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Advent Lessons

Lesson 16 · October 17, 1891

The Poor Rich Man.—Mark 10:1-31

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Parallels: ; .

Question of Divorce

  1. 1.Where did our Lord go from Capernaum? . See note 1.
  2. 2.What conversation took place between Jesus and the Pharisees? ; .
  3. 3.How close and sacred did Jesus show the marriage relation to be? .
  4. 4.For what cause only did he say divorce could be granted? ; .

Childlike Confidence

  1. 5.What characteristic of our Lord is shown in the next incident recorded? .
  2. 6.What practical lesson did he draw from the trust of the little ones? .

Idolatry of Riches

  1. 7.As Jesus started on his journey, what question was asked him by a young ruler? ; .
  2. 8.In replying, who alone did Jesus say is good? .
  3. 9.Did Jesus by this mean to imply that he himself was not good? ; ; .
  4. 10.What was the lesson designed to be taught? See note 2.
  5. 11.What did Jesus tell the young man to do? ; .
  6. 12.How did the ruler reply? .
  7. 13.How did Jesus regard the young man? , first clause.
  8. 14.How did he show the young man that he was a transgressor of the law? .
  9. 15.How was the young man a transgressor? See note 3.
  10. 16.How only can one do God's will? .
  11. 17.What did the young man do? .

Danger and Use of Riches

  1. 18.What lesson did Jesus draw from this incident? .
  2. 19.What question did the disciples ask? .
  3. 20.What did Jesus reply? . See note 4.
  4. 21.What did Jesus say should be the reward of those who forsake all for his sake? .
  5. 22.For what purpose alone does God give riches? .

Notes

Notes on the Lesson.

1. Question 1.—Between the events of this lesson and our last comes in what is recorded in chapters 10 to 18:14 in Luke and chapters 7 to 10 in John.

2. Question 10.—God only is absolute good; if, therefore, Jesus was good of himself, he was of God and divine. The young man's address was doubtless only designed to be respectful; Jesus used it to convey a lesson which would be of eternal worth if studied.

3. Question 15.—The young man had kept the law, doubtless, as did Paul. He had observed it outwardly, not realizing that the principles of love on which it was based demanded his all. His wealth was his god, his morality was his pride, and he knew it not. He was really a transgressor of the first commandment, and therefore of the whole law, for it is one law. The law demands all-absorbing love, and love gives all.

4. Question 20.—The words of Jesus show the great danger and powerful snare of riches. Of course, it is only by the power of God that any can be saved, but it would require more of God's power to enable the rich man to relinquish his idol, or break the cords that bind him to the world in so many ways. The proverb concerning the camel and the eye of a needle was a common proverb among the orientals to denote an impossibility. For "they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition." . To those whose heart is set on riches there is no way to escape its snares. The only hope of the rich is to yield all to God. They are then no longer rich in this world's goods but poor for Christ's sake.

Bible texts in this lesson

Matthew 19 · Luke 18:18-30 · Mark 10:1 · Mark 10:2-4 · Matthew 19:3 · Mark 10:5-9 · Mark 10:10-12 · Matthew 19:9 · Mark 10:13-16 · Mark 10:15 · Mark 10:17 · Matthew 19:16 · Mark 10:18 · John 8:46 · 1 Peter 2:22 · 2 Corinthians 5:21 · Matthew 19:17 · Mark 10:19 · Mark 10:20 · Mark 10:21 · Mark 10:22 · John 6:28 · John 6:29 · Mark 10:23-25 · Mark 10:26 · Mark 10:27 · Mark 10:28-30 · 1 Timothy 6:17-19 · 1 Timothy 6:9

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