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What does Mark 10:31 mean “But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time” We need to read the Scripture fully to understand Jesus teaching on this. Mark 10:28-31: Then Peter began to say to Him, "See, we have left all and followed You." So Jesus answered and said, "Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My sake and the gospel's, who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time--houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions--and in the age to come, eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last first.” Many use this hundredfold as money sown has the promise to receive a hundredfold return. This is a carnal interpretation of the scripture. These scriptures do not even mention money.... the promoters of this give to get formulae have made good use of this by distorting its meaning. If this is literal- then what of persecutions, there is a promise of 100 fold of persecutions attached to this promise. So what really is the intent of this passage. The scriptures says hundredfold of houses....mothers, fathers, children, land etc. How many do you know who have a hundred houses- a hundred mothers or a hundred children? What this means is that we gain a whole new family, it’s related to fellowship and sharing of the brethren. As we leave our family as a security to follow Jesus, and he becomes our priority and our supplier of needs. Manifold blessings are given to those who follow the Lord sacrificially. We have a hundred times the “value” of all we forsake, the favor of God in relationships. Many homes will be opened to God's servants and the many new relationships in the household of God. Houses and lands are accommodations wherever we go for the gospel sake. We come into the family of God and gain a bigger family. God’s promise of provisions for being in the family is eternal rewards now and the life later. It continues through eternity. The persecutions came from those who forsook the comforts of their lives to follow Jesus. In ancient times there was a price for their allegiance, they could lose their job and often times face death. Those who have left all for the sake of Christ do find themselves among genuine Christians; spiritual relatives. V.30. [In this time] In this life. In the time that he forsakes all. The world to come, in the original language, is the coming age. It refers to the Messiah's second advent and the events connected with it, and his position in the Millennium. To settle whether this is about financial gain; if we go back to the preceding verses the spirit of the text makes the context clear. In vs.17-22 a rich man comes to Jesus asking how to have eternal life he points to the commandments of which he replies that he has kept them since he was young. Jesus sees he is sincere in his pursuit and loved him by saying the one thing that was hindering him: 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.” V.22 But he was sad at this word, and went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. vs.23 Jesus then makes the statement how hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God the disciples are astonished he then makes it even clearer that it is hard for those who trust in riches to enter the kingdom of God. vs.25 “It is easier for a camel to go through an eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” Those use this as a hundredfold return are gravely mistaken. It means to give away your abundance to those in need so you won’t be trapped by trusting in riches for your security in life and you will have treasure in heaven. There may be many surprised when rewards are handed out and they see others rewarded for giving much less than they did. Jesus is not concerned about amount but our motives. If you gave and were recognized by everyone-You already received your reward. The Pharisees motives were to be seen by all to make them look spiritual as if they were sacrificing. These were wrong motives. Godliness is profitable “for all things,” having the promise of the life that is sufficient for now, and for that which is to come. |
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