Mark 10:13-31
Jesus Blesses Little Children
13 And they were bringing children to Him so that He might touch them; but the disciples rebuked them.
14 But when Jesus saw this, He was indignant and said to them, “Permit the children to come to Me; do not hinder them; for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.
15 “Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it at all.”
16 And He took them in His arms and began blessing them, laying His hands on them.
The Rich Young Ruler
17 As He was setting out on a journey, a man ran up to Him and knelt before Him, and asked Him, “Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”
18 And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone.
19 “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.’ ”
20 And he said to Him, “Teacher, I have kept all these things from my youth up.”
21 Looking at him, Jesus felt a love for him and said to him, “One thing you lack: go and sell all you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”
22 But at these words he was saddened, and he went away grieving, for he was one who owned much property.
23 And Jesus, looking around, said to His disciples, “How hard it will be for those who are wealthy to enter the kingdom of God!”
24 The disciples were amazed at His words. But Jesus answered again and said to them, “Children, how hard it is to enter 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 the kingdom of God.”
26 They were even more astonished and said to Him, “Then who can be saved?”
27 Looking at them, Jesus *said, “With people it is impossible, but not with God; for all things are possible with God.”
28 Peter began to say to Him, “Behold, we have left everything and followed You.”
29 Jesus said, “Truly I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or farms, for My sake and for the gospel’s sake,
30 but that he will receive a hundred times as much now in the present age, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and farms, along with persecutions; and in the age to come, eternal life.
31 “But many who are first will be last, and the last, first.”
NASB
Is it enough to desire God? Is desire alone sufficient to enable you to follow God? Granted, we must have desire, but is desire alone sufficient?
Many people desire things and never attain them. It is true that if you never have a desire, you will never begin to attempt to achieve that desire. But having nothing more than a desire in no way insures that you will achieve your goal. It takes more than desire. There must be the ability and there must be some appropriate action that takes place based on that ability.
It really it isn't enough to desire to receive what God has to offer. Once we have the desire, we need to ensure that we are in a position to receive, and our heart attitude determines if we are in that position. The Scripture reveals that there are certain attitudes of heart which serve to open the door to the Kingdom of God. To be in possession of these attitudes or qualities of heart is to be open and responsive to the Lord and to be able to receive what Jesus has to offer.
From our passage today we will see two kinds of people with two qualities of heart. Their heart qualities determine what kind of people they are. And what kind of person we are determines whether we will inherit eternal life. There are certain qualities which enable a natural man to become a spiritual man. We shall look at these qualities today as we examine Jesus' encounter with the children and with the rich young ruler.
The Triumph Of A Childlike Heart
13 And they were bringing children to Him so that He might touch them; but the disciples rebuked them.
14 But when Jesus saw this, He was indignant and said to them, “Permit the children to come to Me; do not hinder them; for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.
15 “Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it at all.”
16 And He took them in His arms and began blessing them, laying His hands on them.
(vv. 13-16)
What a wonderful scene this is -- the Lord Jesus taking time to bless children. This has been a favorite scene of artists. They love to paint it. It's so easy to picture it in your minds -- the children running up to Jesus, a little boy or a little girl on His lap, some tugging at His clothing, clamoring for His attention. It is a wonderfully touching scene. It has been appropriately called the magna carta of children. It is indeed a wonderful bill of rights for children everywhere, loudly proclaiming their right to be valued and appreciated highly.
It seems that the parents, probably the mothers of these children, were bringing them to Jesus that He might bless them. It was a common practice to have your children blessed by a rabbi in those days. There was nothing unusual about it. What is unusual is that the disciples felt the need to protect Jesus from these unpretentious children. They sought to forbid the parents to bring them. Perhaps their desire to protect Jesus' time was well-intentioned, but it was misguided. And Jesus expresses here a certain sense of frustration, even anger, at the disciples' action. In doing so, He utters some of the most profound words in all of Scripture, "Permit the children to come to Me; do not hinder them; for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these." He not only affirms the value of children, but that He receives all the children who come to Him. He says, "The kingdom of God belongs to such as these."
