Mark 10:20-21 (NKJV) And he answered and said to Him, “Teacher, all these things I have kept from my youth.” Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me.”
God consistently provides for and blesses His people in the Old and New Testaments. To align with the Bible, we need to see God as a faithful provider and one who blesses.
Deuteronomy 28:1-2 (NKJV) “Now it shall come to pass, if you diligently obey the voice of the LORD your God, to observe carefully all His commandments which I command you today, that the LORD your God will set you high above all nations of the earth. And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, because you obey the voice of the LORD your God:
The rich young man in the opening passage claimed he had observed the commandments since his youth. The Lord has greatly blessed him according to His promises in the Mosaic Covenant, which states that if one obeys the Word of the Lord, walks in His ways, and worships no other God than the Lord, one will be blessed. Although the young ruler has practised what was taught to him, he has forgotten that God is the source of his blessings. He was right to ask Jesus in Mark 10:17 what he should do to inherit eternal life because salvation and eternal life cannot be attained by observing the law, including the Ten Commandments, as the law shows us that we are weak and unable to stand right before God based on our strength. Jesus knew the answer to his question and what held his heart.
Deuteronomy 8:12,17-18 (NKJV) lest—when you have eaten and are full, and have built beautiful houses and dwell in them; … Then you say in your heart, ‘My power and the might of my hand have gained me this wealth.’ “And you shall remember the LORD your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day.
God knows how easy it is for us to forget that He is the source of our blessings when life is good. Therefore, He reminds us in these verses that He gives the power to get wealth to fulfil His Mosaic Covenant with the Jewish people.
Galatians 3:15 (NKJV) Brethren, I speak in the manner of men: Though it is only a man’s covenant, yet if it is confirmed, no one annuls or adds to it.
Scripture says once a covenant is established, nobody can annul it, even if it is a man’s covenant. So how much more if God established the covenant with us? He will honour all His promises in the covenants and bring them to pass. God is still blessing the Jews today though many of them deny Christ as the Messiah. The unfaithfulness of men cannot nullify or change the faithfulness of God and His Word.
Sermon Series: Money – The truth shall set you free!
神信守祂的应许
马可福音 10:20-21 他对耶稣说:「夫子,这一切我从小都遵守了。」 耶稣看着他,就爱他,对他说:「你还缺少一件:去变卖你所有的,分给穷人,就必有财宝在天上;你还要来跟从我。」 ‘
神一如既往地供应并祝福祂旧约和新约之下的子民。为了与圣经一致,我们需要视神为信实的供应者和赐福者。
申命记 28:1-2「你若留意听从耶和华-你 神的话,谨守遵行他的一切诫命,就是我今日所吩咐你的,他必使你超乎天下万民之上。 你若听从耶和华-你 神的话,这以下的福必追随你,临到你身上: ‘
开篇经文中的年轻财主声称自己自小就遵守了诫命。上帝照着摩西之约—就是那宣称“人若遵守神的话,行祂的道,单单敬拜耶和华,就必蒙福”的约—已经大大地赐福与他。虽然这年轻官长遵行了所学,却忘了神才是他蒙福的源头。他在马可福音10:17问耶稣该做什么才能承受永生是对的,因为救恩和永生无法通过遵行律法(包括十诫)获得,律法反而显明我们软弱,无法靠自己的力量站在神面前。耶稣知道问题的答案,也看透他内心的羁绊。
申命记 8:12,17-18 ‘恐怕你吃得饱足,建造美好的房屋居住, 恐怕 你心里说:『这货财是我力量、我能力得来的。』 你要记念耶和华-你的 神,因为得货财的力量是他给你的,为要坚定他向你列祖起誓所立的约,像今日一样。 ‘
神知道人在顺境中多么容易忘记祂才是那赐福的源头,所以祂藉这些经文提醒我们:祂赐人能力获得财富是为要成就祂与以色列民所立的摩西之约。
加拉太书 3:15 ‘弟兄们,我且照着人的常话说:虽然是人的文约,若已经立定了,就没有能废弃或加增的。 ‘
圣经说,盟约一旦订立就不可废除,哪怕这约是人所订立。何况神与人所立的约呢?祂必尊荣祂在约中的一切应许,一一践行。神在今日仍在赐福给犹太人,尽管他们中的许多人都否认基督就是弥赛亚。人的不忠不能废除或改变神和祂话语的信实。
讲道系列:金钱—真理必叫你得自由!
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