The Tupelo journal., 1906-08-24
THE RICH
YOUNG RULER
Sunday School Lessonf for All. rs. 1906
Specially Prepared for This Paper,

LESSON TExT.-Mark 1O:17-s1. Mem
cry verses, 20, "a.
GOLDEN TExT.-"If any man will
come after me, let him deny himself, and
take up his cross and follow me."-Matt.
1924.
TIME.-March. A. D. 30. not long after
last lesson.
PLACE.-Perea, beyond Jordan, during
Jesus last journey to Jerusalem.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES. Com
Ruler Matt. 1850; Mark 1o:i7-s1; Luke
ls:1s-30), and the similar question OF the
lawyer duke 1o:25-2S). The relation, of
the me COZ ~ommandmen to t, eternal tba asa nte; Tn my
(Rev. PIT. s, q; 22:14, 15). Christ has come
to help us to the attainment Of this char
is:s. io-i 1oh l7:s ~ / JOIN III ~; rs; 81 5:sS; 8 jude se': 3:
is:22; Tim; s:s-i1, I1-ls; Pet; lis. Exe
$3.50; Barnabas, etc. Acts @4:s4-s7';. Solo.
mon. Eccles.. The kind of rewards for
these ,o who give ", all to Christ. 90 Matt It:
Rom. s;:ls SGT : Cor rot 5:i7: Rev W. ~. Il. il, e.
Is; 3:5, IL, q.
Comment and Suggestive Thought.
v. II. One came" He was a rich
and educated young man, n Of the
rulers of the local synagogue. He
was in earnest, for he anne running:
courageous, for he came openly; and
was also humble and respectful.
Eternal life" This is the life of God
which is implanted in our hearts as
we begin to truly love him.
v. Is. why callest thou me good?"
Jesus does not decline the appellation
good" but demands that the n who
uses it shall state on what ground he
applies it to him. None good but
49,. God" Only God is perfectly
good, and he is the source of all good
ness in men. IF thou wilt enter into
life, keep the commandments" and
when the youth asked which," evi.
IDENTIFY ~fancying that Jesus referred to
some new command, the Master re-
piled in the words of V. 10.
v. 10. "The Commandments. Do
not" etc. Jesus gives a free render.
ing of the commands of what we term
the Second Table of the Decalogue.
v. 20. "All these have l kept" He
had been honest, virtuous, respectable
all his life.
". 21. Jesus looked upon the young
man with the love-light in his eyes.
He not only loved him as God loves
all men, but esteemed him because Of
his many excellent qualities. One
thing thou lackest." Jesus will try
to supply what is lacking, but it is a
heart-possession, hence the young man
must voluntarily accept the measures
which will bring it to him. "Sell,
give" Jesus saw that this young
mans worldly riches were engrossing
his attention, and making him so self.
ish that love was crowded out of his
heart, hence he asked him to lay these
h~indrances aside. Who loves Jesus
truly will gladly place all he has at
his disposal and put away his worldly
wealth or use it as Gods steward.
Come, follow me-" With intense
love, Jesus says to the young man,
Come with me. l have laid aside
riches, for they would hinder my work
for men. Love as l love. Give to
men as 1 IN giving myself. And then
your goodness will become goodness.
and your treasure be laid up in
heaven, for your character will be
godly."
v. 20. HE went away g%rieved." His
co~untenance fell. He loved his riches,
and felt that they were a great good
which he could not sacrifice. "He had
great possessions" 1t vas their hold
upon his heart which made them a
;hindrance to him.
v. 20. Saith unto his disciples" He
turned to them with a sad, disappoint-
ed look, drawing upon them for SYM
pathy. How hardly shall they that
have riches enter into the kingdom of
heaven,' How difficult it is for the
rich to become Christians!
v. "a. Disciples were as%tonished."
They had thought, and rightly, that
riches were a great blessing, a token
of Gods favor; they were astonished
when the danger lurking beneath
them was pointed out.
! v. rs. Camel go through the eye OF
a needle" An extravagant expression
to denote an impossibility.
V. 26. Who then can be saved?" II
it is such a difficult matter for the
rich, who also are ordinarily the
learned, what hope can there be for
the poor and ignorant?
v. 27. with men impossible, with
God possible" The very fact that We
cannot save ourselves nor escape the
many dangers which beset US in this
life, helps us the more readily to &C
fcept Jesus as our Saviour.
!; v. 2S. 10, we have left ALL" Peter
and the other apostles had left their
fishing boats, their counting booths
whatever places of business they had
previously occupied-and had given
themselves to accompanying Jesus
and aiding him in every possible way
In his work.
Z v. 29. mo nan hath left house." etc.
Some, or all of these, had been sacri-
feed by most of the apostles. (See
above.) For my sake and the
gospels" Because Of devotion to
Jesus and desire to further the work
of spreading his gospel. Z
v. 80. IAN hundredfold now" Not
literally a hundred houses, or BROTH
ers, ETC., but that which shall bring a
hundred times as much heart salts
faction and real blessing.
v. 81. MANY first . last; and
last first" For many, conditions will
be reversed.
Practical Points.
1T. Like this young man, We
should seek eternal life by seeking
Jesus earnestly, humbly. persistently.
-Jer. 1918.