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| 1 And it came to pass, when Jesus had finished these words, he withdrew from Galilee, and came to the coasts of Judaea beyond the Jordan; |
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| 2 and great crowds followed him, and he healed them there. |
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| 3 And the Pharisees came to him tempting him, and saying, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause? |
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| 4 But he answering said to them, Have ye not read that he who made them, from the beginning made them male and female,
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| 5 and said, On account of this a man shall leave father and mother, and shall be united to his wife, and the two shall be one flesh?
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| 6 so that they are no longer two, but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.
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Joined together – As a type of the lasting union of Christ and the Church. R1554:5
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| 7 They say to him, Why then did Moses command to give a letter of divorce and to send her away? |
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| 8 He says to them, Moses, in view of your hardheartedness, allowed you to put away your wives; but from the beginning it was not thus.
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| 9 But I say unto you, that whosoever shall put away his wife, not for fornication, and shall marry another, commits adultery; and he who marries one put away commits adultery.
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Put away his wife – Secure a divorce. F505
Except it be – Adultery, or the re-marriage of a divorced person, releases the wronged one from the obligation to the marriage tie. R5954:3
Separations for other grounds, while sometimes justifiable, do not give one liberty to remarry. R3089:4; F505
Marry another – Marriage is not cancelled by any earthly court to such an extent as to permit marriage to another, except upon the one case specified. F516
Committeth adultery – The new creature's marriage contract is similar to that of Christ and the Church, perpetual. F516
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| 10 His disciples say to him, If the case of the man be so with his wife, it is not good to marry. |
Be so – If the marriage covenant is so binding and indissoluble. R1554:5
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| 11 And he said to them, All cannot receive this word, but those to whom it has been given;
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All men cannot receive this – The advice to remain unmarried is not imperative upon the saints. R1554:3
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| 12 for there are eunuchs which have been born thus from their mother's womb; and there are eunuchs who have been made eunuchs of men; and there are eunuchs who have made eunuchs of themselves for the sake of the kingdom of the heavens. He that is able to receive it, let him receive it.
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Made themselves eunuchs – Figuratively, by determining not to marry, but to live celibate lives. F509
A privilege, a sacrifice in order to render the better service to the Lord; not a command, not an obligation. OV369:1
To both facilitate individual progress and the progress of the work in general of the Lord. R1554:3, 901:4
It is for each one of the Church to consider his consecration and to remember the example of Jesus who, by the power of his consecrated will, became a eunuch for the Kingdom of heaven's sake. R3922:5; OV369:1
Thus it is proper for an unmarried man to be an elder. R1892:1
None should make the mistake, however, of supposing that the responsibilities of a family already incurred can be ignored or set aside. R901:4
After the marriage it is too late for one to decide for himself whether or not he prefers to live a celibate life. F512
Contrary to Mormon teaching that man's future glory will depend upon marriage and offspring. HG732:1
He that is able – Both from his own disposition and from his circumstances. R1555:1
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| 13 Then there were brought to him little children that he might lay his hands on them and pray; but the disciples rebuked them. |
Rebuked – Feeling that the Lord's time was too valuable to be thus used. R5362:1[R5362]
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| 14 But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and do not hinder them from coming to me; for the kingdom of the heavens is of such:
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Suffer – Permit, allow. R5362:1[R5362]
Little children – The Great Teacher was a lover of children, even though he did not generally give his time to them. R5362:1[R5362]
Of such is the kingdom – Those who will be of the Kingdom of God must be like little children: simple-hearted, true, teachable, obedient, honest and trustful of their heavenly Father. R4658:1[R4658], 4853:4[R4853], 5362:2[R5362]
The Kingdom of heaven will not be literally composed of little children. R4658:1[R4658]
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| 15 and having laid his hands upon them, he departed thence. |
Laid his hands on them – Merely signified his sympathy and love and appreciation of the purity and innocence of childhood. R4658:1[R4658]
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| 16 And lo, one coming up said to him, Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have life eternal? |
Behold, one – It has been supposed by some to have been Lazarus, whom Jesus later awoke from the dead. R3529:1
Came and said unto him – Notwithstanding the persecuting spirit of the rulers and teachers in Israel against the Lord and all who believed in the validity of his claim, he came to him openly. R1774:3
That I may have – He perceived that even the best men of his nation had failed to gain eternal life under this covenant; that all had died. R2727:3[R2727], 1774:3
Eternal life – He had the right idea, that eternal life is the grand hope of all hopes before the human family. R4658:2
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| 17 And he said to him, What askest thou me concerning goodness? one is good. But if thou wouldest enter into life, keep the commandments.
