Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1895-03-09

vi. 33-Commentary by the Rev. ID. ~.
stearns.
IL And when He was gone forth into
the way there came one running and
kneeled TO Him and asked Him, Good
Master, what shall do that may inherit
eternal lifes" This event is also recorded
by both Matthew and Luke 1t is in each
Immediately preceded by the saying of
Christ that we must become as little chill
dren in order to enter the kingdom, and il
is followed by Peters remarks about their
having left all, and the question AS ia
what they should have, and the Sayiours
reply. By comparing the three accounts
we find that this earnest, anxious soul
was a young man, a ruler and very rich
These facts, coupled with that of his run
ming after Jesus and kneeling down before
Him in the street, seem to indicate very
great earnestness on his part in reference
to this great matter of eternal life.
Is. And Jesus said unto him: Why
callest thou me goodg There Is none good
but one. 1hat is God" AS If He said,
'In calling me good, do you confess that
/ am Gody'' He does not, as we might
heartily receive the yonng man, saying,
Il am so glad you have asked me. Sit
down with me quietly, and / will show
you in few minutes, for it is very easy. 4"
He does not think in His heart; Now, here
is a splendid catch. must get him by all
means. Think what his social position
and influence will be to us and think what
his money will do for us. We must have
him.
49, Thou knowest the commandments.
Do not commit adultery, Do not Kill, Do
not steal, Do not bear false witness, De-
fraud not, Honor thy father and mother.
Thus in answer to His question He takes
Him, as he did the lawyer, at once TO the
law. and to what we call the second table,
his duty to man, for we can only prove our
love TO God by our love to our fellows. Be
fore we can know the way TO life eternal we
must have our eyes opened TO see our guilt
and inability to do anything to obtain this
eternal life.
90. And he answered and said unto
Him, Master, all these have / observed
from my youth. We will suppose that
he was thoroughly honest in this reply
and actually thought he had not failed in
any of these commands, but it is evident
that he neither knew his own heart nor
the spirit of the law as Jesus had taught
1t (Math. v, 21-2S) or he would not thus
have justified himself. Paul speaks of
this kind of righteousness which this
young man had as mere own righteous
ness which is of the law" but he learned
to count 1t ali as dross when he saw the
righteousness which is of God by faith
(Phil. iii, %.
81. "Then Jesus, beholding him, loved
him and said unto him, One thing thou
lackest, go thy way, sell whatsoever thou
hast, and give to the poor and thou shalt
have treasure in heaven, and come take
up the cross and follow me-" There is no
one whom Jesus does not love. He loves
those who are dead in sins (Eph. ii, 4, 81,
but His heart went out with special love
to this young man. The one thing he
lacked was just this knowledge of the love
of Christ.
20. And he was sad at that saying and
went away grieved, for he had great pos
sessions" Jesus had now put His hand
upon the sore spot as when He said TO the
woman of Salnaria, GO, call thy hus-
band" Empty and dependent as little
child we must come If we would know
Him and His love and grace and fullness.
23. And Jesus looked round about and
saith unto His disciples, How hardly shall
they that have riches enter into the king
dom of God" The kingdom of God meant
more TO Jesus than it meant to His dis
ciples or than it means to many Chris
tians now. / this day listened to a sermon
preached to about 1000 people in ST.
Giles cathedral, where once the voice of
John Knox rang out the truth, in which
the real kingdom which Jesus and all the
prophets preached was wholly set aside
"a. "And the disciples were astonished
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. /" There is not
necessarily any sin in money. 1t is the
love of money q Tim. vi, 10), or, as Jesus
here puts 1t, the trust in or reliance upon
riches, instead of upon the giver of every
good gift, who giveth us richly all things
to enjoy. Abraham was rich, and David
and Zaccheus and many others whom the
Lord saved. 1t is not said that mot any
mighty or noble is Called but mot
many mighty, not many noblep q Cor /,
26). One has well said, Thank God for
the letter NJ.
25. 1T is easier for camel to 90
through the eye of needle than for rich
man to enter into the kingdom of God" 1t
is simply impossible for any man, rich or
poor, to enter the kingdom without being
born from above (John iii, 8, 8, a, but
that is not probably the truth taught here.
If there was in large city gate a small gate
which only a camel could go through with
difficulty by unloading, and If this small
gate was called "a needles eye, . it would
help us to understand these words of the
Saviour. Whatever illustration He had ia
mind, it is plain that He teaches us that it
is next to impossible for one who is rich TO
enter the kingdom OF heaven, but God,
who is love, has made full provision for
whatsoever viii receive His love (Rev. xxi,
I'D.
20. And they were astonishcd out OF
measure, saying among themselves, Who,
then, can be savedf' 1t would seem that
to the minds Of the disciples Jesus had
spoken, not Of bare possibility, but Of
an impossibility, at least as far as all the
rich were concerned This, with many
other passages of Scripture, such as Tim
vi, 0, IL; Zeph- /, is; Ps. xix, 6, z,
should certainly teach us not to eovet
riches, except as they may be used for
Him and His kingdom. 1t is possible to
be poor, yet make many rich, to seemingly
have nothing and yet possess all things |
Oh Cor. vi, 10). Think Of Him who.
though He was rich, yet for our sakes be
came poor and let Him be orr durable
riches as well as righteousness III Cor
viii, 8; Prov. viii, 1S).
%. And Jesus, looking upon tkrm.
saith, With men IL Is impossible, but NOT
with God, for with God all things are pos.
siblc- There Is nothing too hard or tes
wonderful for tho Lord, fer His name II
wonderful (Cen. xviii, IL; Jer. xxxli, L.
.fudu xiii. Is rnarfrfn- Ism * a. xzs,e4