Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1888-02-24
THE RICH YOUNG RULER.
LESSON TX, INTERNATIONAL SUNDAY
SCHOOL SERIES, FEB. PC.

From Lesson Helper Quarterly, by permission
of II. s. Hoffman, Philadelphia, publisher
Notes.-Came, i. g., out of the company
around Mark says, running. One, Luke
says ruler, or member of the Sanhedrim
Master, or teacher. Enter into life, be saved
from death and have everlasting life. Keep,
obey or live according to. Honor, this is
more than to obey, and no one word will de-
fine it. Reverence is perhaps the best.
Hardly, or, it is hard for A rich man, one
that trusts in riches Exceedingly, very
much. Them in that case, or, if that is so.
This, i. e., that rich men can be saved. I'm
possible; possible, l. e., men cannot do this,
but God can.
V. Is. Mark and Luke supply two very in
teresting features of this case. From one
we learn that he was a ruler, i. e., member
of the s,anhedrim. From the other we learn
that he came running. He was in earnest,
and not afraid to have it known that he was.
He was not satisfied with what the doctors
of the law taught concerning this great
question. He felt, he was sure, there was
something more. But what was itl Where
should he find the one who could lift the
veil and let in the lightl 1t would seem from
the narrative that he had been following
Jesus secretly, or without making himself
teacher would say about it, And now, as
he hears his last words, he could restrain
himself no longer. He came running to
Jesus, with the great question, "Good Mas
teri what must l do that may have eternal
lifef' or 'inherit eternal lifes"
V. H. Before answering his question our
Lord, gently yet pointedly, rebukes him for
the use Of the title by which he addressed
him. Why did he use it2 He did not mean
it. He did not mean to say that he Uesus)
was the good. For that title belongs only to
one-or to God. And, as an unmeaning COM
pliment, he could not receive it. Now this
does not mean that Jesus declined a title be-
longing only to God; but that the young
ruler himself did not mean to intimate that
1t 80 belonged to him. And therefore he
could not receive it from him. Now, in our
Lords answer to the young rulers question,
we must observe that he answered from his
standpoint. He occupied the ground on
which he stood. His question was, What
shall l do that may have or inherit eternal
lifef' He would have it as the result of his
own doings. He proposed to work for it. He
wanted to have it, as of debt, as a working
man receives his wages. And so the master
replies to him, keep the commandments
He did not propose the difficulties of the
case. He would have him ascertain these for
himself He would have him find out for
himself that obedience to the law, as the
price of eternal life, was chain of many
links, and if one of these was broken the
chain itself was worthless. 1t offered no
connection between the man and the object
he had in view. But the young ruler did
not see this. And SO
V. 1920 When he heard the Lords an
swer he at once asked which of the COM
mandments he meant. And in answer the
Lord cited the sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth
and fifth, while Mark adds the tenth. Now
all these were of the second table of the law
Not word is said about those of the first
table. The young mans relation to God
seems to have been entirely left out of the
question. Why was this' And there seems
to be no doubt about the answer. For it is
manifest that our Lord meant to show how
utterly hopeless his case was, even on his
own chosen ground. For, if he proposed to
be saved by the works of the law, or to enter
into life because of obedience to the law, it
must be very clear that he had obeyed the
law. Now, if it were question of obedience
to mans law-i. e., if it concerned the out
ward act alone-it would be very easily set
tied. But if that claw is spiritual;" if the
thought is murder, then the case is a very
different one.
The young ruler proposed to win eternal
life by the deeds of the law. Now the sum-
ming up of the second table of the law is,
"Thou shalt love thy neighbor as myself y
He said he did. And Jesus replied in effect,
'If you do it is very easy to prove it. You
would not hesitate to part with anything you
have to relieve your own wants. Now why
should you hesitate to relieve the necessities
of your neighbori You would not if you
loved him as you do yourself. Now, there
fore, go and do it, and prove your claim i:
true. This was the simple issue; and one
more clearly defined could not well be pre-
sented And is that ala No. For that
might spring from a motive utterly mad
missable. And so the Master adds, land
come and follow me-"
V. %. How true to the life this is. How
clear the revelation it makes of the ruling
power in this young rulers heart. Doubt
less he was attracted by the Masters teach
ing; but the glitter of his gold had brighter
luster in his eyes! Doubtless he was con
cerned for his eternal life. But clearly, tn,
present had for him the greater attraction
He was in ''the valley of decision" anC
quietly yielded to the power of the presen
and the seen! HE turned and went away
for he had great possessions" The presen
and the eternal life were weighed agains
each other, and the beam went down on tn
side of the present. Poor young man!
V. %, "a. 1t is not hard to imagine the dee
compassion that moved in the Master
breast, as he turned to his disciples and spok
these words. Doubtless they had seen an,
heard all that had passed; and he woul
shield them now from any wrong impres
sions the young rulers example might max
upon them And if we ask for the reaso
underlying the declaration of the Master-o
why it is hard for rich man to enter til
kingdom of God-there seems to be two res
sons l. e.:
l. Riches beget sense of power in til
holder of them. Therefore the rich man
commonly pulled up with sense of his in
portance He can do anything; and his prid
erects itself even against God.
2. Riches become an object of trust to thei
possessor. They seem TO break down tn
simplicity of childlike faith in God Ho
can he pray, Give us this day our dali
bread" when he knows that his check is goo
in bank and his credit high on exchang,