Bible Commentary Forever คำอธิบายความเข้าใจในพระคัมภีร์ไทยสำหรับชีวิต

Mark 10

Summary. In this chapter, the Lord has prepared His disciples again about what will happen to Him; the disciples have no idea what will happen to Him and them, but the Lord started to tell about His suffering coming up and that He would rise again after three days. As the time of departure of the Lord approaches, we can say something of the traveling of the Lord. Even though the Lord knows full well that His departure time is coming, this does not stop Him from traveling. On each day, the Lord works and meets people, calling them to come to the kingdom of God. He always points out to people to come to the right way. As we go further on through the chapters of the Gospel, we will see the difficulty the Lord is facing each day as He is traveling. Each day, the Lord knows that His time of departure comes closer, but this does not make Him stop preaching and calling to Him all those who belong to Him; the time is short, and the Lord has more work to do. That is why He never stopped traveling; He tried to bring the most that the Father has called, which is His work on earth. Here in this chapter, we can highlight four verses about the Lord's traveling. Mark 10:1 tells that the Lord went to the region of Judea beyond Jordan. Here crowds followed Him, and the Pharisees from that region came to test Him with questions. The Lord teaches people about divorce and Moses’ law, and the Kingdom of God. 2) In Mark 10:17, we are told that Jesus sets out on His journey, and a man comes to Him and asks, “what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life.” Here at this time, the Lord told all humans to know that those who love riches and wealth on earth will have a hard time entering into the kingdom of God. Treasures on this earth are as a wall between faith and to follow the teaching of the Lord; you want to follow, but you have the wall, and when you want to cross over, the love of riches pulls you down. You can have money and things on this earth, but if you do not love them, you will find the way to go to heaven; the Lord does not teach believers to be poor but not to put their love towards riches. 3) In Mark 10:32, the Lord Jesus and His disciples are on the road going up to Jerusalem. Here is where the Lord Jesus teaches His disciples again about His suffering. During this time, James and John come to Him with a request. The Lord uses this situation to teach the disciples to be servants of the Lord as He Himself came down on earth to serve all humans and “give His life as a ransom for many.” 4) Mark 10:46 tells us that the Lord Jesus and His disciples came to Jericho.  As they were leaving Jericho, a great crowd followed, and the Lord Jesus stopped and showed mercy to a blind beggar called Bartimaeus and healed him.
[1] And having risen from there, He comes into the region of Judea and beyond the Jordan; and multitudes come together to Him again; and, as He has been accustomed, He taught them again.
[2] And having come to Him, the Pharisees inquired of Him, Is it lawful for a man to put away a wife? Testing Him.
[3] And answering, He said to them, What did Moses command you?
[4] And they said, Moses allowed to write a roll of divorce, and to put her away.
[5] But Jesus said to them, Because of your hardness of heart he wrote you this commandment.
[6] However, from the beginning of the creation, male and female He made them.
[7] On account of this will a man leave his father and mother, and be cleaved to his wife;
[8] and the two will be one flesh; therefore, they are no longer two, but one flesh.
[9] What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.
[10] And in the house the disciples asked Him again concerning this.
[11] And He says to them, Whoever shall put away his wife, and shall marry another, commits adultery against her;
[12] and if she herself shall put away her husband, and should marry another, she commits adultery.
Comments Mark 10:1-12 For Mark 10:1-9 see Comments Matthew 19:1-9.

Comparison Analysis
Mark 10:1, Matthew 19:1-2. See Comments Matthew 19:1-2. “And, as He was accustomed to, He taught them again”; this verse tells us, as His custom, that is the purpose the Lord has come, to teach all humans, and give everyone a chance to be saved. He did not go only for the Jews; here it tells clearly, as His custom He always teaches the people; if people come to Him, He teaches them.
Mark 10:2, Matthew 19: 3. See Comments Matthew 19:3. As it is written in the Old Testament, the Jews were not supposed to take the women of the region; however, they did, and they mixed the blood, as it is written in the Old Testament, and that was not supposed to be done. But, people use reasons of their lives and go against what God has commanded.
Mark 10:3. In this verse, Jesus answers them with a question. In the Gospel of Matthew, this answer with a question is not given; we should note that each Gospel gives the events in a different order, but they don’t go against each other. Here the Lord wants them to think for what they answer and what the Lord will tell; they must learn to think and go back to the Scripture.
