Mark 10:28-31

C. PETER'S HASTY WORDS. 10:28-31

TEXT 10:28-31

Peter began to say unto him, Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee. Jesus said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or mother, or father, or children, or lands, for my sake, and for the gospel's sake, but he shall receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life. But many that are first shall be last; and the last first.

THOUGHT QUESTION 10:28-31

552.

Why did Peter ask this question?

553.

Show the low spiritual tone in the question asked by Peter.

554.

Did Peter feel he and the other apostles had done what Jesus asked the rich young ruler to do?

555.

Had Jesus said anything about the advantages in following Him? (Cf. His words to the rich young ruler.)

556.

Is Peter saying that he and the other apostles actually left all to follow Jesus with the thought of getting more than they left?

557.

Please notice that Jesus did not direct His answer to Peterwhat does this imply? There are to be rewardsbut for whom? How?

558.

Please be specific in your understanding of just how we can receive a hundred fold of houses, brethren, sisters, mothers, children, landswith persecutions. If you can not give a specific answer(one with personal meaning) think and pray and study until you can.

559.

Why add the warning of Mark 10:31? What does it mean?

COMMENT 10:28-31

TIME.March, A.D. 30.
PLACE.In Pereaat the same time and place as the incident with the rich young ruler.

PARALLEL ACCOUNTS.Matthew 19:27-30; Luke 18:28-30.

OUTLINE.1. Look at us: we have left all to follow you. Mark 10:28. Mark 10:2. No one has left all to follow me who will not be rewarded a hundred fold along with persecutions and in the age to come eternal life, Mark 10:29-30. Mark 10:3. Warningthe first may be lastThe last may be first, Mark 10:31.

ANALYSIS

I.

LOOK AT US: WE HAVE LEFT ALL TO FOLLOW YOU, Mark 10:28.

1.

Right after Jesus-' words to the disciples about riches and the kingdom Peter responds.

2.

We are examples of those who have left all to follow. (What shall we receive in return?)

II.

NO ONE HAS LEFT ALL TO FOLLOW ME WHO WILL NOT BE REWARDED A HUNDRED-FOLDALONG WITH PERSECUTIONSIN THE AGE TO COME ETERNAL LIFE, Mark 10:29-30.

1.

Jesus replied emphaticallytruly

2.

This principle applies to allanyone who leaves all to follow Me will be rewarded a hundred-fold and at the endeternal life.

3.

Such reward will be accompanied with persecution.

III.

WARNINGTHE FIRST MAY BE LASTTHE LAST MAY BE FIRST, Mark 10:31.

1.

Somelike you, Peterstart poorly but finish well.

2.

Somelike the rich young rulerstart well but do not finish.

EXPLANATORY NOTES

I.

LOOK AT US: WE HAVE LEFT ALL TO FOLLOW YOU.

Mark 10:28. Peter, as usual, speaks for them all, saying, in substance, We have done what this man would not: we have accepted the kingdom on the right terms at personal sacrifice, The question, What shall we have, therefore? added in Matthew, is plainly implied here and in Luke, Here is a frank statement of self-seeking, even in self-renunciation; self-denial in the hope of direct returns. The apostles were still hoping that their special honors in the kingdom would make amends for everything. Yet in the words of Peter now there may be a tone of despair, in view of the depression of their prospects implied in the words just spoken: What shall we have, what amends, if the kingdom is to be of this exacting and unambitious kind? No concealment anywhere of the low spiritual tone of the disciples.

II.

NO ONE HAS LEFT ALL TO FOLLOW ME WHO WILL NOT BE REWARDED A HUNDRED-FOLDALONG WITH PERSECUTIONSIN THE AGE TO COME ETERNAL LIFE.

Mark 10:29-30. How tender and wise the answer! There is no distinct rebuke, but there is a silent one in the fact that the promise is made, not to the apostles only, but to all who make such sacrifices as they speak of. Apostles have no exclusive claim, nor even an assurance of pre-eminence in this respect. The rewards of the kingdom are for all the faithful, all who, for my sake, and the gospel'S, have forsaken what they held dear. Note the true suggestionthat the forsaking must be for a person and for a principle. Jesus wishes not to be regarded apart from the gospel, nor can the gospel be regarded as a true object of sacrifice apart from Jesus. So in chap. Mark 8:38. The promise seems to mean (for of course the promise of multiplication of goods cannot be taken literally) that all good that is given up for Christ shall be immeasurably more precious to the soul for the surrender. It shall be given back to the soul, if not to the hands, enhanced a hundred-fold in value. It may be given back to the handsi.e. sacrifices may be required in spirit that are not called for in the course of divine providenceand in that case the hundred-fold of new preciousness is always found, But to the soul all that is given up for Christ shall be returned, and thus graciously multiplied. (The possible thoughts of the lad who gave up his loaves and fishes, John 6:9). The principle of self-sacrifice sweetens life instead of embittering it, and the experience of self-denial surprises the soul with unthought-of wealth. So much at present; and in the age that is coming, with its full spiritual rewards, eternal life, So 1 Timothy 4:8.But the warning lies in the solemn reservation, preserved by Mark alone, With persecutions. No easy way leads to these honors and rewards (2 Timothy 3:12; 2 Corinthians 11:23-27; 2 Corinthians 6:4-10). Even when outward persecution is not, still the principle is the same: it is no easy way.The hundred-fold will not prevent the persecutions; but neither will the persecutions interfere with the coming of the hundred-fold.

III.

WARNINGTHE FIRST MAY BE LASTTHE LAST MAY BE FIRST.

Mark 10:31. A wise caution. The judgment of God is according to truth, and rank will finally be determined by true judgment and not according to present appearances. Let no man boast; even the rich young man who has gone away sorrowful may possibly yet outrank the apostles. Here, according to Matthew, our Lord adds the parable of the Laborers (Matthew 20:1-16) to illustrate the solemn warning, many that are first shall be last; and the last first, to which, at the end of the parable, he returns.The rich young man we see no more, unless under his proper name. Those who think that he may have been Lazarus suggest that his sickness, death, and resurrection, or some part of that great experience, may have been used by God, to whom all things are possible, in bringing him to the spirit of the kingdom. Whoever he may have been, we cannot suppress the hope that he who is said to have loved him did not leave him to himself. (W. N. Clarke)

FACT QUESTIONS

10:28-31

589.

Is there in the words of Peter a tone of despair? Why?

590.

Show how there is not a distinct rebuke to Peter but a very real silent one.

591.

What was said about a person and a principle?

592.

What sweetens life? What surprise is in store for the soul who exercises self-denial?

593.

Why say with persecutionsShow how this principle is reflected in other references.

594.

Read Matthew 20:1-16 and show the connection with Mark 10:31.

595.

Why do some say the rich young man was Lazarus? or Saul of Tarsus?