17.   And as he was going forth into the way, there ran one to him, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?
      18   And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? none is good save one, even God.
      19   Thou knowest the commandments, Do not kill, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor thy father and mother.
      20   And he said unto him, Teacher, all these things have I observed from my youth.
      21   And Jesus looking upon him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me.
      22   But his countenance fell at the saying, and he went away sorrowful: for he was one that 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 amazed 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 a needle's eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.
      26   And they were astonished exceedingly, saying unto him, Then who can be saved?
      27   Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for all things are possible with God.
      41.   And he sat down over against the treasury, and beheld how the multitude cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much.
      42   And there came a poor widow, and she cast in two mites, which make a farthing.
      43   And he called unto him his disciples, and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, This poor widow cast in more than all they that are casting into the treasury:
      44   for they all did cast in of their superfluity; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.

Questions and Brief Comments.

Verse 17. Who was this that ran and kneeled to Him? (The "Rich Young Ruler"--Luke 18:18; Matt. 19:22). What did he call Jesus? What did he want Jesus to tell him?

Verse 18. Did the Lord Jesus mean to deny that He was good? (See John 10:11; 8:46; 14:9). What then did He mean? (See Notes).

Verse 19. To what did Jesus refer him? On what terms could a man obtain life through the Law? (Rom. 10:5; Gal. 3:12).

Verse 20. What did the Rich Young Ruler think he had done all his life? Was that really correct? (Rom 3:23, 24; 1 John 1:8). Did the Lord waste time disputing it? [126]

Verse 21. What test did the Lord propose to the young man? Is that demanded of every man? (See Notes).

Verse 22. How did the young ruler take to that? Why did his countenance fall? Which did he give up--his money or his Lord? Does every one who refuses Christ go away sorrowful? Contrast 1 Pet. 1:8.

Verses 23, 24. What class of people can hardly enter the kingdom of God? What else does the Lord add in v. 24? Is it hardly possible for a man who has riches not to trust in them?

Verse 25. How hard is it for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God? Is the "needle's eye" a little gate? (No. It's simply a needle's eye).

Verses 26, 27. Did that speech amaze the disciples? What did they ask? How only is any man's salvation possible?

Mark 12:41. How came it that Jesus saw what was being cast into the treasury? Does He still look on and behold? Who cast in much?

Verse 42. What did the poor widow cast in? Was that much? (A mite is an eighth of a cent).

Verses 43, 44. Did Jesus say the widow cast in more than anybody, or more than all the rest put together? Why? How then does the Lord estimate our gifts? (By the sacrifice they represent).

NOTES AND TEACHING-POINTS.

"THE COST OF DISCIPLESHIP."

      By this is not meant money-cost. Salvation is free. It cost God everything; it cost us nothing. "Being justified freely" (that is, gratuitously). Rom. 3:24. "The free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Rom. 6:23)

      "Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price." (Isa. 55:1). If we had to buy it we could not pay for our salvation with all the treasures of earth nor by eternal years of service. It can be had only as the gift of God's grace, unmerited, unpurchaseable; priceless, infinite in value, but freely bestowed through Jesus Christ our Lord, on everyone who will accept it.

      But there is a cost of discipleship which is the natural consequence of this wondrous free of grace of God toward us. The receiving of it brings us under a debt of love which can never be paid off. As He gave Himself for us, so henceforth must we be His.

Moreover since it is impossible for a man to have Christ and at the same time [127] hold the world and live the self-life, the coming in of the one means the going out of the other. If the Lord Jesus is what He is, He is indeed worth infinitely more than all the possessions and advantages of earth. Therefore, says Paul, "I count all things to be loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I suffered the loss of all things and do count them but refuse, that I may gain Christ." (Phil. 3:8). The Lord wants your heart. That once given, all else goes with it; and though we may still have and enjoy our blessings, we belong to Him with all we possess and are. If this is not always understood from the beginning of the Christian life, it must at last be realized.

WERE ALL REQUIRED TO GIVE ALL THEY HAD?

      There is a sense in which everyone who would be Christ's disciple must renounce all he has. Luke 14:25-33. But the Lord Jesus did not ask all men to divest themselves of all their possessions in order that they might follow Him. Peter and Andrew, and James and John left their boats and nets. But ordinarily the will of God is that a man becoming a Christian stay by his boats and nets and go right on with his daily occupation (1 Cor. 7:20) provided of course it is an honorable one. Zaccheus of his own will devoted half his goods to the poor, and out of the remaining half proposed to restore to every one he may have wronged, a fourfold. No Christian after Pentecost was required to give up his possessions. Many did do so, but none had to. (Acts 2:44, 45; with Acts 5:1-4). There were rich brethren in the church, and though they came in for special admonition, they were not ordered to do away with their wealth. (1 Tim. 6:17-19). But the love of God will compel us more and more to an unselfish use of our means and the power they represent, to the glory of God; the furtherance of His work, and the blessing of man in Jesus' Name.

THE RICH YOUNG RULER.

      In the case of this young man there was special reason why he was called upon to dispose of all his goods and possessions. He fancied that he had kept the law and thought he was willing to do anything more that might be needed that he might "inherit eternal life." But his heart was cleaving to his possessions, and he held them higher than God. Under the Lord's searching treatment of him, he was quickly made aware of this fact.

      He went away sorrowful. Does anyone ever go away joyful, who has turned down the Lord Jesus? Or does anyone ever "go away sorrowful" who has yielded to Him?

      "A good man lost and a bad man saved." Some one preached a sermon on this theme. He contrasted two rich men: Zaccheus, the publican, who all his life conducted a disreputable business for filthy lucre; and this young ruler, carefully brought up, moral, religious, highly respected. Yet Zaccheus (Luke 19:1-10) was saved, and the young ruler lost. Can you see why?--What is the real test of a man's fitness for salvation? Ans. What he will do with the Light when it comes to him. (Matt. 11:21-24; John 3:19; Acts 13:46).

      "He went away." Think where he went to. When anyone refuses Christ and turns away from Him, He has turned His back to the light and goes out into deepening darkness for ever. Which way is your face?

QUESTIONS FOR CLASS USE.

1. What is the subject of this lesson?
2. How much did our salvation cost God?
3. How much does it cost us? (See Notes, 1st paragraph.)
4. Why the cost of discipleship? (See Notes, 2nd paragraph.)
5. Who came running to Jesus and kneeled to Him?
6. What did he want?
7. Did he know what the word "good" meant? (V. 18).
8. What did he think he had done?
9. To what test did Jesus put him?
10. How did he stand the test? Why?
11. Is every man required to give away all he has? (See Notes).
12. What class of people are in extremely hopeless condition?
13. Are the rich very likely to "trust in riches"?
14. How hard is it for them to enter the kingdom?
15. Is any man's salvation an impossible task (humanly speaking)? (V. 27).
16. With whom only is it possible? [128]

Source: Fifth Lord's Day Lesson of April. Lesson 5. April 29, 1928. The Cost of Discipleship (Mark 10:17-27;