Mark 10:4. In this verse, they give their answer.
Mark 10:5-9, Matthew 19:4-6. The Lord Jesus explains why Moses gave this commandment. See Comments Matthew 19:4-6.
Matthew 19:7. Note that the order of verses in the Gospel of Mark and Matthew is not the same. One person has a question, and another person has the answer, but when bringing both to come in order, answer first or ask first, time plays a role here in giving these verses. It is almost the same time: as the Lord speaks, they also talk. The events in the Gospels nearly go against each other, but it isn’t against each other; they only present different times and a different order of asking: do they wait until the Lord answers or give the answer to the Lord following the teaching of humans? One comes and asks, and the Lord gives the answer, but another one already has the answer for them; the Gospels present both ways. Also, remember that these Pharisees were born there, and in their heads, the teaching was different; they had the teaching written, but they also had the mind teaching from the region, which went across each other. Humans tend to accept human teachings because humans tend to think that human teaching is the way of life and God’s teaching is just a written teaching and not a way of life.
Mark 10:5, Matthew 19:8. See Comments Matthew 19:8.
Matthew 19:9. Here, this answer, the Lord gives it to all the people that gather to listen to Him.
Mark 10:10. Here, we understand that the Lord Jesus and the disciples went into the house, and then the disciples asked again privately about this matter.
Mark 10:11. The Lord here gives them again the same answer about divorcing.
Matthew 19:10. The disciples make a conclusion about the answer the Lord gave. See Comment Matthew 19:10.
Matthew 19:11-12. The Lord explained further and corrected their understanding. See Comments Matthew 19:11-12.
[13] And they were bringing to Him little children, that He might touch them; but the disciples rebuked them.
[14] Now having seen, Jesus was moved with indignation, and said to them, Allow the little children to come to Me; forbid them not: for to such belongs the kingdom of God.
[15] Truly I say to you, Whoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter into it.
[16] And having taken them in His arms, He blessed them, having laid the hands on them..
Comments Mark 10:13-16 For Mark 10:13-16 see Comments Matthew 19:13-15, and Comments Luke 18:15-17.
Mark 10:14-15. We should have the hearts innocent as children; the children’s hearts do not have envy. See Comments Matthew 19:14.
Mark 10:16. This place shows the heart of the Lord Jesus towards children. As the Bible says, He took them in His arms, showing affection and love, as humans do with children. Here, the Lord showed His human side when He showed this towards children.
[17] And as He was going forth on the road, there ran one to Him, and kneeled to Him, asking Him, Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?
[18] And Jesus said to him, Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone. .
[19] 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.
[20] And he said to Him, Teacher, all these I have observed from my youth.
[21] And Jesus looking upon him, loved him, and said to him, One thing you lack: go, sell whatever you have, and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.
[22] And his countenance fell at the word, and he went away grieving; for he was one having many possessions.
Comments Mark 10:17-22 For Mark 10:17-22, see Comments Matthew 19:16-22, and Comments Luke 18:18-23.

Comparison Analysis
Mark 10:17, Matthew 19:16, Luke 18:18. In Luke, we learn that this man is a ruler (meaning that he could be the ruler of just his own household, not necessarily an important person or ruler of a town), and in Mark, he comes and kneels to the Lord Jesus. These verses show that this man thinks he could do something good to trade the place in heaven, but the deed has already been done. (See Comments Matthew 19:16).
Mark 10:18, Matthew 19:17, Luke 18:19. Here in these verses, the Lord Jesus confirms that there is only One God, and God is One. (See Comments Matthew 19:17).
Mark 10:19, Matthew 19:18-19, Luke 18:20. The commands mentioned in these verses are the same, with Matthew giving one extra command: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (See Comments Matthew 19:18-19).
Mark 10:20, Matthew 19:20, Luke 18:21. See Comments Matthew 19:20.