Then He gives the condition for entrance into the Kingdom of God: "Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it at all." Jesus uses these children as living examples of the quality of heart necessary to receive the Kingdom of God. It is the quality of childlikeness. The truth that Jesus spoke here is that in order to receive the Kingdom, we must receive it like a little child. In other words, we must have a childlike heart. What kind of heart is that? What are the qualities of a childlike heart?
Such a heart is childlike in its simplicity. When I use the term "simple" I am not using it in a derogatory sense. What I mean is that children are basically uncomplicated new people. They are simple in their forthrightness, simple in their actions. They can be brutally honest, without giving offense. You could pick a small child up and he might look you in the eye and say, "How come you have such a big nose?" No beating around the bush there. He gets right to the point. Your friends may have thought it, but a little child says it. They certainly are forthright.
And this quality is true in all areas: physical, emotional and spiritual. In the physical area they let you know when they are hungry. They go to sleep when they are sleepy - it doesn't matter who is around or what is going on. When they have a physical need, they must be satisfied. There are other things, of course, they do at their convenience, not yours. But we won't go into those.
On the emotional level, if they are feeling lonely or if they need love, they will come to you and seek affection. Their minds are curious. They want to explore everything and they go about without thought to safety. Now in the effort to discover the nature of things, sometimes they destroy the things they discover. But they are indeed eager to know.
In the realm of the spirit, they are filled with wonder. They are open to mystery and believe that anything just might be possible. Their tendency is to believe rather than disbelieve. Their imagination is unfettered and open. Their spirits are receptive.
Next we see that such a heart is childlike in its teachability. We mentioned that children are passionately curious, but they are also extremely teachable. Children want to learn and they are very easily lead. If you tell a child a story, they will listen in rapt attention. If you show a child a magic trick, they want to know how it's done so they can do it too. Whether it's learning to build a castle in the sand, learning to ride a bike, learning to fish, or learning to put on make-up, children recognize their basic need for help and instruction. And they listen and they follow an example. They are teachable - easily molded. That is a characteristic of a childlike heart.
We also see that such a heart is childlike in its trust. By nature, children are trustful. Now, you can certainly train them to be otherwise, and through various experiences in life they may become otherwise. But children have an in-born ability to trust.
Most people have had the experience of playing a game with their children when they were very young, where we ask them to literally dive off into our arms. We assure them we will catch them and they won’t fall. Now, they had never done this before, but did they debate on whether dad would catch them? No. They were trustful. With just the suggestion, they would fling themselves into the air and in sheer delight, land in our arms. Now, you can teach your children not to trust you by proving yourself not to be trustworthy. But by nature they will naturally trust you. That is a characteristic of a childlike heart.
Finally, such a heart is childlike in its responsiveness. Children respond to what they're taught. I suppose because they are trustful, they are eager to take immediate action. When I asked my children to leap off the bed, they did it right away. As a matter of fact, I recollect that they did it before they had enough instruction from dad. Two children leaping at you at the same time can be a challenging experience. But that's the nature of children -- they are responsive. Sometimes they don't respond always to our liking. But they do respond.
Along these lines, let me say that I believe that the responsiveness of children is based on a desire to be obedient. Now, at first you might think that a strange observation. You say, "My children are not all that obedient." Certainly, children are self-willed. Children want to do what they want to do. But on the other hand, I believe there is a desire, deep down inside, to please mom and dad. As a matter of fact, some can testify that the desire to please a parent has driven them to extremes, has even caused problems in their adult life. We do want to make dad happy. We do want to make mom proud. We do want to hear those words, "Well done." Children will go to great lengths to please their parents. And even if their selfish will gets in the way at times, the desire is still there. They know we love them. But I believe children want even more. You see, love is not based on performance. It should not be, "Whether my kids are good or bad I'm still going to love them." Whether or not they are outstanding students, we still love them. Love is not based on performance. Love is something we give freely. We love our children because they're ours - because they need our love, and we do love them. And we should express that love regardless of their behavior. But I believe children want something more. They want dad to put his arm around their shoulder and say, "Son, I want you to know I'm proud of you;" or "Sweetheart, you worked so hard on that job. I'm proud of you." They desire to make us proud, so they are responsive.
