Mark 10:13-31 – Jesus speaks to the rich young ruler.
- A lesson in having the courage of your convictions.
- Jesus yet again responds to a question: what must I do to inherit eternal life?
- He does not have a standard answer to this. Jesus never really uses the 4 spiritual laws. Instead He seems to see into the heart of a person and ask for the one thing that they have made god. In this case, wealth.
- Interesting; if I preached that you could gain eternal life by giving your money a way to the poor I’d get shot by Christians J.
- Anyway; the point is not really that generosity leads to eternal life but Jesus seeing the thing inside the man that is presently elevated over God.
- Although the man is a ruler and has power and although he is wealthy and has potential resources to help Jesus on His mission; Jesus does not in any way compromise.
- It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.
- More recently this phrased has been dumb down slightly by pseudo-archeological commentary. It is said that in the large doors of the middle east made to allow large animals to enter a courtyard, a smaller people-sized door was cut out for convenience and these doors were called Needle’s eyes. It has also been said that even larger doors uses to allow caravan’s into a city had smaller doors and that a camel could get through if it got down on its knees and therefore Jesus was emphasizing humility.
- Problem is; the name for these doors came after Jesus’ statement not before it.
- The name of the doors did not influence Jesus’ message but it seems his message has influenced the name of the doors.
- I must not be tempted to tone down the truth that I know. Especially when it could appear that if I do I could receive support for the mission I am on.
- The end does not justify the means.
- Praying for courage today.
No comments:
Post a Comment