Mark 10:21, Matthew 10:21, Luke 18:22. All these verses show that the Lord knows the heart of this person. In Mark, we are told that the Lord Jesus “loved him,” showing that the Lord loves all, regardless of being rich or poor. These verses in this place in the Scripture tell clearly, as a sinner, if you come to the Lord, leave the things of this world, take your heart away from the things that your eyes have kept looking at, and follow the Lord with the inner heart, not just walking follow, the inner eyes and inner heart both must follow as well. If we say we follow the Lord Jesus, but the heart is not there, this verse will be like a block to build up, and the inner eyes can’t see the right way to come. All the Lord wants humans to do is look at the Lord as their leader, leave their things, those that are attached to their hearts, and follow the Lord. (See Comments Matthew 19:21).
Mark 10:22, Matthew 19:22, Luke 18:23. These verses show that the earthly riches captured the heart of this man. (See Comments Matthew 19:22).
[23] And having looked around, Jesus says to His disciples, How hardly those having riches will enter into the kingdom of God!
[24] And the disciples were astonished at His words. But Jesus again answering, says to them, Children, how hard it is for those who trust in riches to enter into the kingdom ofGod!
[25] It is easier for a camel to go through a needle’s eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of sf>God.
[26] And they were astonished exceedingly, saying among themselves, Then who can be saved?
[27] Jesus looking at them says, With men it is impossible, but not with God; for all things are possible with God.
[28] Peter began to say to Him, Behold, we have left all, and have followed Thee.
[29] Jesus said, Truly I say to you, There is no one who has left house, or brothers, or sisters, or mother, or father, or children, or lands, for My sake and because of the gospel,
[30] if not shall 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.
[31] But many last, will be first; and the first, last.
Comments Mark 10:23-31 For Mark 10:23-31 see Comments Matthew 19:23-30, and Comments Luke 18:24-30.

Comparison Analysis
Mark 10:23-25, Matthew 19:23-24, Luke 18:24-25. In these verses, the Lord tells us that it is hard for those who trust in the riches of this world to enter into the kingdom of God. See Comments Matthew 19:23-24.
“It is easier for a camel to go through a needle’s eye …” This verse clearly tells what it can be more difficult for the animal to go through; compare in your mind what it is, the camel going through the needle’s eye, think of the needle’s eye and the size of the animal itself. The verse clearly tells us that to go into the kingdom of heaven is not physically difficult; the flesh will transform, but for the internal soul to go into the kingdom of heaven, “for those having riches,” it is harder than the physical of this comparison.
Mark 10:26, Matthew 19:25, Luke 18:26. See Comments Matthew 19:25.
Mark 10:27-28, Matthew 19:26-27, Luke 18:27-28. See Comments Matthew 19:27.
Matthew 19:28. This portion of the Lord’s answer to the disciples is given only in the Gospel of Matthew. It is important to remember that the Lord has been resurrected in the body, not in the spirit; the material body has been raised up. See Comments Matthew 19:28.
Mark 10:29-30, Matthew 19:29, Luke 18:29-30. See Comments Matthew 19:29.
Mark 10:30. This verse is given only in Mark.
“If not shall receive a hundredfold now in this time ...” In this time does not mean earthly time, but the inner heart and soul time. The heart can feel with the soul, and that is the period of time that is talked about here. Feeling your heart connecting with your soul is not easy, and not many can feel that. Here, the Lord is talking about the connection between the heart and the soul, which only at this time on earth do they connect together. When we go into heaven, the heart, as an organ, doesn’t go; only the soul goes. The heart and the soul connection: it is not easy in human flesh to experience that, and it is only a short period that a person on earth has that blessing from the Lord. This connection becomes a feeling beyond what humans can explain, and that is why it is only for a short period of time. This connection does not happen all the time during our life on earth; it is an on-and-off blessing given from the Lord to His chosen people (See Mark 10:29).
Q: What is the difference between the earthly time and the inner heart and soul time? A: Earthly time is like a physical thing; you can count that time. But the inner heart and soul time has no limit, and besides no limit you have no control over it; you walk through the time of inner with the purpose of being in touch with the Lord. The touch is not on the surface of your body, but inner touch, deeper than the flesh can feel, and that is why it relates to the inner soul. Also, remember that you are never alone; you feel the Lord alongside you, which only the inner soul can feel. As the Bible tells us, in many places, walk with the Lord, not just follow, but walk together with the Lord, and you feel closer than what the earthly feeling can give. Two people married feel close to one another, but the inner soul feel with the Lord is closer than that. It is hard for humans to understand how to feel with the soul and not with the head. Humans feel by head, but at that time, when you use the inner soul, you don’t use your head to think or feel; instead, the inner heart will do that because the Lord is also there with you in your inner heart and soul. The heart as an organ follows the physical time, but the inner heart and soul follow the Lord’s time.