These are certainly some of the characteristics Jesus had in mind when He was talking about children. These are the characteristics which we must have in order to inherit the Kingdom of God. Jesus says, "Unless you come like a little child, you will not enter it at all." When you come to Jesus in simplicity, with a teachable heart, trusting in Him and responding to His invitation, then the door of the Kingdom is wide open to you. Indeed it is open to all who have a childlike heart.
Next we see a contrast drawn. There is an encounter with someone who ultimately does not enter in. In Jesus' encounter with the rich young ruler, we see a fundamentally different heart.
The Tragedy Of A Cluttered Heart
The Rich Young Ruler
17 As He was setting out on a journey, a man ran up to Him and knelt before Him, and asked Him, “Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”
18 And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone.
19 “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.’ ”
20 And he said to Him, “Teacher, I have kept all these things from my youth up.”
21 Looking at him, Jesus felt a love for him and said to him, “One thing you lack: go and sell all you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”
22 But at these words he was saddened, and he went away grieving, for he was one who owned much property.
23 And Jesus, looking around, said to His disciples, “How hard it will be for those who are wealthy to enter the kingdom of God!”
24 The disciples were amazed at His words. But Jesus answered again and said to them, “Children, how hard it is to enter 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 the kingdom of God.”
26 They were even more astonished and said to Him, “Then who can be saved?”
27 Looking at them, Jesus said “With people it is impossible, but not with God; for all things are possible with God.”
28 Peter began to say to Him, “Behold, we have left everything and followed You.”
29 Jesus said, “Truly I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or farms, for My sake and for the gospel’s sake,
30 but that he will receive a hundred times as much now in the present age, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and farms, along with persecutions; and in the age to come, eternal life.
31 “But many who are first will be last, and the last, first.”
(vv. 17-31)
The rich young ruler came to Jesus desiring to know how he could enter the Kingdom. Jesus told him to keep the commandments, to which he replied that he had, from his youth up. Then Jesus pressed right into the real issue - this man's responsiveness of heart. Was he willing to respond to Jesus whatever the cost? So Jesus told him to sell all he possessed and, leaving all, come follow Him. What the Scripture reports next is indeed a tragedy. It says that this rich, young ruler went away grieved because he was very wealthy and had many possessions. The point is that his heart was cluttered by affection for these things. He found himself unable to give them up in order to follow Jesus. His possessions had now possessed him. And so he had to turn and walk away. What a tragedy! It is the tragedy of a cluttered heart and misplaced affections.
Notice here that a cluttered heart can desire God. When the rich, young ruler came to Jesus, he came seeking eternal life. He truly desired the things of God. We see that in his question. We see that in the fact that he sought Jesus out. He was open to what Jesus had to say, and he really wanted it. He did not consider the implications of what he wanted, but the desire was there.
But as I mentioned earlier, simple desire is not enough. There are many people today who desire to go to heaven when they die, but they are not willing to count the cost in terms of their personal commitment to Christ in this life. They want to live as they please and go to heaven when they die, and they will argue until blue in the face that they will in fact be there when they leave this world. They want to have their cake and eat it too. But the old saying is true, "You can NOT have your cake and eat it too."
Notice also that cluttered hearts can be morally right. Jesus told him that he must obey the commandments of God. This, he said, he had been doing ever since he was a young boy. He was a morally upright person. But he was not saved.
There are many in this situation today. In our society, there are many who live good, clean lives. They are honest, they treat others fairly and with respect. They are faithful to their wives or husbands. They give their employers an honest day's work for an honest day's wage. They do not lie. They do not steal. They’ve never murdered anyone. And they pretty much live exemplary lives. They are clean, upright, morally and ethically pure; at least as pure as any man can be. But that is not enough, either.
Just as desire is not enough, so right behavior is not enough, in fact the best behaved man or woman, cannot morally live well enough to earn their way to heaven. You see, none of us, however morally and ethically right we are, are perfect. We've all been plagued with the curse of sin. We are all sinners by nature and choice. However much we seek to do righteously, all our righteousness adds up to less righteousness than we need to inherit eternal life. Unless our righteousness is as perfect as the righteousness of Christ, it is not enough. Unless we keep God's law perfectly, we fall short of the glory of God. And the Scripture says that "All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." The Scripture also says, "There is none righteous; no, not one." Good behavior is not enough, because it is never good enough.
