STINKING THINKING

“He set out from there and went to the region of Judea and across the Jordan.  Then crowds converged on Him again and, as He usually did, He began teaching them once more.”  (Mark 10:1 HCSB) 

Our behavior is directly linked to our beliefs—our conduct flows out of our convictions. 

Remember what Jesus said in the seventh chapter of Mark?

“Then He said, ‘What comes out of a person — that defiles him.  For from within, out of people’s hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immoralities, thefts, murders, adulteries, greed, evil actions, deceit, promiscuity, stinginess, blasphemy, pride, and foolishness. All these evil things come from within and defile a person.’” (v.20-23)

The sinful heart of man is a sewer out of which flows every kind of moral pollution.  This wrong kind of thinking also leads to the wicked kind of talking.  “For the mouth speaks from the overflow of the heart.” (Matt.12:34b).  So, we find Jesus teaching the truth—consistently conveying to the crowds who gathered to listen—knowing that the truth had power to wash their wicked hearts clean. 

In our text we hear three questions which originate in the stinking thinking of man’s vile heart and the answers of Infinite Wisdom. 

The first question concerns THE PERMANENCE OF MARRIAGE: The Need for Correction—the Hard Heart (Mark 10:1-16).

“Some Pharisees approached Him to test Him.  They asked, ‘Is it lawful for a man to divorce [his] wife?’” (v.2)

The question is intended to draw Jesus into a controversy raging in those days between the liberal interpreters which said that a man could divorce his wife at a whim and the conservatives who demanded adherence to the Mosaic code requiring a writing of divorce with strict conditions.  What we see is that the man didn’t really want an answer, but he was trying to lay a trap for Jesus—where He was sure to displease somebody. 

The question is wrong at its heart—and it is hard-heartedness—for it is looking for a way to end the marriage rather than to mend it. 

Observe that divorce was never promoted but was only permitted.

“He replied to them, ‘What did Moses command you?’  They said, ‘Moses permitted us to write divorce papers and send her away.’” (v.3-4)

It wasn’t given to aid in the dissolution of a marriage but to assist in the reconciliation of a marriage.  In granting a legal document to begin divorce proceedings it bought time so a hasty decision wasn’t made.  The guilt of the partner had to be established, giving a “cooling off” period where the two might think about the finality of their act—for the law also said that if divorce occurred it was final and the two could not go marry again and then after that later remarry. 

Jesus goes back to God’s ideal and speaks to the permanence of marriage.  Divorce is a matter of hard hearts and that is what Christ moves to correct them about in their thinking. 

I understand that divorce occurs, and we must have compassion.  Sometimes a partner may do all they can do to be faithful and the spouse is unfaithful and despite a willingness to reconcile walks away.  Even when we fail and fail repeatedly, there is grace.  Recall the woman at the well—married five times and living with a man when Jesus transformed her life.  Adultery isn’t the unpardonable sin. 

Having said that we dare not act like it doesn’t matter.  Divorce is epidemic.  The ramifications are profound, especially as it affects the family and I believe that is why the next verses are so important.

“Some people were bringing little children to Him so He might touch them, but His disciples rebuked them.  When Jesus saw it, He was indignant and said to them, ‘Let the little children come to Me. Don’t stop them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.  I assure you: Whoever does not welcome the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.’  After taking them in His arms, He laid His hands on them and blessed them.” (v.13-16)

Divorce doesn’t just break a marriage, it breaks a home and children are the broken pieces.  I understand there can be great suffering among spouses, but what of the offspring?

The parents who brought their children to Jesus wanted His holy hands to hold them and bless them.  This is a great thing for parents to do!  Put your children in His almighty arms! 

How will you respond to this teaching?  Don’t have a hard heart!

The second question dealt with THE POVERTY OF RICHES: The Need for Confrontation—the Proud Heart (Mark 10:17-22).

“As He was setting out on a journey, a man ran up, knelt down before Him, and asked Him, ‘Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?’” (v.17)

This man had convinced himself already that he was good enough to get to heaven.  He was full of self-righteousness and religious conceit.  He wanted to do something to earn his way to heaven—and really believed he had—merely wanting Jesus to confirm it. 

So, Jesus hits right at the heart of what it means to be “good” in verse 18, “‘Why do you call Me good?’  Jesus asked him.  ‘No one is good but One — God.’”     Goodness isn’t determined in relation to how we measure up with our fellowman, but how we measure up to God’s perfect standard—and of course none of us do. 

Jesus seeks to get the man to confess he is a sinner—but rather he boasts. 