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Why callest thou me good – Our Lord parried the question to draw out the young man. R4658:2[R4658]
Why do you acknowledge me as a good teacher? I am either the Messiah, as I claim, or an impostor and far from good. Do you accept my Messiahship? If you do not, how can you call me good? R4658:2[R4658]
Unless you believe from the heart that I am the Son of God and not a falsifier, hypocrite and blasphemer. R2727:6[R2727], 4658:2
If you really believe me to be good, you must believe in me as a teacher sent of God, the All-Good. More than this, that I proceeded forth from God, that I am the Son of God. R2727:6[R2727]
One, that is, God – And the "one sent of God." R2727:6[R2727]
Everything that is really good is of God and in accordance with God. R5465:2[R5465]
Keep the commandments – The only way to everlasting life then open. R2728:1[R2728], 823:1
The Law Covenant was still in force. It had not yet been "nailed to the cross." (Col. 2:14) R3843:2
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| 18 He says to him, Which? And Jesus said, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness,
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Do no murder – Ignoring the commandments relating to Jehovah, realizing that the young man was seeking to know and do the will of the true God. R2727:1[R2728]
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| 19 Honour thy father and thy mother, and Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
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Love thy neighbor – Delivered to Israel as a part of the Law (Lev. 19:18), the teachings of which, however, were never understood until Jesus expounded them by his example and teachings. R2419:3[R2419]
Our interests justly balanced with the interests of others. SM156:2[SM156]
Who can love his neighbor as himself and see that neighbor suffer while he has enough and to spare? R823:2[R823:4]
He loved self more than God or neighbor. R1774:6, 823:2
The young ruler evidently neglected to attach to these words their full import. He was thinking of the more specific definitions of the law, neglecting this more comprehensive statement. R3843:4[R3843]
As thyself – Which, in the present age, implies self-sacrifice and daily cross-bearing in imitation of Christ. R1774:6[R1774]
It does not say, "better than thyself." Christ's course of self-sacrifice in our behalf went beyond this requirement. R3804:6, 3805:1[R3804-3805]
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| 20 The young man says to him, All these have I kept; what lack I yet? |
Have I kept – He was keeping the Jewish law to the extent of his knowledge and ability. He was merely doing his duty. No one has a right to live a bad life. R4658:3, 5438:6, 5464:2
He thought that he was loving his neighbor as himself. R4658:3
What lack I yet? – He was anxious for a perfect conformity to the will of God; and so anxious that he manifested his willingness to bear reproach for it in thus coming to Jesus. R1774:6
Let this be the sincere inquiry of every child of God. R1775:4
There is none so perfect that he lacks nothing. R1775:4
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| 21 Jesus said to him, If thou wouldest be perfect, go, sell what thou hast and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.
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Wilt be perfect – Reckoned of God as perfect and as having kept the commandments. R823:3
You have been getting the outside shell of the divine commandment but have entirely overlooked the kernel--love to God supremely and love toward your fellow man as toward yourself. R2728:2
To keep the Law perfectly in this age requires sacrifice. To keep the Law in the next age will not require sacrifice because of changed conditions. R823:2
Sell that thou hast – Use earthly things with great moderation and self-denial. Q149:4
You must do more than merely avoid sin; God is now calling for sacrificers. R5438:6
All thy possessions, all thy time, all thy reputation, all that hitherto has been dear to thee. R1775:1
The poor man must give up the idols of his imagination and ambition, his covetousness; the rich man must sacrifice, not only what he possessed, but all for which he hoped. F575
He might have been kept busy for many years disposing of his goods. The selling of that which he had would go on proportionately as he could find use for the money. R855:4; F576
Dispose of your natural abilities and talents, wisely of course, for the benefit of yourself, your family, and all who have need of such services. R1656:3
Give to the poor – Wisely, however, as becometh God's steward. F576; R1775:1
Reckon yourself God's steward, commissioned by him to use all those goods, as well as your personal talents, to his glory in serving those about you. R855:1
Not necessarily with the bread that perisheth; but first, rather, to feed the spiritually hungry with the bread of life. R1775:2
A consecration of our all to the Lord does not mean that all of our possessions should be used exclusively in religious work. We have family mortgages. F576