“Houses.” Your house and the Holy Spirit house in your soul make for houses. Look around you and see what you call a house of this earth. But let your heart feel the house inside the heart itself; in human terms, you would say that you can feel the house of your heart as a palace; use the inner heart to feel that. Also, remember the Bible clearly tells who lives in your heart, so that is where the palace of your Holy Spirit is: find that. Go to the place where you can feel disconnected from the world, where you will feel left alone from the things of this earth, and meditate on the Word of God in your heart. You will feel the house of your heart, but the physical must be all disconnected from you. Don’t be concerned about hot or cold, and don’t worry about your hunger; use your heart to feel the soul, and the body will receive the benefit of that feeling. When you do deep meditation in this way, it can revive your physical energy. Treat yourself well, not as the world is teaching you to torture yourself when you meditate, but treat yourself well. Find a place where the body can feel comfortable: outside, in the bedroom, or make a special place where you feel disconnected from the world. Let your body feel complete, that you have paid attention to, and that deep peace (rest) of the body will go down into your heart, and the attachment of heart and soul will happen; use your mouth praising the Lord, no other words but only praising words to the Lord. The Bible is called the Living Word of God, and humans should meditate on each word of the Bible. Use that time to meditate on the Word of God.
“And brothers, and sisters, and mothers, and children.” These are all who meditate in the Word of God, as we have described before; these are close together as mother, sister, brother, and children, as one family; these who meditate in the Word of God will be as one family.
“And lands.” Because land is not life, it is an object, so what you consider as valuable on this earth is the meaning of land here; everything you think has value on this earth is the “land” because you will not feel that you lack anything, that is why you can say you have land. What life needs is not that many things; the rest are not life needs; they are just for show. Think of what is necessary for life; the rest is nothing. The connection between them (the things and life) is the important thing here; the things that we think have value but do not build up the faith are not important. In between you and the things of the world must be the Word of God. Without the Word of God, those things are not valuable: be close to the Word of God or be far from the Word of God, and that is what will determine if you receive or not receive the things life needs.
“With persecutions.” Because when people see you close to the Lord, jealousy will come, and that jealousy turns to be an unseen weapon, not like any weapon in this world. Jealousy creates harmful words that people use to talk out and hurt someone else knowingly. Jealousy covers the mind of a person and makes that person feel careless. When you have jealousy, it is a negative way of thinking, and it hurts you and someone else as well. In the unseen world, that weapon can cut the connection between you and the Word of God by creating doubt. In the unseen world, the most important thing is that no jealousy occupies room in the mind and the heart.
“And in the age to come eternal life.” This eternal life is the life in the unseen world; when you join with the Lord, the eternal life will be the gift you receive there.
Mark 10:31, Matthew 19:30. See Comments Matthew 19:30.
[32] And they were on the way, going up to Jerusalem; and Jesus was going before them, and they were astonished; and those following were afraid. And having taken again the twelve, He began to tell them the things that were to happen to Him,
[33] saying, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and to the scribes; and they will condemn Him to death, and will deliver Him to the Gentiles;
[34] and they will mock Him, and will spit upon Him, and will scourge Him, and will kill Him; and after three days He will rise again.
Comments Mark 10:32-34 For Mark 10:32-34, see Comments Matthew 20:17-19, and Comments Luke 18:31-33.

Passage Analysis
Mark 10:32a. “Behold, we go up to Jerusalem.” The Bible tells us in many places that people have followed the Lord Jesus, so multitudes of people have been following Him. And now, it was in that situation where the Lord was among the multitude, and His disciples also had a duty to go among the multitude to talk about the teaching of the Lord; here, we can link the duty of the disciples to talk with the people. The Lord saw ahead what the multitude that followed would be part of; in Him, He saw what they would do to Him. The Lord Jesus knew the pain that would come to Him, but this did not go over the love He had for humans. Here, His love is also expressed out toward all people in the world. His people delivered Him, but the Gentiles are also part of that. However, the Lord also wants the Gospel to be preached among Gentiles to save them all as well.
