The first portion of Mark 10 seems to be a series of ethical teachings on various topics: marriage and divorce, the dignity of children, and the love of money. But on a closer inspection, with each situation, Jesus is contrasting the wisdom of the world with the way of the Kingdom of God. We’ll find this contrast in a number of places in the service. In the Scripture reading from James, the “wisdom from above” is compared with that which is “earthly, unspiritual, demonic.” In the psalms and hymns this morning, we’ll sing that those who fear Jehovah, in whose “Holy Word is their delight” (Blessed Are All They—Psalm 1), will see “God’s Kingdom prosper” (Blest The Man Who Fears Jehovah—Psalm 128), in contrast to “worldlings” who “cling to gilded toys of dust” (All For Jesus). Part of the difficulty the Pharisees and the young ruler have is that Christ’s kingdom does not seem to live up to their human legal structures. They are unable to see that He has “hushed the law’s loud thunder” (Let Us Love And Sing And Wonder). Much to their discomfort, the heavenly kingdom comes not with new regulations, but as we’ll sing in Lead On, O King Eternal, “with deeds of love and mercy.” —Henry C. Haffner
Key Words: Test, Allowed, Hardness, Kingdom, One Thing, Camel, Possible
Keystone Verse: Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it. (Mark 10:15)