"Love is the fulfilling of the Law." (Rom. 13:10) R2728:2
Had he waited for Jesus to ask him for some of it he would have waited and have kept the money and never have obtained the Kingdom. R855:4
Treasure in heaven – Instead of on earth. R4658:3
Joint-heirship with Christ in the Messianic Kingdom; glory, honor and immortality, the divine nature. R5438:6
More than the Law promised. R823:3
Reserved for all those who, like Jesus, keep the law in this age, when its requirements amount to and imply a sacrifice even unto death. R823:3
And follow me – Sacrifice also your earthly reputation and become my follower. R4658:3
Taking up the cross of self-denial thus involved. R2728:2
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| 22 But the young man, having heard the word, went away grieved, for he had large possessions. |
Went away sorrowful – Evidently convinced that he yet fell short of the requirement of the law. R823:2
He was content to be very rich while some of his neighbors, whom he thought he loved as he loved himself, were very poor. R4658:4
He saw himself as never before. It became a new test with him. R4658:4
No doubt the heart of Jesus was sad also, when he saw the blight of selfishness and self-will attacking that promising half-blown rose of character. R1774:6
For centuries this has been called "The Great Refusal." R2727:3
His loss of the Kingdom was a sufficient penalty without suffering eternal torment in the future. Such as he will doubtless make rapid progress to perfection in the Millennium. R4658:4
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| 23 And Jesus said to his disciples, Verily I say unto you, A rich man shall with difficulty enter into the kingdom of the heavens;
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That a rich man – With any kind of riches: honor of men, political influence, many and large talents or abilities, social standing, fine education, material wealth, mental endowment. R2728:5, 2761:2,3
The rich have temptations in the good things of this present life which tend to attract their hearts and become their idols and treasures. F575
When one who is rich does present himself to the Lord, it implies a greater sacrifice than if he were poorer, and the exercise of greater opportunities in the Lord's service. R2729:1
Shall hardly – With difficulty. R2761:2, 4658:5, 5465:6; D304
Because riches are less favorable to the development of faith, are more likely to develop pride, bring with them worldly friends and associates, and are proportionately more to sacrifice. R2729:1
It was hard for the Scribes and Pharisees, rich in titles and honors; for the Jewish nation, proud of being Abraham's seed; for the Greeks, proud of their worldly wisdom; for the Romans, proud of their prestige and power; hard today for religionists, proud of their sects; for those who boast in human philosophy and science and those who reverence the opinions of men. R1920:2
In a word, no rich man can get into the Kingdom. He must give up everything to the Lord or else be barred from a place in the Kingdom. The terms of acceptance are the same for the rich as for the poor. R4658:5
Though difficult, it is not impossible. R1775:2
Enter into – Equally invited, but less likely than others who are poorer to accept the Lord's invitation and present themselves according to the terms of the Kingdom call. R2728:6
Kingdom of heaven – Certainly not the nominal church, for rich men find little difficulty getting into it. R2761:3
In verse 24, "kingdom of God," proof that Matthew uses the expressions interchangeably. R397:1
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| 24 and again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to enter a needle's eye than a rich man into the kingdom of God.
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The eye of a needle – A small gateway of ancient cities, used at night; camels could pass through unloaded, and on their knees only. D304[D304]; F574; R4658:5, 5466:1; PD66/78
Rich man to enter – The needle's eye illustrated how the rich must unload their wealth if they would share the Kingdom. PD66/78; R4658:5, 5004:2
A rich man could enter the Kingdom of God only by renouncing his burdens, giving up all to the Lord. R5466:1
The rich are disadvantaged because their wealth preserves them from many trials to which the poor are subjected. R5004:2
Into the kingdom – Become a joint-heir with Christ in his Messianic Kingdom. R5004:2
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| 25 And when the disciples heard it they were exceedingly astonished, saying, Who then can be saved? |
Exceedingly amazed – Because they knew that the majority of the religionists belonged to the wealthy class. R4658:5
Who then can be saved – Since the rich seemingly had all the opportunities of time, influence and money to serve the Lord. R5466:2
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| 26 But Jesus, looking on them, said to them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.
