Video teaching coming soon
There is no online teaching for this study yet, but the written notes and any available study resources are still below.
These are the original teaching notes from this passage.
Introduction…
- Mark – the Gospel to the Gentiles – showing Jesus as the servant of all – Mark 10:45
- Mark 1:1 – 6:56 – Jesus ministry in Galilee…
- Mark 7:1-8:21… Confrontations with the religious leaders – leaving Galilee
- Mark 8:22-9:29… Revelation of Jesus as the Christ…
- At Caesarea Philippi Jesus asks His disciples – ‘Who do men say I Am?’
- Peter knew who Jesus was (by the Holy Spirit) – but not why He had come…
- Jesus took Peter, James, & John up to the top of Mt. Hermon and was transformed…
- Mark 9:30-50… Who is the greatest…
- On the way to Capernaum – the disciples argued amongst themselves – who is the greatest
- 1st – The Greatest is the servant of all (in contrast to the example of the world)
- 2nd – The Greatest is like a child – simple faith in the Father – no ambition
- Mark 10:1-16… God’s plan for marriage…
- 6 months passed – the cross is only weeks away – Jesus begins his final trip to Jerusalem
- The Pharisees came to Him again testing him – ‘Can a man divorce his wife?’
- Marriage is meant to last for a lifetime – Genesis 1:27, 2:24
- 1st – God gave marriage so there would be Godly children – Malachi 2:15
- 2nd – God brought a man and wife together so we would understand His love for us
- 3rd – What God has brought together – super glued – let no one separate!
- If you are single (living for the Lord) – don’t seek to be married!
- If you are married – have a great marriage founded on Jesus Christ!
- What must i do to get to heaven… vs. 17-22
- What “Good” thing… vs. 17
- Jesus left the house with His disciples – heading back up the road to Jerusalem…
- A man came running up and knelt before Jesus
- He was excited to see Jesus and shows him respect by kneeling before Him…
- He calls Jesus “Good Teacher” – and was sincerely looking for answers
- He wanted to know what “Good” thing he should do to inherit heaven…
- He had the right question – and he went to the right person to get the right answer…
- We all have this question – we all want to go to heaven – no one wants to go to hell
- So the answer Jesus gives him is VERY important for us as well…
- If you want to know what “Good” you must do to go to heaven – here’s the answer
- Defining “Good”… vs. 18
- Jesus 1st had to answer his question with a question…
- This may seem a strange response – but it was necessary to answer the man’s question
- The man wanted to know what “Good” thing he should do
- In order for Jesus to answer the question – He had to define what “Good” meant
- To say that something is “Good” – is not a very descriptive term on it’s own…
- To know how “Good” something is – 1st you have to know what it’s “Good” compared to
- I might say that ‘balut’ tastes “Good”… especially if you compared to ‘yabuk’
- But compared to a big bowl of ice cream – well now it’s not nearly as “Good”
- “Good” is a comparative term – to know how “Good” something is…
- You have to know what you are comparing it to
- The definition Jesus gives for “Good” – “No one is Good but One – that is God!”
- Jesus definition of Good was God Himself – now that presents a problem…
- We all think we are “Good” people – few if any of us would say we are ‘Bad’ people
- Yet what or who is it that we compare ourselves to – “Good” compared to…
- If the definition of “Good” was being better than – a murderer – OK
- If the definition of “Good” was being better than – my neighbor – maybe OK
- But since the definition of “Good” is God – that means I am not “Good”
- To be “Good” by God’s definition I would need to be…
- Matthew 5:48 – “Perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.”
- That’s why Jesus said – NO ONE is “Good” only God…
- So it turns out none of us are “Good” after all…
- From the best person to the worst – none are “Good” compared to God
- Romans 3:10 – “As it is written: ‘There is none righteous, no, not one…’”
- Jesus definition of Good was God Himself – now that presents a problem…
- Proving we are not “Good”… Vs. 19-22
- Proving we are not “Good” – by looking at the Law of God
- Referring to the Law of Moses found in the first 5 book of the Bible
- Not just the 10 commandments – but also all 613 commandments given in the Law!
- The commandments of God were never meant to make us “Good”
- They were given so that we would know we were NOT “Good”
- Galatians 3:24 – “Therefore the law was our teacher to bring us to Christ…”
- The Law can only teach us the standard of what “Good” is…
- Like a mirror or a measuring tape…
- Like a mirror that can show you how you look – but cannot change your appearance
- Like a measuring tape – that tells how tall you are – but not help you grow
- The Law shows us how “Bad” we are – but cannot help make us “Good”
- Realizing that is the Key to Heaven – because now we know we need help!
- Jesus gives the rich man 6 of THE 10 commandments – Exodus 20:12-17
- Jesus gives him the 6 commands that deal with his relationship to others…
- Do not: Murder/Adultery/Steal/Lie/Covet and honor your Father & Mother
- The man was thrilled to hear this – he said I have kept these from my youth
- Notice that Jesus does not argue that point with him
- This must have been a REALLY nice guy – any of us would have loved him
- He was an honest – God fearing – hard working man of integrity
- It would almost seem that he was “Good” enough to inherit heaven…
- Jesus looking at him – loved him (only mentioned here) – “One thing you lack…”
- Go and sell all you have and give it to the poor (treasure in heaven) and Follow Me!
- What Jesus was giving to the rich man was the 1st commandment
- You shall have no other god’s before Me… (Exodus 20:3)
- The man wanted to go to heaven – but he had another god he wanted more
- The man was VERY rich and had a LOT of “Stuff”…
- So he went away sorry – he was unwilling to put Jesus before his “Stuff”!
