For what is a man profited,
if he shall gain the whole world,
and lose his own soul?
or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
Matthew 16:26
| The Heart Of The Matter |
Preface
This is a study on the heart of the matter concerning things that are eternal and hindrances for sinners seeking eternal life. The passage from Mark 10:17-30 is the subject of the discussion. It concerns a rich man who went away grieved because the Lord told him to give up his wealth to follow Him after this man asked about inheriting eternal life. It is not necessarily targeted on wealth per se though the text here concerns a man of considerable wealth. It is this rich man who approached the Lord Jesus Christ to find out how to obtain eternal life. It is observed that the man knelt before the Lord and the Lord did not stop him. The Lord is of course worthy of worship. His approach was one of humility and sincerity. He acknowledged the Lord as Good Master and not just Master. Normally anyone would have called another person master and not good master. Moreover, there is no need to kneel before a person to make inquiry concerning any matter. But this man came kneeling and asking the Lord concerning this very important matter of eternal life. He called the Lord Good Master. Judas Iscariot is a case in point. He only called the Lord Jesus Master and never Lord. This man here called the Lord Good Master and the Lord told him there was none good except God. Unless Jesus is God, no one should be called good. No man on earth qualified to be a master let alone Good Master. For the Lord commanded: Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ. (Matthew 23:10) Thereis none good except the Lord.