Everyone Will be Salted With Fire
Mark 9:42–50
Mark 9:42 says whoever causes one of these little ones who believes in me to sin, … And, I am sure he was talking literally about how we treat children. Certainly, we have a charge to care for them and to help them and to protect them because who we are represents who God is to them. And, certainly God would not be abusive to them, in fact it says in Matthew 7:11 (LEB) Therefore if you, although you* are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him?
But I am going to stretch this a bit and say that Jesus is really talking about new, baby Christian believers. These might be adults with worldly history and still with worldly ways, but they believe in Christ. And what behavior do they see in you? Isn’t that what Jesus is really talking about.Yes, you should deal with sin, addiction, strong holds in your life, but not just for your own sake, not just for your own salvation. Isn’t it even more for the witness you are to others?
The world says, children do what you do, and not what you say. God’s word says in ,
James 1:22 (LEB) But be doers of the message and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves … So, how will your life stand up to the test of God’s Holy presence?
Is It Permitted for a Man to Divorce His Wife?
Mark 10:1–12
In Mark 10:5 (LEB) Jesus responded, “He (Moses) wrote this commandment for you because of your hardness of heart”.
- God made us male and female
- A man will leave his father an mother Genesis 2:24 (So expect your mother-in-law to be part of your life!)
- The two become one flesh (And, there is no better place to learn to love than in a marriage.) This means you husbands, as it says in Ephesians 5:33 (LEB) Only you also, each one of you, must thus love his own wife as himself, and the wife ⌊must respect⌋ her husband.
Moses did allow a certificate of divorce, and I am not saying it is easy. What I am saying is, 1 Corinthians 7:16 (LEB) For how do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife? if you don’t give all the love you have? As much as is in you, do this:
- Colossians 3:8 (LEB) But now you also lay aside all these things: anger, rage, wickedness, slander, abusive language from your mouth.
- Colossians 3:14 (LEB) And to all these things add love, which is the bond of perfection.
And now I am going to meddle, God’s desire is a Godly seed. He isn’t only looking for your happiness and contentment, He is also looking for your childrens’ children. Learn to love, then love your wife, and love your children, and love the life you have together.
To Such, Belongs the Kingdom of God
Mark 10:13–16
Children can be unruly, even chaotic in their behavior yet it is excitement, and curiosity, and enthusiasm that drives them. It is seldom that they act with malice or guile and they are often unaware that they are interrupting or hindering your important adult conversation. And, here also, I believe Jesus is talking literally about children. But I also believe He is talking about new born Christians. And, the Kingdom of God belongs to them every bit as much as it belongs to anyone else, no matter our spiritual stature.
What Must I Do To Inherit Eternal Life?
Mark 10:17–31
This young man asks in all earnestness, in Mark 10:17 “what must I do so that I will inherit eternal life?” Jesus gives a good answer for a son of Israel, he says in Mark 10:19 “you know the commandments …” and in Mark 10:20 the young man responds, “all these I have observed from my youth”.
What a good boy, who could expect anything more? He has kept the law as best anyone could. But Jesus does not commend him for this. Mark 10:21 does says “he loved him”. And then Jesus told him the one thing he couldn’t do, “sell all you have … and come, follow me”. Whether it was because he couldn’t give up his possessions, or he didn’t want to give to the poor, or he didn’t want to leave his family or friends, really doesn’t matter. He couldn’t follow Jesus. and this was the only thing he needed to inherit eternal life, as Jesus is quoted in John 14:6 (LEB) Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
Jesus didn’t say you can’t be rich in the earth and in the kingdom, he just said in Mark 10:31 that “many who are first (in this life) will be last (in the Kingdom). For example, you might begin reading for understanding in Luke 16:19 (LEB) “Now a certain man was rich, and dressed in purple cloth and fine linen, feasting sumptuously every day…
The Things That Were About to Happen
Mark 10:32–34
There are many occasions recorded in the gospels where Jesus knew what was going to happen before it happened. The calling of Nathaniel comes immediately to mind, and in John 1:48 Jesus said “when you were under the fig tree, I saw you”. And, the colt, in Mark 11:2 he said “you will find a colt tied”. Jesus described this in John 5:19 “what he sees the father doing … these things also the Son does likewise”.
At this moment, those following were afraid. What would happen to them if Jesus was killed? They didn’t yet have a full understanding of God’s plan, but they would.
This foreknowledge, this word of knowledge, for me, is a demonstration of what we find later in 1 Corinthians 12:7–11 (LEB) But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for what is beneficial to all. 8 For to one is given a word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another a word of knowledge by the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, 10 to another ⌊miraculous powers⌋, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing of spirits, to another kinds of tongues, to another interpretation of tongues. 11 But in all these things one and the same Spirit is at work, distributing to each one individually just as he wishes.
Their People in High Positions Exercise Authority
Mark 10:35–45
This servant of all concept is upside down. This isn’t how the world works. In fact, the god of this world himself explained this when he tempted Jesus in Matthew 4:8–9 (LEB) Again the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory, 9 and he said to him, “I will give to you all these things, if you will fall down and* worship me.”
Jesus said we are to be like Him. In Mark 10:43–45 (LEB) But it is not like this among you! But whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 44 and whoever wants to be most prominent among you must be the slave of all. 45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Have Mercy on Me
Mark 10:46–52
Out of the “large crowd” was the voice calling, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” and Jesus stopped. He is listening. He is willing. What would you do if you knew Jesus would grant your request? In Mark 10:52 Jesus says “Go, your faith has …”. What? What is it you are asking? What do you believe?
We are almost there so here it is, Mark 11:24 (LEB) For this reason I say to you, whatever you pray and ask for, believe that you have received it,* and it will be done for you.
Study Verses
- Mark 10:17–31
- Mark 10:32–34
- Mark 10:46–52
Daily Reading
- Mark 9:42-50
- Mark 10:1-52