"Who Then Can Be Saved?"

Continuing a Bible study of the Gospels:

(Mark 10:1) And He arose from there and came into the coasts of Judea by the other side of the Jordan, and the people gathered to Him again, and as He was accustomed, He taught them again.  

At the end of the last chapter Jesus had been teaching His disciples in a house in Capernaum.  He then left there and went to the region of Judea by the further side of the Jordan eastward.  People began to assemble with Him, and as He had become accustomed, He taught them again.

(2) And the Pharisees came to Him and asked Him, "Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife?" tempting Him.

Once again the Pharisees came to Him, as they always did, to test Him and try to ensnare Him.  They asked if it was lawful for a man to divorce his wife, knowing full well the answer, but desiring to trip Him up, as if they ever could.

(3) And He answered and said to them, "What did Moses command you?"

As He so often did, Jesus answered the Pharisees by first asking them a question, what was it that Moses had commanded?

(4) And they said, "Moses allowed to write a bill of divorcement and to put her away."

They answered Jesus that Moses's law allowed a man to write a bill of divorcement and to divorce his wife.

(5) And Jesus answered and said to them, "For the hardness of your heart he wrote you this precept."

Jesus then answered the Pharisees that that particular law had only been written because of the hardness of men's hearts.  It was never intended that men should divorce their wives, but because the Jewish men were cruel and hard-hearted, divorce was allowed.  Had it not been allowed, their meanness and hard heartedness might have led to physical harm to their wives.  Divorce was only allowed to prevent further sin and harm.

(6) "But from the beginning of creation God made them male and female. (7) For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother and cleave to his wife. (8) And the two shall be one flesh, so then they are no more two but one flesh. (9) What therefore God has joined together let no man put asunder."

Indeed, Jesus went on to quote Genesis about what God had intended from the beginning.  He had made a man and a woman to come together as one in marriage.  Note that God only created man and woman; He did not create 57 different genders!  A man's father and mother were one in marriage, and he was likewise to leave his father and mother and join together with his own wife to become one.  He wasn't to join together with another man, only a woman, his wife.  Those two were to become one flesh, a singular unit, a married couple, parents, Mr. and Mrs., and what God had joined together, it was originally intended that no man should separate, and in fact, spiritually and intimately, they really can never be totally separated.

(10) And in the house the disciples asked Him again about the same matter.

Later when they had all retired to a house, the disciples asked Jesus again about the same matter.

(11) And He said to them, "Whoever shall divorce his wife, and marry another, commits adultery against her."

Jesus told His disciples that if a man divorced his wife and married another, it was considered adultery to God.  Moses's law did allow for certain circumstances under which a man could divorce his wife, but in God's eyes, once that union was formed and consummated in the marriage bed, that was a union created by God, and should be honored as such.  To flippantly throw that God-honored union away is to dishonor and sin against God.  The sexual union of a man with a woman is not to be taken lightly and outside marriage.  Even though our current laws allow for no-fault divorce and same-sex marriage, it doesn't mean that it is okay in God's eyes.  However, that is not to say that either is a sin that cannot be forgiven.

(12) "And if a woman divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery."

Likewise, Jesus said that if a woman divorced and married another man, she was guilty of committing adultery.

(13) And they brought young children to Him that He might touch them, and His disciples rebuked those who brought them.

Then some people brought young children to Jesus so that He might touch them, putting His hands on them and praying for them, as the account in Matthew said.  His disciples rebuked the people who had brought the children, as if to say, "Don't bother Jesus."

(14) But when Jesus saw that, He was much displeased and said to them, "Permit the little children to come to Me and do not forbid them, for of such is the kingdom of God."

When Jesus saw His disciples rebuking the people bringing children to Him, He was displeased with them and told them not to forbid the children to come to Him.  He reminded them that such was the kingdom of heaven.  He had just recently taught them that new believers were like children in their amateurish lowliness of mind and not to be discouraged.  So all should come to Him, as children, not as pompous arrogant Pharisees. 

(15) "Verily, I say to you, whoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter."

In fact, Jesus did say that if one did not approach and receive the Gospel message of the kingdom of God as a little child, he would not be able to enter it.

(16) And He took them up in His arms, put His hands upon them, and blessed them.

Jesus then took the little children in His arms, laying His hands upon them, and blessed them.  With this message, I believe Jesus tells us that an innocent child, no matter how young, is never too young to come to Him.  Perhaps he is too young to completely understand his actions, but coming to Jesus at any age is never wrong or to be discouraged.  He may come again at a more advanced age, but that coming as a small child may provide a foundation that will forever be with that child.

(17) And when He had gone forth on the road, there came one running, and kneeled to Him and asked Him, "Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?"

Jesus then left the house and when He had gone forth on the road a man came running up to Him, kneeled before Him, referred to Him as Good Master, and asked what it was he must do to inherit eternal life.

(18) And Jesus said to Him, "Why do you call Me good? There is none good but One, that is God."

Jesus asked the man why he had called Him good because there was only One who was really good, and that was God.  Jesus was not rebuking the man or denying He was good; His point was to show that for Him to be called good, the man was rightfully looking upon Him as God.

(19) "You know the commandments, do not commit adultery, do not kill, do not steal, do not bear false witness, do not defraud, honor your father and mother."

Jesus referred to the commandments, suggesting that the man undoubtedly knew them and should keep them.  He then named the six commandments that had to do with our relationships with other people, prohibitions against adultery, killing, stealing, lying, defrauding, which is the natural expected result of one who covets, and honoring one's parents.

