Proper 23 Series B

Proper 23 Series "B"
Amos 5:6–7, 10–15
Hebrews 3:12–19
Mark 10:17–22

Christ Jesus Is the One and Only Good by Whom You Inherit Eternal Life

The Lord is the Author and Giver of life, as well as a consuming fire of judgment against all “who afflict the righteous, who take a bribe, and turn aside the needy in the gate” (Amos 5:12). “Seek the Lord and live,” therefore, by hating what is evil, loving what is good and doing what is just and right, according to His Word. “And so the Lord, the God of hosts, will be with you” (Amos 5:6, 14–15). 

Understand that “no one is good except God alone” (Mark 10:18). The life that you are called to live is found neither in your “great possessions,” nor in your good works, but only in Christ Jesus. Let go of “all that you have” and follow Him, even unto death, and “you will have treasure in heaven” (Mark 10:21–22). Do not harden your heart against His voice, nor turn away from Him, lest you “fall away from the living God.” Rather, hear and heed His call, cling to His Word and “exhort one another every day,” that you may remain steadfast in Christ and “firm to the end” (Hebrews 3:12–15). 

Mark 10:17-22

A question: Did this man hear what Jesus said about marriage and children?

Children connection "All these I have kept since childhood."  Also, Jesus concludes the commandments with the 4th Commandment. 

Jesus teaches His disciples that not even people with the greatest worldly means can enter the kingdom of God on their own merit; We cannot justify ourselves, we receive salvation (inherit eternal life) solely by grace through faith in Jesus. Just like a little child (Vv. 13-16) 

-The rich young man was off in his thinking from the very start, when he asked, “What must I do to inherit eternal life?”  Inheriting eternal life is not a matter of our doing; it is a gift of grace. Jesus tried to show the man that he could not earn his salvation, by directing him to the commandments. Yet, the young man persisted in his self-righteousness by proclaiming that he had kept them all from his youth.

Still, Jesus looked on him with love and compassion, as a wayward sheep. He directs the man to the First Commandment, by asking him to give up all he had. This young man loved the things of the world more than the things of God, and so he went away sorrowful.

How can any person enter the Kingdom of God? Not on his own merits, for with man it is impossible…but all things are possible with God.

Mark 10:17

Καὶ ἐκπορευομένου αὐτοῦ εἰς ὁδὸν προσδραμὼν εἷς καὶ γονυπετήσας αὐτὸν ἐπηρώτα αὐτόν• Διδάσκαλε ἀγαθέ, τί ποιήσω ἵνα ζωὴν αἰώνιον κληρονομήσω; 

And as he was setting out on his journey, a man ran up and knelt before him and asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

- As he was going out one was running along the way, kneeling, he questioned Him, “what must I do to inherit eternal salvation”. He comes to Jesus respectively not reverently.  He takes a knee in front of his life coach.  "Kneeling" is not worshipful. He has nothing to give in reverent repentance. He approaches Jesus as an equal.  Thinking they are both "good." 

The children are welcomed why not me? They are children but I can contribute.

Mark 10:18

ὁ δὲ Ἰησοῦς εἶπεν αὐτῷ• Τί με λέγεις ἀγαθόν; οὐδεὶς ἀγαθὸς εἰ μὴ εἷς ὁ θεός. 

And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. 

- Why are you calling me good? No one is good except God...he points to the one thing the man lacks...to be in the presence of God is to be in the need of confession and faith...you're not good but God is...all morality evolves around Christ...YET HERE - no evidence of contrition.

Mark 10:19

 τὰς ἐντολὰς οἶδας• Μὴ [a]φονεύσῃς, Μὴ μοιχεύσῃς, Μὴ κλέψῃς, Μὴ ψευδομαρτυρήσῃς, Μὴ ἀποστερήσῃς, Τίμα τὸν πατέρα σου καὶ τὴν μητέρα.

You know the commandments: ‘Do not murder, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.’” 

- The commandments, you know...is 4 at the end connected to 9/10? Connected to Corbin gifts...

Do not defraud is not listed in the commandments...is this the dagger? 

Mark 10:20

 ὁ δὲ [b]ἔφη αὐτῷ• Διδάσκαλε, ταῦτα πάντα ἐφυλαξάμην ἐκ νεότητός μου.

And he said to him, “Teacher, all these I have kept from my youth.

- Look at the Gk ‘ἐκ νεότητός μου” I've done this since I became of age, apart from the children. “I've guarded them.” ἐφυλαξάμην Confused moral goodness with righteousness.  The man is listening.

Mark 10:21

 ὁ δὲ Ἰησοῦς ἐμβλέψας αὐτῷ ἠγάπησεν αὐτὸν καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ• Ἕν [c]σε ὑστερεῖ• ὕπαγε ὅσα ἔχεις πώλησον καὶ δὸς [d]τοῖς πτωχοῖς, καὶ ἕξεις θησαυρὸν ἐν οὐρανῷ, καὶ δεῦρο ἀκολούθει [e]μοι.

And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.”

- Jesus looking into him loved him, all you have sell it, and you will have treasures in heaven.  Jesus looks at the man as a little one...is this Mark? 

After He loves him Jesus preaches the law again. Is this Jesus' "cut off your arm" command to this rich man?

Mark 10:22

ὁ δὲ στυγνάσας ἐπὶ τῷ λόγῳ ἀπῆλθεν λυπούμενος, ἦν γὰρ ἔχων κτήματα πολλά.

Disheartened by the saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
The Greek New Testament: SBL Edition. Copyright © 2010 by Society of Biblical Literature and Logos Bible Software
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Words -1,000
Readability – 70%
Reading Level – 7.0