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MAN AND GOD: CONNECTING THE UNCONNECTED THROUGH THE SPIRIT

04-03-11

(Luke 18:18-20)  And a certain [“very rich” v.23] ruler asked him, saying, Good Master [“You who are essentially and perfectly morally good” Amplified Bible], what shall I do to inherit eternal life? And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me [“essentially and perfectly morally” Amplified Bible] good? none is good, save one, that is, God. Thou knowest [Gk: understand] the commandments, Do not commit adultery [#7], Do not kill [#6], Do not steal [#8], Do not bear false witness [#9], Honour thy father and thy mother [#5].

1.      Commentary: The Ten Commandments: The first four commandments have to do with how man should relate to God, i.e., “love the Lord thy God,” and the last six commandments have to do with how man should relate to man, i.e., “love thy neighbour as thyself.” (Mat 22:37-39). If one will not do the last, how then may he be accepted by God to do the first, for he has not obeyed the law? In that regard, please note that Jesus entirely omitted the tenth commandment: “Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour’s.” (Ex 20:17). Question: why do you suppose Jesus omitted the tenth commandment in this instance, and the first four commandments?

2.      covet = Heb: to delight in:--beauty, greatly beloved, covet, delectable thing, ( X great) delight, desire, goodly, lust, (be) pleasant (thing), precious (thing).

(Luke 18:21,22)  And he [the certain ruler] said, All these have I kept from my youth up. Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him [correcting him], Yet lackest thou [Gk: to fail or be absent] one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute [the proceeds] unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me.

(Luke 18:23-26)  And when he [the certain ruler] heard this, he was very sorrowful [Gk: grieved all around, i.e. intensely sad]: for he was very rich. And when Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful, he said, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God! [“How difficult it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!” Amplified Bible] 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. And they that heard it said, Who then can be saved? And he said, The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.

1.      Dictionary: sorrowful = synonyms: sad, mournful, grief-stricken, distressed, unhappy, regretful. Antonym: joyful.

2.      Dake’s Annotated Reference Bible: “a needle’s eye”: A Jewish proverb so common in Jewish writings to express great difficulty or impossibility. In the large gates in the city walls were small narrow ones [gates], each called the needle’s eye, through which a camel might enter kneeling down if he were unloaded.

(Mark 14:42-49)  Rise up [spoken to His sleeping disciples at Gethsemane: Heb: oil-press], let us go; lo, he that betrayeth me is at hand. And immediately, while he yet spake, cometh Judas [the only Judean, the eleven being Galileeans], one of the twelve, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests [the Temple police] and the scribes and the elders. And he that betrayed him had given them a token [Gk: a sign], saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he; take him, and lead him away safely [Gk: securely]. And as soon as he [Judas] was come, he goeth straightway to him, and saith, Master, master; and kissed him. And they laid their hands on him, and took him. And one of them that stood by [Peter] drew a sword, and smote a servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear. And Jesus answered and said unto them, Are ye come out, as against a thief, with swords and with staves to take me? I was daily with you in the temple teaching, and ye took me not: but the scriptures must be fulfilled [i.e., “The things which are impossible with men are possible with God” Luke 18:26, i.e., God is about to show the impossible to be possible]. And they all [of His disciples] forsook him, and fled.

(Mark 14:50-52)  And there followed him a certain young man, having a linen cloth [Gk: a bleached white cloth] [“for the fine linen (Gk: bleached white) is the righteousness of saints” Rev 19:8] cast about his naked body [a body without adornment]; and the young men [of the Temple police] laid hold on him: And he left [Gk: left behind, abandoned] the linen cloth [the last thing he owned], and fled from them naked [having previously sold all, and given the proceeds to the poor].

                                                                           Amen