LESSON IX.—SUNDAY, DECEMBER 2, 1900.
16 “And behold, one came to Him and said, Master, what 17 good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? And He said unto him, Why askest thou Me concerning that which is good? One there is who is good; but if thou wouldest enter 18 into life, keep the commandments. He saith unto Him, Which? And Jesus said, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not 19 steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Honor thy father and thy mother; and, 20 Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. The young man saith unto Him, All these things have I observed; what lack 21 I yet? Jesus said unto him, If thou wouldest be perfect, go, 22 sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have 23 treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me. But when the young man heard the saying, he went away sorrowful; for he was one that had great possessions. 23 “And Jesus said unto His disciples, Verily I say unto you, It is hard for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of heaven. 24 And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through 25 a needle's eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. And when the disciples heard it, they were aston- 26 ished exceedingly, saying, Who then can be saved? And Jesus looking upon them said to them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.” NOTE.—Read Matt. 19:1 to 20:16 and Luke 17:20 to 18:14. The lesson section includes only the lesson scripture as one specimen of Jesus' teaching, among many things taught on His last journey to Jerusalem. Golden Text: “Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God!” Mark 10:24. (1) When Jesus had finished blessing the children brought to Him, who approached Him? What question did he ask of Jesus? V. 16. Note 1. (2) Before answering him, what question did Jesus ask the young ruler? What declaration did Jesus then make in regard to goodness? What did the Saviour tell him he must do if he would have life? V. 17. Note 2. (3) What further question did the young ruler ask? What commands did Jesus enumerate in reply to this question? Vs. 18, 19. (4) What did the ruler say in reference to this? What other question did he ask? V. 20. (5) What did Jesus say he should do if he would be perfect? What would be the final result of this action? What invitation did He give the young man? V. 21. Note 3. (6) How did the Saviour's instruction affect the young ruler? What was the cause of his sorrow? V. 22. (7) Seeing this, what did Jesus say to His disciples? V. 23. Note 4. (8) In what other way did Christ express this thought? V. 24. (9) How did the disciples receive this saying? What question did they ask? V. 25. Note 5. (10) In reply to their questionings, what did Jesus say? V. 26. 1. One came to Him and said.—We learn from Luke 18:18 that the one who came to Jesus on this occasion was a ruler, one holding a high position among the Jews. That the young ruler was zealous to know what he must do is shown from the record in Mark, which says, “There came one running, and kneeled to Him.” 2. Keep the commandments.—Not some of them, not nine of them, but “keep the commandments.” The Jews understood by “the commandments” the law of God as expressed in the great “Ten Words” uttered by the Lord Himself on Sinai. The keeping of the commandments is pre-eminently essential if we would “enter into life.” John says, “He that saith, I know Him, and keepeth not His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in Him.” 1 John 2:4. He also gives us a test whereby we may know if we love the children of God: “By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep His commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not grievous.” 1 John 5:2, 3. Christ's command to His followers to-day, as to those who would follow Him then, is, “Keep the commandments,” and in no place has He given to man permission to substitute for the essence of one of those “Ten Words” something which that command never enjoined. Those commands stand to-day in their entirety as they stood when Jehovah spoke them from the cloud, and the keeping of them will be a characteristic of those who will be among the redeemed. “Here is the patience of the saints; here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.” Rev. 14:12. “Blessed are they that do His commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.” Rev. 22:14. Of course they can be kept only by faith in Christ, who forgives sin and writes the law upon the heart. 3. Sell that thou hast, and give to the poor.—15“Christ's words were verily to the ruler, ‘Choose you this day whom ye will serve.’ The choice was left with him. Jesus was yearning for his conversion. He had shown him the plague-spot in his character, and with what deep interest He watched the issue as the young man weighed the question! . . . Christ made the only terms which could place the ruler where he would perfect a Christian character. His words were words of wisdom, tho they appeared severe and exacting. His exalted position and his possessions were exerting a subtle influence for evil upon his character. If cherished, they would supplant God in his affections. If he had realized the value of the offered gift, quickly would he have enrolled himself as one of Christ's followers. He desired eternal life; but he was not willing to make the sacrifice. . . . His claim that he had kept the law of God was a deception. He showed that riches were his idol.”—Desire of Ages. 4. Hard for a rich man to enter.—In too many cases he has broken the commandments by making an idol of his riches,—an idol whose worship has become so much a part of his very life that it is like self-crucifixion to cast it down. The rich young ruler went away exceeding sorrowful, because in order to follow Christ he must destroy the idol at whose shrine he had worshiped so long. “Christ's dealing with the young man is presented as an object lesson. God has given us the rule of conduct which every one of His servants must follow. It is obedience to His law, not merely a legal obedience, but an obedience which enters into the life, and is exemplified in the character. Only those who will say, Lord, all I have and all I am is Thine, will be acknowledged as sons and daughters of God.”—Desire of Ages. 5. Who then can be saved?—“For the great body of people wanted riches, whether they succeeded or not. If the most favored and prominent class could not enter heaven, who could? . . . Wealth was especially necessary for the kingdom, as they had pictured it to their minds.”—Peloubet. But the teaching of Christ was directly opposed to this. Wealth was a non-essential; but real heart-worship and loving obedience to God's requirements were the great essentials.