The conclusion of the matter is this: Cluttered hearts with misplaced affections cannot respond to God. The rich, young ruler went away sorrowful. His heart was grieved because he had many possessions and great wealth. He had a desire for God. He wanted to inherit the Kingdom of God, eternal life. He was morally upright. He had kept the commandments of God from his youth. But he was unable to respond to God because his heart was cluttered by his possessions. He was like a child in many ways - open, teachable; but he could not be responsive and trustful. His possessions had cluttered his heart and he was bound by them. They shackled him, and his enslavement to them prohibited him from being able to respond in obedience to the command of Jesus. When he counted the cost, the cost was too high, because he had an allegiance to other things.
Jesus goes on to describe the extent of the bondage which our possessions can have on us. He says, "How hard it will be for those who are wealthy to enter the kingdom of God." His disciples are amazed. And so, Jesus repeats His statement again. Now the disciples were amazed because it was commonly believed that a sign of the blessing of God was wealth. Yet, Jesus is saying here that wealth, instead of being a blessing, can in fact, be a curse. He is not saying that riches in themselves are anything good or bad. Jesus never said that money was itself the problem. But rather, the love of money, an affection for money- that is the problem. But money, wealth, material possessions, all can become problems whenever our hearts become set on them instead of the things of God.
Jesus said, "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." Now, some commentators will have you believe that what Jesus was referring to here was a gate in Jerusalem that was called "The Needle's Eye." This gate was about four feet high, and if a camel got down on its knees, with a great deal of effort, it might manage to struggle through. And so some would seek to lessen the impact of this text by implying that Jesus was just saying it is hard but not necessarily impossible. Yet, Jesus does say that it is impossible. In verse 27, He says, "With men it is impossible." Perhaps Jesus was referring to a literal needle's eye, the kind into which thread must be placed. Obviously, the thought of a camel fitting through that needle's eye erases all shadow of doubt as to its possibility. It is impossible.
The disciples were even more amazed at that statement. Jesus goes on to elaborate. "With men it is impossible, but not with God; for all things are possible with God." What is impossible with men is possible for God. God is the God of the impossible. In God, the possibilities are limitless. God can change the heart of a rich man so that his affection is not set upon the riches, but upon the Lord. Instead of viewing his possessions as his, he begins to view them as God's. And then he becomes a steward of those possessions. If God asks for them for God’s own purpose, he willingly gives them because they are not his anymore. They are a blessing from God. He is God's manager and he indeed possesses his possessions instead of being possessed by them. You see, the danger of riches is that those riches possess us. It is that which draws the strong warning of Jesus. It is that which can make our hearts unresponsive to God.
This passage ends with a promise, It is a promise for all of those who take Jesus' command seriously. His disciples went on to ask Him how this applied to their lives. Peter says, in verse 28, "Behold, we have left everything and followed You." Jesus replies that everyone who has forsaken something for His sake shall not suffer lack, but will receive a hundred-fold blessing in this life along with persecutions, and eternal life in the age to come. What Jesus is saying is that we can trust Him. He will take care of us. The real issue is the matter of our heart. Is our heart right toward God?
Do we come to Jesus like a little child, open, trusting, simple, uncluttered and uncomplicated, teachable, and responsive; willing to be obedient to Him? Or is our heart cluttered? Are we burdened down and enslaved by the cares of this world? Is our heart set on material things, or on spiritual things? That is the real issue.
Jesus underscores this point by His last statement in verse 31, "But many who are first, will be last; and the last, first." What He is saying is that it is not necessarily the ones who have prospered in this life who will be first. You may give all of your time and energy to climbing the ladder in this life; to amassing more and more material possessions, to storing away treasure in banks instead of in heaven. And you may appear outwardly successful, prosperous in every way. But if your heart is not right with God, if you are not open, responsive and obedient to Him, though you may have appeared to be first, you will, in fact, be forced to move to the end of the line. And those who set their hearts on spiritual things, though they may have been impoverished in this life, will be called ahead. The last shall be moved to first place, while the first will be moved to last place. They key is coming to Jesus like a little child, in simple faith, in simple trust, and in simple obedience, knowing that God will take care of our every need.