- Stuff kept him from going to heaven – what Stuff could be worth so much…
- We never think that we are this rich man – we think we poor…
- Yet it is not how much Stuff that matters – it’s putting Stuff first – I Timothy 6:10
- When we want “Stuff” more than we want to Follow Jesus – we walk away sad…
- Yet what is it that we think we have – or might have – greater than Heaven?
- Mark 8:36 – “What will it profit if a man gains the whole world, loses his own soul?”
- Does that mean that everyone needs to sell all his or her Stuff…
- There is nothing wrong with having stuff – it’s when the stuff has us…
- Only if we put our Stuff before Jesus – do we need to reprioritize – put Jesus first!
- Jesus command was not just to sell the stuff and give it to the poor – Follow Jesus!
- Jesus gives him the 6 commands that deal with his relationship to others…
- It only takes one sin…
- The rich man only broke one law of God (recorded here)…
- James 2:10 – “Whoever keeps the whole law, yet stumble in one point, is guilty of all.”
- We may not have the same sin as the rich man – but there are 612 other Laws
- It only takes one crime to be a criminal – it only takes one sin to make you a sinner!
- So how may sins does it take to keep us out of heaven… just one
- What if it’s just a little sin – a white lie – taking a little rice (our neighbor has extra…)
- Any sin – just one – makes us a sinner – and keeps us out of heaven!
- The cost of Salvation… vs. 23-31
- How hard is it for a Rich man to enter heaven… vs. 23-27
- Why is it impossible for a rich man to be saved…
- It’s not money that makes it hard to get into heaven but – “Those who trust in riches…”
- Those who are rich – have a tendency to trust in their money – trust in their “Stuff”…
- The idea being money is not necessarily a blessing – it can instead become our god…
- Depending on money to get us out of trouble – provide for our needs – rather than Jesus
- If we are looking to money to be the answer – then we are not looking to the Lord…
- For those of us who have no money – it is easier to trust in the Lord (no other options)
- Where do we place our hope – who do we look to in times of need – money or Jesus
- To emphasize – Jesus gives the analogy of a Camel through the eye of a needle (2 views)…
- 1st view – The eye of the needle was a gate in the wall of the city of Jerusalem
- According to tradition the “Eye of the needle” was a very small gate
- So small that the only way for a Camel to enter was to take off its “Stuff”…
- The idea being the only way for a rich man to enter heaven…
- Is for him to get rid of all his riches so he might fit through Heaven’s gate
- Sounds nice – but it turns out there never was such a gate in Jerusalem…
- 2nd view – Put a Camel through the eye of a needle
- Keep in mind a camel is about a big as a Caribou – you know how small a needle is
- You can put a Camel through the eye of a needle – but you have to grind it up first
- It’s pretty messy – and in the end the Camel is never quite the same…
- The point being it is IMPOSSIBLE for those who trust in riches to get into heaven!
- 1st view – The eye of the needle was a gate in the wall of the city of Jerusalem
- Who then can be saved…
- When the disciples heard that it was like a punch to the stomach (astonished)…
- If this nice man – who was wealthy – could not be saved – who could
- I am sure the disciples had looked at the man and thought – “Good” guy
- They likely had no reservations that he would go to heaven
- Now suddenly someone who was better than them – was not “Good” enough
- It would be like saying the nicest – kindest – sweetest – person you know…
- Is still not going “Good” enough to make it to heaven
- If they are not good enough – who then can be “Good” enough to inherit eternal life…
- With men it is impossible…
- Jesus answer to getting to heaven – with God all things are possible!
- It is not being a sinner (we all are – Roman 3:23) that keeps us from heaven
- It is rejecting the solution for sin that God provided in Jesus Christ
- We are not saved by being “Good” enough to get into heaven
- We are saved by believing in the sacrifice that Jesus made for our sin on the cross
- Ephesians 2:8-9 – “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.”
- We do not earn our way to Heaven – Heaven is a gift to those who believe in Jesus!
- We have left all… Vs. 28-32
- Peter began to say – ‘We have left all and followed you…’
- Recognizing the qualification that Jesus gave to the rich man…
- Peter reminds Jesus the disciples had left all (not that they had much to leave)…
- The promise…
- Assuredly I say to you – there is no one who has left…
- Houses /Brothers/Sisters/Father/Mother/Wife/Children/ or Lands…
- For the sake of the Gospel – for the sake of following after Jesus…
- The cost for following Jesus – is everything – putting Him before anything else
- That may seem to be to great a price to pay for many – yet the promises are given…
- Those who have left are given 3 promises…
- 1st – No one has ever left anything – that will not receive 100 times that in this life…
- I left my family in New York – only to be given family all over the world – 100 fold!
- 2nd – Oh by the way – there will be persecution thrown in as well – John 16:33
- 3rd – But most of all they will get to go to Heaven!
- Assuredly I say to you – there is no one who has left…
- The first shall be last…
- Likely a response to Peter’s boast of having ‘left all’ for Jesus…
- Jesus explains the meaning in the parable of the ‘Land Owner’ – Matthew 20:1-16
- Whether you are saved young or old – your reward is Heaven!
- Whether you are first or last – the reward is still Heaven!
- Whether you were the greatest Apostle – or only saved a day – Heaven!
- In other words it’s not about how much work you do for the Lord…
- It is all about the fact that – through the gift of salvation – you get to go to heaven!