Mark x. him, loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me. 2 And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions. 23 And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto his disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God! 24 And the disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God! 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. 26 And they were astonished out of measure, saying among themselves, Who then can be saved? 27 And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God for with God all things are possible. 28 Then Peter began to say unto him, Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee. This proverb is still used in the East. Luke xviii. heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me. 23 And when he heard this, he was very sorrowful: for he was very rich. 24 And when Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful, he said, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God! 25 For it is easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye," than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. 26 And they that heard it said, Who then can be saved? 27 And he said, The things which are impossible with men are possible with God." 28 Then Peter said, Lo, we have left all, and followed thee. Gen. 18. 14; Luke 1. 37; 3. 8. Matt. xix. and followed thee; what shall we have therefore? 28 And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory,d ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones.judging thetwelve tribes of Israel." 29 And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life. But many that are first shail be last; and the last shall be first 31 Mark x. 29 And Jesus answered and said, Verily, I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel's, 30 but he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal 4 g Luke xviii. 29 And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or parents, or brethren, or wife, or children, for the kingdom of God's sake, 30 who shall not receive manifold more in this present time, and in the world to come life everlasting. 5 Matt. xx. 1 For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard. And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard. And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace, and said unto them; Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you. And they went their way. Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour, and did likewise. 6 And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle, and saith unto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle? 7 They say unto him, Because no man hath hired us. He saith unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard; and whatsoever is right, that shall ye receive. 8 So when even was come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the labourers, and give them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first. And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny. 10 But when the first came, they supposed that they should have received more; and they likewise received d Dan. 7. 13, 14; Rev. 3. 21. e Luke 22. 28-30. f Rom. 9. 30-33. See in § 107. 9 Early in the morning, that is, about six o'clock or sunrise, from which time the Jews counted the hours of the day, so that their 3rd hour answered nearly to our 9, their 6th to our 12, their 9th to our 3 P.M., and their 11th to our 5 P.M. This parable was obviously spoken in reference to the question of Peter (Matt. 19. 27), What shall we have therefore? and with the view to repress a mercenary spirit in the apostles' breasts. Matt. xx. every man a penny. 11 And when they had received it, they murmured against the good man of the house, 12 saying, These last have wrought but one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, which have borne the burden and heat of the day. 13 But he answered one of them, and said, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst thou not agree with me for a penny? 14 Take that thine is, and go thy way: 15 Is it not lawful for me to do what I will give unto this last, even as unto thee. I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil," because I am good? 16 So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen. § 107. JESUS A THIRD TIME FORETELLS HIS DEATH AND RESURRECTION. Peræa. Mark x. 32-34. 32 And they were in the way going up to Jerusalem; and Jesus went before them: and they were amazed; and as they followed, they were afraid. And he took again the twelve, and began to tell them what things should happen unto him, saying,Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be delivered unto the chief priests, and unto the scribes; and they shall condemn him to death, and shall deliver him to the Gentiles: 34 and they shall mock him, and shall scourge him, and shall spit upon him, and shall kill him and the third day he shall rise again. to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of man shall be accomplished. 32 For he shall be delivered unto the Gentiles, and shall be mocked, and spitefully entreated, and spitted on : 33 and they shall scourge him, and put him to death: and the third day he shall rise again. 34 And they understood none of these things and this saying was hid from them, neither knew they the things which were spoken. : They understood not, &c. They probably fancied that our Lord's declaration was only a figurative representation of the difficulties and obstacles he was to meet with; and they hoped that he would, on the approaching festival, take to himself the kingdom (see Matt. 20. 21, and Luke 19. 11); which indeed he did, but in a way wholly different from their apprehension and expectation. § 108. JAMES AND JOHN MAKE THEIR AMBITIOUS REQUEST.-Peræa. Matt. xx. 20-28. 20 Then came to him the mother' of Zebedee's children with her sons, worshipping him, and desiring a certain thing of him. 21 And he said unto her, What wilt thou? She saith unto him, Grant that these my two sons may sit, the one on thy right hand, and the other on the left, in thy kingdom. 22 But Jesus answered and said, Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink of the cup" that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with ?" They say unto him, We are able. 23 And he saith unto them, Ye shall drink indeed of my cup," and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with: but to sit on my right hand, and on my left, is not mine to give, but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father. 24 And when the ten heard it, they were moved with indignation against the two brethren. 25 But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. 26 But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; 27 and whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life" a ransom for many.9 28 Mark x. 35-45. 35 And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, come unto him, saying, Master, we would that thou shouldest do for us whatsoever we shall desire. 36 And he said unto them, What would ye that I should do for you? 37 They said unto him, Grant unto us that we may sit, one on thy right hand, and the other on thy left hand, in thy glory. 38 But Jesus said unto them, Ye know not what ye ask: can ye drink of the cup m that I drink of? and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with ?" 39 And they said unto him, We can. And Jesus said unto them, Ye shall indeed drink of the cup that I drink of;" and with the baptism that I am baptized withal shall ye be baptized: 40 but to sit on my right hand and on my left hand is not mine to give; but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared. 41 And when the ten heard it, they began to be much displeased with James and John. 42 But Jesus called them to him, and saith unto them, Ye know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them. 43 But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister: 44 and whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all. 45 For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many. n Psa. 42. 7; Luke 12. 50. Isa. 53. 10, 11; 1 Tim. 2. 6. a To give his life a ransom for many. A clear proof, from Christ's own mouth, of the vicarious and atoning character of his death. § 109. THE HEALING OF TWO BLIND MEN NEAR JERICHO. Mark x. 46-52. 46And they came to Jericho; and as he went out of Jericho with his disciples and a great number of people, blind Bartimeus, the son of Timeus, sat by the highway side begging. 47 And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out, and say, Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me. 48 And many charged him that he should hold his peace: but he cried the more a great deal, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me. 49 And Jesus stood still, and commanded him to be called. And they call the blind man, saying unto him, Be of good comfort, rise; he calleth thee. 50 And he, casting away his garment, rose, and came to Jesus. 51 And Jesus answered and said unto him, What wilt thou that I should do unto thee? The blind man said unto him, Lord, that I might receive my sight. 52 And Jesus said unto him, Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole. And immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus in the way. Luke xix. 1And Jesus entered and passed through Jericho. "On the subject of this section, see the Note in the Appendix. • See in § 112. |