10:1-12 - Jesus starts by asking what they currently believe/know and then teaches from there. This is a great technique when people have questions and especially when you sense they want a fight and not an answer. You begin by asking them to reveal what they know/believe and then you walk through Scripture (not opinion or experience) to see if that stands up. If it doesn't it is Scripture and not you refuting them.
10:5 - It is because your hearts were hard that Moses wrote this law. - I just found this verse really interesting. Moses had permitted divorce because the people's hearts were hard. Divorce is a matter of a hard heart. If we would see it that way we could push past all the reasons and excuses and emotion and realize if we soften our heart towards God He will enable us to soften our heart towards the other person and we will be reconciled.
10:9 - Marriage is God joining a man and a woman together and no one (not even those in the marriage) have the right to undo that.
10:11-12 - Divorce and remarriage leads to adultery. Adultery is forgivable, but tread lightly. I would encourage anyone who is not yet divorced to fight for the faith to believe God and not to give in or give up or figure God will forgive you. We should not think we can sin knowingly and expect forgiveness and then get it. If you are already divorced and remarried I think Scripture would teach for you to confess your sin to God and the person you were married to and the one you are married to now and then stay with the one you are now married to. I see nowhere where the Bible says another divorce would somehow honor God.
10:14-15 - ... for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.- WOW!
10:21 - The rich young man lacked treasure in heaven even though he had obeyed all of the law. Can you do everything you are supposed to do and still not have done enough? I think it is more about your heart. If we only do what we are supposed to do we have failed to have the kind of change in our hearts that leads us to Jesus.
10:24 - But Jesus said again, "Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God." - It is ironic that the leader of Christianity has said it is hard to enter heaven and yet we try to sell people on how easy it is. No wonder so many are disenchanted. They signed up for something easy and they got something tough. I wonder how many would have still followed Jesus had we been more honest with them on the front end and how many would still be walking with Him today.
10:26 - Who then can be saved?
10:27 - With human beings this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.- NOTHING is impossible for God. NOTHING! Think about that for a minute. Where in your life have you decided something is beyond reach, beyond repair, beyond change? Where in your life have you let something become "just the way it is" when the God of the impossible has said He could and would change it? Never give up on God's ability no matter how convinced you are.
10:29-31 - We will receive a reward for what we give up in our pursuit of God. What will your reward look like based on what you are currently giving up?
10:38 - I wonder how many times we don't know what we are asking for.
10:43-45 - Greatness comes in serving.
10:48 - Many rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more. - Don't let the crowd determine if you get to Jesus or not. If it is hard yell louder. Don't let them determine your future. God listens for the yells of the blind. Confess you blindness and then yell out for God over the crowd and over the noise of life.
10:51 - What do you want me to do for you?- Would you have an answer for Jesus if He asked you today? What do you want Jesus to do for you? Maybe nothing happens because Jesus is waiting for us to make our minds up.
Love, Michael
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