Mark 12:28-44

28 One of the teachers of religious law was standing there listening to the debate. He realized that Jesus had answered well, so he asked, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?”

29 Jesus replied, “The most important commandment is this: ‘Listen, O Israel! The Lord our God is the one and only Lord. 30 And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.’ 31 The second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these.”

32 The teacher of religious law replied, “Well said, Teacher. You have spoken the truth by saying that there is only one God and no other. 33 And I know it is important to love him with all my heart and all my understanding and all my strength, and to love my neighbor as myself. This is more important than to offer all of the burnt offerings and sacrifices required in the law.”

34 Realizing how much the man understood, Jesus said to him, “You are not far from the Kingdom of God.” And after that, no one dared to ask him any more questions.

35 Later, as Jesus was teaching the people in the Temple, he asked, “Why do the teachers of religious law claim that the Messiah is the son of David? 36 For David himself, speaking under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, said, ‘The Lord said to my Lord, Sit in the place of honor at my right hand until I humble your enemies beneath your feet.’ 37 Since David himself called the Messiah ‘my Lord,’ how can the Messiah be his son?” The large crowd listened to him with great delight.

38 Jesus also taught: “Beware of these teachers of religious law! For they like to parade around in flowing robes and receive respectful greetings as they walk in the marketplaces. 39 And how they love the seats of honor in the synagogues and the head table at banquets. 40 Yet they shamelessly cheat widows out of their property and then pretend to be pious by making long prayers in public. Because of this, they will be more severely punished.”

41 Jesus sat down near the collection box in the Temple and watched as the crowds dropped in their money. Many rich people put in large amounts. 42 Then a poor widow came and dropped in two small coins. 43 Jesus called his disciples to him and said, “I tell you the truth, this poor widow has given more than all the others who are making contributions. 44 For they gave a tiny part of their surplus, but she, poor as she is, has given everything she had to live on.”

Comments

The first part of today’s reading gives a rare instance of Jesus and a religious leader having a more positive interaction. This expert in Scripture approved of Jesus teaching and seems to have asked a serious question. Jesus answers directly (also rare) and commends the scribe. Jesus then offers his own scriptural discussion question, one hinting at the promised messiah being greater than David (i.e. God’s own son), but no one took him up on it.

The rest (vv. 38-44) go together, as the advantages enjoyed by the religious leaders are contrasted against the widow who gives all that she had. Like the Temple clearing incident before, Jesus condemns the entire religious economic structure. The Temple as an institution is hopelessly corrupt and ready to be cursed. But it is this same Temple that the widow brings her mite to. Her faithfulness is not abrogated by their faithlessness. Of course, Mark’s point in sharing all this is not to give us insight into the Temple situation itself, but to share teaching still relevant to followers of Jesus in his own day – and still relevant today. Followers of Jesus are to take the widow for our example, not the religious leaders. Giving, not taking advantage. Sacrificing ourselves, not growing fat on the sacrifices of others.

Mark 10:17-31

17 As Jesus was starting out on his way to Jerusalem, a man came running up to him, knelt down, and asked, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

18 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus asked. “Only God is truly good. 19 But to answer your question, you know the commandments: ‘You must not murder. You must not commit adultery. You must not steal. You must not testify falsely. You must not cheat anyone. Honor your father and mother.’”

20 “Teacher,” the man replied, “I’ve obeyed all these commandments since I was young.”

21 Looking at the man, Jesus felt genuine love for him. “There is still one thing you haven’t done,” he told him. “Go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

22 At this the man’s face fell, and he went away sad, for he had many possessions.

23 Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the Kingdom of God!” 24 This amazed them. But Jesus said again, “Dear children, it is very hard to enter the Kingdom of God. 25 In fact, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God!”

Have you ever heard someone talk about a “Needle’s Eye Gate” in the Jerusalem wall? That’s a myth. Both “camel” and “eye of a needle” mean just what you would expect them to mean.

26 The disciples were astounded. “Then who in the world can be saved?” they asked.

27 Jesus looked at them intently and said, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But not with God. Everything is possible with God.”

28 Then Peter began to speak up. “We’ve given up everything to follow you,” he said.

29 “Yes,” Jesus replied, “and I assure you that everyone who has given up house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or property, for my sake and for the Good News, 30 will receive now in return a hundred times as many houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and property—along with persecution. And in the world to come that person will have eternal life. 31 But many who are the greatest now will be least important then, and those who seem least important now will be the greatest then.”

Comments

The story of the rich man and Jesus is told in Mark, Matthew, and Luke. Each telling has its own distinctives. The most significant thing Mark has that the others don’t is the part about Jesus loving the man. I have heard sermons impugning the man’s character, arguing that he was full of pride for claiming to have kept the Ten Commandments. But that is a misreading of the story, as Mark makes clear. Jesus does not dispute the man’s claim to have kept the law, instead he loved the man for his sincerity and earnestness. But something was in the way. Despite his sincerity, morality, and genuine desire to learn from Jesus, he is not able to put aside his wealth. In fact, he is shocked (more literal than “face fell”) that Jesus asked such a thing. How could Jesus know his one hangup?

Two things we can learn here: 1. despite our best intentions and sincere desire to follow Jesus, sometimes things get in our way, preventing us from becoming his disciple; 2. Jesus will zero right in on whatever that is and tell us to get rid of it. The Holy Spirit will help us get rid of it, but it will still be hard. (Whoever said this discipleship thing was easy? No one who has tried it.) It won’t always be wealth (though all U.S. citizens reading this need to recognize how incredibly wealthy we are by the world’s standards. It’s kind of obscene really), but it will always be required of us. If you’re like me, there will be more than one of these things and Jesus will let you give them up in stages, as you’re ready for it. But make no mistake. The choice to give it up or keep it is a real one, a deal breaker. The rich man leaves because he can’t be Jesus’ disciple without divesting himself of his wealth. When Jesus tells you to get rid of something (and I promise he will) your choice is a stark one: let it go and follow Jesus or go back home.

New Living Translation (NLT)

Mike Raburn

God speaks to you. Listen. Act on what you hear.

Tag: Kingdom of God

Red Letter Year: 2/19

Mark 12:28-44

Red Letter Year: 2/8

Mark 10:17-31