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Not by works of righteousness that we have done,
but according to His mercy He saved us - Titus 3:5
In our study of Mark 10:13-31, we have seen that Jesus was using the example of children to show how people must enter the kingdom of God, or as Matthew says, the kingdom of heaven. As we study this text of Scripture, we want to consider this question: Was Jesus teaching that people must forsake (leave) their sin to enter the kingdom of God?
Last week, we looked at several things that the text was not teaching, such as infant baptism, child dedication, or the idea of covenant children. Many pastors use this passage to teach that believers must abandon sin and leave it behind.
Most of us would agree that being born again would include a change of heart and mind, a desire to crucify the flesh and become more like Christ. II Corinthians 5:17 tells us, "Therefore, if anyone be in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away: behold all things have become new." II Corinthians 7:11 says, "Therefore having these promises, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God."
I believe we can agree that turning from sin is an important teaching of the Bible; but is Mark 10:13-31 teaching this? It would seem that Jesus is teaching we must leave all that we are (ancestry), all that we have (riches and material wealth), and all our good works at the foot of the cross.
Jesus used the example of the children who were destitute and had nothing to bring; the camel that had to be unloaded of its goods before it could enter through the Joppa gate into the safety of the city. And the example of the rich young ruler who wanted to work his way into heaven (verse 17, what shall I do to inherit eternal life)? Jesus then asked him to sell all his possessions and come and follow Him.
In Mark 10:13-31, Jesus is not asking people to turn from sin. Instead, He is asking people to get rid of their good works, all they have accomplished, and all the Pharisaical religious deeds that people think will get them into heaven. He is asking people to accept the righteousness of Christ, the wedding garment He has provided.
You see, God calls us to come to Him by faith like Abraham. And also like the nation of Israel, He called them out of Egypt when they were a bunch of idolaters. And so it is with the rebirth experience, God calls us to Himself and gives us a new heart, mind, and will to serve Him. He then tells us what He expects of us. When Saul was converted on the way to Damascus, he then asked, "Lord, what do you want me to do?"
The main teaching in Mark 10:13-31 is not about leaving your sin, but rather, leave all your good works and self-righteousness behind. Accept the sacrifice of Jesus Christ when HE shed His blood on the cross for all who would come to Him in faith. "And He bore the sin of many," (Isaiah 53:12).
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Lyndon Stimeling, of Richfield, has been writing about faith and family for many years. He has self-published four books, Common Thoughts on The Word in 2016, Eye of a Needle in 2017, Common Thoughts on The Word II in 2019 and A Bridge Between in 2023. He has also had articles published in The Coming Home Journal and local newspapers and has written a children's book.