(20) And he answered and said to Him, "Master, all these I have observed from my youth."

The man told Jesus that he had observed all those commandments since his youth.

(21) Then Jesus beholding him, loved him, and said to him, "One thing you lack; go your way, sell whatever you have, and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me."

Jesus looked upon the man and loved him.  It is noteworthy that that point was emphasized.  God loves all His children, but it seems Jesus looked upon the man with a different level of love, perhaps love for his earnestness, for the good He saw in him, but I imagine a loving sadness for the huge impediment He saw standing in the man's way to eternal life.  Jesus told him that there was just one thing he lacked knowing the greatest treasure of his heart; he needed to go sell all he had, give it to the poor, and then take up his cross, bearing all things without his money, and follow Jesus.  Did he love God more than money?  His observance of the commandments was an outward show of his love for God, but did he love the Lord above all else?

(22) And he was sad at that saying and went away grieved for he had great possessions.

Jesus lovingly knew this about the man before he realized it.  He was greatly saddened by Jesus's answer because he had great possessions and knew he was not willing to give those up.

(23) And Jesus looked around and said to His disciples, "How hard it is for those who have riches to enter into the kingdom of God!"

After the rich young man went his way, Jesus looked around at His disciples and commented on how hard it was for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.

(24) And the disciples were astonished at His words. But Jesus answered again and said to them, "Children, how hard it is for them who trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God!"

The disciples were taken aback by Jesus's words, but He only repeated them, declaring how very hard it was for someone who trusted in his riches to enter the kingdom of heaven.

(25) "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."

Jesus then told the disciples it was easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, which was impossible, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.  That certainly had to be a scary thought, as Jesus seemed to be saying that it was absolutely impossible for a rich man to ever enter heaven.

(26) And they were astonished beyond measure, saying among themselves, "Who then can be saved?"

The disciples were even more astonished at this, and discussed among themselves that if that were true, then how could anyone be saved?  I can't help but think that this shows a little bit of dependence on wealth to make all things right.  They didn't ask about how then a rich man could ever be saved, but the assumption seemed to be that if a rich man couldn't do it with all his wealth and assets, then how could anyone else ever do it?

(27) And Jesus, looking upon them, said, "With men, it is impossible, but not with God, for with God all things are possible."

Jesus, knowing their thoughts and what they were discussing among themselves, looked at them and told them that it was indeed impossible for men to be saved on their own, but with God, all things were possible.  With God, one could move mountains, lead a camel through the eye of a needle, and work on a rich man's heart to take his trust and confidence off worldly wealth and onto God alone.

(28) Then Peter began to say to Him, "Lo, we have left all and have followed You."

Peter, perhaps questioning if it was enough, told Jesus that he and the other disciples had left all they had, although it was very little compared to a rich man's possessions, and were following Him.

(29) And Jesus answered and said, "Verily I say to you, there is no man who has left house, or brothers, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for My sake and the gospel's, (30) But he shall receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brothers, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life."

Jesus answered that assuredly any man who had left all, his house, family, and lands, for the sake of Jesus and His Gospel, would receive a hundredfold in the present time.  Jesus said a hundredfold houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and lands.  This is not necessarily to be taken completely literally in the way man's selfish hearts might interpret it, but the blessings he will receive will be a hundredfold what he left behind.  He will gain many more valued brothers and sisters in Christ.  He will gain many more children who look up to him and value him as a father figure, and many mother figures who wish to serve and minister to him.  He may not actually own a hundredfold lands, but may have the blessings of the usage in gratitude to him.  I couldn't help but notice that Jesus didn't include fathers and wives in the second part of His message.  That was probably intentional in that we all have but one true Father God in heaven, and should call no man father (Matthew 23:9) on earth, with the obvious exception of one's biological earthly father whom God recognized as one's father in His Ten Commandments.  Although it may not be a literal hundredfold possessions, the man who gives all will definitely find that the blessings he receives by giving his life to Jesus and the Gospel tremendously outweigh anything he left behind.  However, it won't be without persecutions as anyone who follows Christ will be hated and persecuted for His name's sake (Matthew 10:22-23).  However, in the end he will have eternal life with God in heaven.

(31) "But many who are first shall be last, and the last first."

There can be many interpretations of this statement by Jesus.  As often the case, I believe all can be meant, as scripture so often has multiple meanings that are all true.  As in the case of the rich man they had so recently encountered, although rich and among the first in superiority in the world, he would be last because he loved his worldly riches more than God.  Also the first saved would not necessarily be first in the kingdom of God in heaven, but according to God's will and purposes, as well as His pleasure and grace.  I see something additional now that I did not perceive when I read this account in Matthew (Matthew 19:30).  The Jews were God's chosen people; they were the ones Jesus came to save.  They were the first; however, most of them rejected Jesus, and Jesus then offered His gift of salvation to the Gentiles, who were last among men chosen by God.  In the end Jews will see the truth of Jesus Christ the Messiah.  In this case, very definitely the first called by God will be the last, and the last called became the first to accept Him.  However, this was by design of our wonderful merciful Father in heaven that we should all be given the chance to receive eternal life with Him:

"For I would not want, brethren, for you to be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own conceits, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in." - Romans 11:25

This seems a perfect place to end this post.  I will continue a study of Mark 10 in the next post.