“And Jesus was going before them, and they were astonished.” All that followed Him were amazed; all humans were amazed because of the calm and peace that always has been shown out from Him. Even how He talked about what they would do to Him, the calm and peace that He had, all those had not disappeared from Him, they spread around Him as light, it was like a covering around Him; no man on earth has that.
“And they that follow were afraid.” Here, “afraid” refers to the question that everyone had in their hearts, “Who is He?”
Mark 10:32b-34, Matthew 20:17-19, Luke 18:31-33. See Comments Matthew 20:17-19.
[35] And there come near to Him James and John, the sons of Zebedee, saying to Him, Teacher, we wish that Thou would do for us whatever we might ask of Thee.
[36] And He said to them, What do you wish I should do for you?
[37] And they said to Him, Grant to us that we may sit, one on Thy right hand, and one on Thy left hand, in Thy glory.
[38] But Jesus said to them, You know not what you ask. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?
[39] And they said to Him, We are able. And Jesus said to them, The cup that I drink you will drink; and the baptism that I am baptized with you will be baptized;
[40] but to sit on My right hand or on My left hand is not Mine to give; but for those for whom it has been prepared.
[41] And having heard this, the ten began to be moved with indignation about James and John.
[42] But Jesus having called them near, says to them, You know that those who are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them.
[43] But not so shall it be among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, will be your servant;
[44] and whoever wishes to be first among you, will be servant of all.
[45] For even the Son of Man came not to be ministered to, but to minister, and to give His life as a ransom for many.
Comments Mark 10:35-45 For Mark 10:35-45 see Comments Matthew 20:20-28.

Comparison Analysis
Matthew 20:20-21. The mother came first to the Lord with her sons, but the answer the Lord gave her did not fulfill the sons’ wishes. Afterward, here in Mark, the sons came by themselves because the question of their hearts was not answered. Combining the verses in Matthew and Mark, we can conclude that the answer given by the Lord to the mother is not recorded for us. See Comments Matthew 20:20, 21.
Mark 10:35. The Lord gave something, but what the Lord gave did not fit in their hearts (James and John), so they came back and pursued, asking the same question.
Mark 10:36-37. In this portion, we can say that these two let the answer of their hearts guide them (think of what part of the heart we are talking about, the deep inner part of the heart or the outer surface part). By coming and asking this question, they did not think about what the Lord had been teaching them. The wish of the heart blinds the wisdom of man, and this often happens with people; however, be pleased with what you get. Here, these two were not pleased with the answer the Lord gave and came back to ask the same thing.
Mark 10:38-39a, Matthew 20:22. See Comments Matthew 20:22.
Mark 10:39b-40, Matthew 20:23. See Comments Matthew 20:23.
“And the baptism that I am baptized with you will be baptized.” The baptism the Lord is talking about now is not just water baptism, but Holy Spirit baptism as well. Afterward, all disciples were baptized with the Holy Spirit (See Act 2), not only by water. As the Lord has been baptized not just by water but as the Bible tells us, the Holy Spirit came upon the Lord Jesus as well, so the Lord is talking about both baptisms here in these verses.
Mark 10:41-44, Matthew 20:24-27. See Comments Matthew 20:24, 26, 28.
[46] And they come to Jericho; and as He was going out from Jericho, and His disciples and a great multitude, the son of Timaeus, Bartimaeus, a blind beggar, was sitting by the way side.
[47] And heaving heard that it is Jesus the Nazarene, he began to cry out, and to say, Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me.
[48] And many rebuked him, that he should be silent; but he cried out much more, Son of David, have mercy on me.
[49] And Jesus having stood, He commanded him to be called, and they call the blind man, saying to him, Take courage! Rise up! He calls you.
[50] And he, having cast away his garment, sprang up, and came to Jesus.
[51] And answering him, Jesus says, What do you wish I should do to you? And the blind man said to Him, Rabboni, that I may receive sight.
[52] And Jesus said to him, Go your faith has made you whole. And straightaway he received sight, and followed Him on the way.
