Mark 10:13-31

Read Mark 10:13-31

Helpful Background Information: 

• In Mark 10:13–16, Jesus welcomes little children who are brought to Him, even though the disciples try to turn them away. In so doing, Jesus teaches that the kingdom of God must be received, not earned, and children provide the perfect picture of this kind of faith. They come empty-handed, trusting and dependent, with no illusion that they deserve anything. 

• Immediately after blessing the children, Jesus encounters a wealthy man who wants eternal life (Mark 10:17–31). Unlike the children, this man approaches Jesus focused on what he can do to inherit the kingdom. Jesus lovingly exposes the man’s deeper problem: his wealth has taken the place of God in his heart. The man walks away sorrowful, unable to let his idol of wealth go. Jesus then teaches His disciples that riches can be a spiritual obstacle, as they foster self-sufficiency rather than dependence. Yet Jesus ends with hope and promises that anyone who sacrifices for Him will be richly rewarded.

Reflection Questions: 

• Why do you think the disciples tried to stop the children from coming to Jesus?

• Jesus says we must receive the kingdom like a child. What does receiving look like in contrast to earning or achieving?

• Jesus looks at the rich man and loves him before challenging him. Why is that detail important when we think about hard truths?

• Why were the disciples shocked when Jesus said it is hard for the rich to enter the kingdom of God? What assumptions did they have about who inherits the Kingdom of Heaven? How are our assumptions similar or different?