“‘You know the commandments: Do not murder; do not commit adultery; do not steal; do not bear false witness; do not defraud; honor your father and mother.’  He said to Him, ‘Teacher, I have kept all these from my youth.’” (v.19-20)

This response was the crux of justification or condemnation.  In another portion of today’s Scripture reading, the Lord taught this:

“He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and looked down on everyone else: ‘Two men went up to the temple complex to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.  The Pharisee took his stand and was praying like this: “God, I thank You that I’m not like other people—greedy, unrighteous, adulterers, or even like this tax collector.  I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of everything I get.”

But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even raise his eyes to heaven but kept striking his chest and saying, “God, turn Your wrath from me—a sinner!”  I tell you, this one went down to his house justified rather than the other; because everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” (Luke 18:9-14)

Notice how in responding to the inquirer, Jesus deals with matters that pertain to the second table of the law—and leaves off the first—for He knew that’s where the man was fatally flawed.  Nor does he mention the tenth commandment, “You shall not covet.”

There was a reason for the glaring omission.  Jesus wanted this fellow to think about the very commandments so conspicuous by their absence. 

This man was an idolater and Jesus exposed him.  He was covetous and this became clear.  Still, the Lord had compassion on him.

“Then, looking at him, Jesus loved him and said to him, ‘You lack one thing: Go, sell all you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven.   Then come, follow Me.’   But he was stunned at this demand, and he went away grieving, because he had many possessions.” (v.21-22)

The sin isn’t in possessing riches but it is when riches possess us!  Do you think you have done enough to work your way to heaven?  Do you have a proud heart?  Jesus confronted this rich young ruler in the same way He confronts us today—with the need to humble ourselves and admit our sinfulness!

The final question focused on THE POSSIBILITY OF SALVATION: The Need for Comprehension—the Slow Heart (Mark 10:23-31)   

“So they were even more astonished, saying to one another, ‘Then who can be saved?’” (v.26)

The disciples didn’t get it.  They believed that a man’s right standing before God would be rewarded with material blessing.  Indeed, God may do that, but often the riches prove a hindrance rather than a help to get to God. 

The disciples—hearing this teaching—concluded that nobody could be saved!  Jesus admits the impossibility.

“Jesus looked around and said to His disciples, ‘How hard it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!’  But the disciples were astonished at His words. Again Jesus said to them, ‘Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God!  It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.’

So they were even more astonished, saying to one another, ‘Then who can be saved?’

Looking at them, Jesus said, ‘With men it is impossible, but not with God, because all things are possible with God.’” (v.23-27)

Man cannot save himself.  But God can!  He will and He does—and every time, it is a miracle! 

None can be wealthy enough to purchase a plot in heaven.   None of us can be industrious enough to build a mansion over there.  None of us can be clean enough to walk on golden streets without making them dirty by our defiling presence. 

It takes the blood of Jesus to fit us for heaven!  It is the riches of His grace, the acceptability of His work and the cleansing of His sacrifice that qualifies us for living in His glory.  We must come to the cross in repentance! 

Peter didn’t know what he was talking about, but talked anyway, “Peter began to tell Him, ‘Look, we have left everything and followed You.’” (v.28). 

Jesus, then, attempted to clarify this.  He spoke to these slow-hearted disciples.

“‘I assure you,’ Jesus said, ‘there is no one who has left house, brothers or sisters, mother or father, children, or fields because of Me and the gospel, who will not receive 100 times more, now at this time—houses, brothers and sisters, mothers and children, and fields, with persecutions—and eternal life in the age to come.  But many who are first will be last, and the last first.’” (v.29-31)

There is a price to pay in following Christ, but we shouldn’t really think in terms of losing out, when we actually gain everything.  It isn’t throwing away, but making an investment.  God has something better for us! 

But they still didn’t get it.  He takes them again and again to the cross and its centrality in discipleship.

“They were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking ahead of them. They were astonished, but those who followed Him were afraid.  Taking the Twelve aside again, He began to tell them the things that would happen to Him.

These were slow students—and I don’t mean there was a problem with their heads—it was an issue with their hearts.

Do you have a slow heart—slow to grasp biblical truth?

Let us repent of our stinking thinking!  The Holy Spirit has been sent to be our Teacher.  We have the Word of God as our text book.  The school of life experience will be our classroom.

Today we will have a mind shaped by the pressure of the world or molded by the principles of the Word.  Just listen to how Paul framed it:

“Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” (NLT)

That is how to flush from our minds the stinking thinking!