Comments Mark 10:46-52 For Mark 10:46-52 see also Luke 18:35-45. The healing of the blind man given here in Mark 10:46-52 is the same as in Luke 18:35-45; the man healed was the same, but the way of presentation is somewhat different.
Q: Is there a connection between the blind Bartimaeus in Mark 10:46-52 and the healing of the two blind men in Matthew 20:29-34? A: These healings are not the same but similar cases; traveling by foot, per day, many things can happen. This is an example of things that happened in between the events presented in these two Gospels; they are different but similar. Also, note that the two blind men in Matthew are not beggars.

Passage Analysis
Mark 10:46. This verse tells one main thing: the Lord has done the work in the town, and when the Lord departed, a great crowd followed, and a lot of people followed and spread out the news about the Lord. And this is what the Lord wanted to be: spread the word out and gather a great crowd as the Lord was traveling. Notice, it was not that the Lord wanted the great crowds to do things for Him; the purpose of gathering great crowds was to let them talk between them and let the people around know about the mercy of God; that was the purpose. Also, we should remember that the time of the Lord on earth was short, and the Lord wanted as many as had sincere hearts to come to Him. This was the time for them to be saved, and that was why the Lord let people talk around, not because He wanted to be important, but to let people know that the mercy of God had come to earth at this time.
Q: Why is the name of this father (Timaeus) mentioned here in this verse? A: In this place, it mentions the father’s name because what the Lord did for his son would make the father think as well. The father’s name has been written down; humans do not know what the Lord has in His plan; the father did things that are not written down for us to know.
Mark 10:47. Here, it tells clearly, and Christians should follow the example; notice the words this man used, “have mercy on me,” begging for mercy from the Lord, not begging for wishing things, but mercy begging. In this place, we can call mercy begging; the man begged only for mercy.
Mark 10:48. This verse focuses on one thing: never give up asking; it clearly shows that if you don’t give up, mercy will be given. People will rebuke or try to stop you from asking, but don’t let those stop you. Keep asking, leave people behind, and keep your eyes on the Lord, asking always, and mercy will be given.
See also Comments Matthew 20:31. Notice that the blind men in Matthew 20:29-34 are not beggars; in many places in the Bible, people do ask mercy, but it doesn’t mean these all refer to the same situation.
Mark 10:49. The Lord Jesus stopped and called this man, and because he asked for mercy, the Lord showed mercy. Even if the Lord Jesus had little time left, but for giving mercy, the Lord stopped for this man. The Lord always stops for anyone whose heart sincerely is searching for mercy; even here, the Lord Himself, knowing that His departure time was approaching, stopped and showed mercy. For an unimportant person, He stopped; you may be unimportant for this world, but because of your heart searching and the mouth begging for mercy, the Lord will always stop.
Mark 10:50. The man was glad—you can picture when a person is glad—he left everything and went to the Lord. Also, keep in mind that he was blind and poor. He did not have another cloak for himself, but when the Lord was calling, he threw his cloak off. He didn’t know what was coming, but he threw off what he had.
Mark 10:51. The Lord Jesus knows what this man wants, but He also wants the person to express his wish to the Lord. The Lord does not do for the one who does not ask; this man needed mercy, but he did ask as well, and mercy was given after he asked.
Mark 10:52. Here, we see the word “straightaway” (the meaning of the word the Lord speaks). The Lord does not ask someone to do more; just express their need with a sincere heart, and mercy will be given immediately. Remember the word “straightaway.”
“And followed Him in the way.” The Lord also knew that this man would follow the Lord; the length of time to follow it doesn’t matter, but he followed the Lord on the way and in faith.
Life and Faith Applications. 1) Those who believe in God should not divorce; even more, they should not even speak out about divorcing; this word should not be among believers. 2) You can have money and things on this earth, but if you do not love them, you will find the way to go to heaven; the Lord does not teach believers to be poor, but He teaches not to put the love towards riches. 3) Look at the Lord as your leader, leave the things behind that you are attached to, and follow the Lord. 4) Be pleased and joyful for what the Lord provides for you and for the plans He has for you. 5) Never give up asking for mercy from the Lord; if you don’t give up, the mercy will be given. People will rebuke or try to stop you from asking, but don’t let those stop you; keep asking and leave people behind.