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With men – Men would say that God would find no one for the Kingdom if he rejected the rich. R4658:5
Are possible – If the rich man's heart be pleasing to the Lord, the Lord would know how to show him his will in respect to using his riches. R5466:2
God knows how to overrule all things for good to those who love him with all their heart, mind, soul and strength. R5466:4
God has made provision for the trial of the wealthy, and for all, in the Millennial age. R3844:6
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| 27 Then Peter answering said to him, Behold, *we* have left all things and have followed thee; what then shall happen to us? |
Behold, we – The twelve, especially. R1735:2
Forsaken all – We need to watch that there is not a measure of selfishness connected with our consecration. R4906:3,4
What shall we have – If it had been wrong for them to have the promises of Kingdom honors in mind, it would have been wrong for the Lord to have given them these promises. R5376:1
Our thought of a share in the Kingdom should be secondary. Our merit should be of a higher order than merely a desire for reward for service. R4906:3
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| 28 And Jesus said to them, Verily I say unto you, That *ye* who have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit down upon his throne of glory, *ye* also shall sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
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That ye – The Church, Head and Body, will be the judges. R2426:4
Which have followed me – In the narrow way of self-sacrifice in the present life. OV380:1
"To him that overcometh will I give to sit with me in my throne." (Rev. 3:21) R531:6
In the regeneration – Greek, palingenesia, restitution, restoration, renovation. R2574:4
Literally translated: "a new birth day." R1096:6*
The expression signifies to "give life again," but in no way implies that it will be given in the same way as now. R1388:2; NS102:4
When the world is born from the dead. E142; CR472:2
The general regeneration of the Millennial age. E138; R4556:3; Q208:T; OV380:1; PD9/16
A thousand years. OV380:5; NS844:5
That glorious moral, social, political, religious and physical change which will be introduced by the Messiah. Q822:3
The same time which St. Peter styles the "times of restitution," the Millennium, the times of "resurrection by judgment" (Acts 3:19-21; John 5:29, R.V.). R4556:3
The coming forth from the tomb will be merely the beginning of the work of regeneration. OV381:7
The creating of man was a momentary act; but the re-creating, the re-generation, the re-newing, the re-storing of his heart, will be a gradual work. R1374:4
The regeneration of the world in the Millennium is separate and distinct from that now possible to the Church. OV378:2; Q822:3; E138
This is the age of generation, the one to follow is the age of re-generation. R351:1*, 342:2*
After the Church has experienced the new birth. Q822:3; NS102:3
He waits for his bride. The world cannot be regenerated until the Redeemer first applies his merit, his ransom-price "for all the people." R4556:4; E142
Son of man shall sit – Rest securely. "His rest shall be glorious." (Isa. 11:10) R1283:5*
Not in "masterly inactivity," but the very opposite. He is very active, and his strength is equal to his activity. R1283:6*
During his Millennial reign. OV380:1
Figurative, indicating that the position of the Son of Man, invested with all executive authority and power, has been established; and not merely established, but permanently established. R1283:5*
In the throne – A throne is the seat of a priest or king, and it is often used as the emblem or symbol of sacerdotal or regal authority. R1283:1*
Not merely first in executive authority, but first in executive power also, in the accomplishment of the divine purpose regarding the salvation of man. R1283:5*
Of his glory – The glory of the divine nature. R1283:3*
The glory of our blessed Lord is of the same kind as that of the Most High himself. R1283:4*
Ye also – The Church glorified will be the judge. HG684:6
As Eve was associated with Adam in sin and disobedience, so the elect Church, when completed, glorified, will be Christ's associate in the regeneration. PD9/16
The glory which is peculiar to the divine nature, as well as judicial, sacerdotal and regal authority, are to be jointly participated in, not only by Jesus and his Apostles, but by all overcomers. R1284:4*
Sit upon twelve thrones – Participate in the rulership. R1283:6*
The apostles shall be associates with him in judging and ruling the world. R4990:4; OV379:5
Implying that they which have passed to that life would be in the condition of the enthroned. R5684:1
Only twelve apostolic thrones, no more. OV410:1; SM670:1
This gives every apostle a throne. Not that the number of thrones is restricted to twelve, or that he who is to occupy a throne must be of necessity an apostle. Luke speaks of "thrones" without restricting them to twelve or any definite number. (Luke 22:28-30) R1283:6*
All the Lord's faithful followers will have a share. "To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne." (Rev. 3:21) OV379:5
Judging – Greek, krino, judgment or trial. R2430:1, 2426:4
Ruling. NS795:1
The whole world shall be judged, not again representatively, but individually. R699:5
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| 29 And every one who has left houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and shall inherit life eternal.
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Hath forsaken houses – We are not to get the mistaken idea from this that the Lord wishes us to sacrifice others. It would be wrong to deprive our families of necessary comforts and temporal provisions; but having provided these, the remainder is the Lord's. R3845:6
An hundredfold – A reward a hundred times greater than that which we lose. The greater our present losses, the greater our reward both now and hereafter. Those who sacrifice nothing need expect no reward. Those who receive little of the Lord in the present life and have small hope of a share in the Kingdom are those who have sacrificed little for his sake. R3845:2,3
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| 30 But many first shall be last, and last first.
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First shall be last – In order of development, it was first the natural or earthly, afterward the heavenly rulers; but in order of grandeur of position and time of installation, it will be first the spiritual, afterward the natural. A293; B206
Last shall be first – In point of time, God called fleshly Israel first; but in point of favor, and in time of realization, spiritual Israel comes first. B206; A293
And also first in grandeur of position. A293; B206
The merit of Jesus' death was utilized first on behalf of the spiritual elect. R5576:4
Some who have not been favored during this Gospel age will be granted the chief favors during the coming age. F118
When the Kingdom is ushered in, God's special favor will pass again to natural Israel. F118, F119
Adam and Eve will probably be the last to be awakened. The last to die will probably be the first to be awakened. R4499:1, 5531:6; D641; SM441:T
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