32 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Parable of the Mustard Seed

Matthew 17:14-21 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Faith the Size of a Mustard Seed

Mark 4 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Mark 4:1-9 – Teaching in Parables

Mark 4 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Mark 4:10-13 – How Will You Understand?

Mark 4 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Mark 4:14-20 – Sower Parable Explained

Mark 4 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Mark 4:21-23 – Light Exposes

Mark 4 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Mark 4:24, 25 – Hearing and Responsibility

Mark 4 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Mark 4:26-29 – The Sleeping Farmer

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Additional reading

1. Seeds, weeds and kingdoms
2. Unbelief, faith and mustard seed
3. A Living Faith #1 Substance of things hoped for

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Related

1. Mark 4:26-34
2. Seed Power
3. Seeds of Mustard and Kudzu
4. Morning Musing: Mark 4:30-32
5. The Mustard Seed
6. A Little Mustard Seed
7. Mustard Seed
8. Handing Over the Keys
9. Gardening from Seed
10. Mustard Seeds
11. From One Seed – Many Seeds
12. Weed or towering cedar? The Kingdom of God.
13. Text Study for Mark 4:26-34 (Pt. 2); 3 Pentecost B 2021
14. Seeds Harvest Growth- Worship Resources based on Mark 4.26-34
15. God of the Little – Prayer
16. The Kingdom is not in us. We are in the Kingdom.
17. Growing the Kingdom: It’s Not About Us
18. Gardening with God
19. Stay in the Soil
20. Never Underestimate the Power of a Seed
21. “God Changes Things!”
22. An Everlasting Kingdom
23. Setting Our Stories Straight: The Myth of Progress

Mark 4 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Mark 4:26-29 – The Sleeping Farmer

Mark 4:26-29 – The Sleeping Farmer

MK4:26 Then Jesus said: “God’s Realm[1] is as if a person scattered seed on the ground, MK4:27 then goes to sleep at night and rises the next day. The seed sprouts and grows and the person has no idea how.[2] MK4:28 For the ground produces by itself: first the blade, then the stalk, and finally the full head of grain. MK4:29 But, when the crop is ready, at once the sickle is put in, for the harvest has arrived.”

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[1] God’s Realm: Jesus uses the designation to refer to the Church, or the Realm of Profession, the domain or territory over which Christ reigns by God’s power. This parable is unique to Mark and there are several views.

[2] The person has no idea how: The growth of the Church has occurred miraculously as without any outside help, like a seed that grows of itself to produce fruitage. Here the Sower has planted the seed, and then it would seem to the world, showed no interest in how it develops. Like a planted seed, the grow of the Church has amazed historians, and certainly no one could have predicted that within three centuries such a small movement would become the state religion. As a comparative analogy see Paul’s example in 1 Corinthians 13:9-12.

“9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part. 10 However, when full maturity arrives, the part will be rendered useless. 11 When I was an infant my speech was infantile. I thought like an infant. I reasoned like an infant. When I will have finally become an adult man, I will have made the infantile things useless. 12 For right now we are looking through an enigmatic mirror, but then face to face. Right now I know in part, but then I shall know completely just as I am also completely known.” (1Co 13:9-12 mhm)

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Preceding

Mark 4 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Mark 4:1-9 – Teaching in Parables

Mark 4 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Mark 4:10-13 – How Will You Understand?

Mark 4 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Mark 4:14-20 – Sower Parable Explained

Mark 4 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Mark 4:21-23 – Light Exposes

Mark 4 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Mark 4:24, 25 – Hearing and Responsibility

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Related

1. Sow and See
   Seeds Harvest Growth- Worship Resources based on Mark 4.26-34
2. Daily Devotion – Mark 4:26-29
3. 11 Ordinary Time Sunday
4. Playing Your Part
5. Scattering Seeds
6. Scattering, Burying, Dying and Rising
7. A Growing Seed
8. “God Changes Things!”
9. Mustard Seeds

Mark 4 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Mark 4:10-13 – How Will You Understand?

Mark 4:10-13 – How Will You Understand?

|| Matthew 13:10-15;[1] Luke 8:9, 10

MK4:10 Now later when Jesus was alone, the Twelve and others around him asked him about the parables. MK4:11 So, Jesus said to them: “You have been entrusted with the knowledge of the mystery regarding God’s Realm, but to those outside everything is spoken in parables. MK4:12 ‘So that they may look, but, behold! they do not understand! And, hearing they may hear and yet still not understand. Otherwise, they at some time might turn around and their sins be forgiven.’”[2] [Isaiah 6:9, 10] MK4:13 So Jesus said to them: “If you do not understand this parable, how will you understand all the other parables?”

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[1] Matthew 13:10-15: For details see notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000 on Matthew.

[2] Forgiven: Some mss say “healed.”

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Preceding

Matthew 13:10-15 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Why Speak in Parables?

Mark 4 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Mark 4:1-9 – Teaching in Parables

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Additional reading

1. Light and Salt – Parables of Influence
2. Jesus the Storyteller 2 Interpreting Jesus’ stories
3. Jesus the Storyteller 3 Reflections of/ on Jesus’ ministry

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Related

1. Do we need to hear stories or the truth?
2. I will open my mouth in parables
3. Whose Voice Do I Hear?