Mark 12:34 KJV
And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, he said unto him, Thou art not far from the kingdom of God. And no man after that durst ask him any question.
Wouldn't you just love to know if this man was either Nicodemus or Joseph of Arimathaea?
The scribe comes to Jesus after hearing these others questioning Christ and trying to "catch Him in His words." But he appears to have come with an entirely different mentality. He has perceived that Jesus had answered their objections well. His questions is more likely legitimate and from the heart of the man.
And his response to Christ's answer bore out that he had both listened intently and considered Christ's words. The Bible says "he answered discreetly." His answered was in a "mind having way"[1]. Jesus said that he was "not far from the kingdom of God." He is near to the place where he would receive the Gospel message.
Saving faith is not the result of logic and reason. Saving faith comes from a conviction that the Holy Spirit of God places in a person's soul. On the other hand, saving faith can never come to one whose mind is flighty and shallow and who refuses to think upon the deeper and more serious things of life and the after life. Those who joke and play and mock the things of the spirit, unless they are the ones who do it as a guise while all the while really listening and taking in the message, will never come to true repentance. This is a work that goes on deeply in the inner man. Those who are shallow and all too casual about the spiritual things might think saving faith is a decent proposal, but the word of God will take not root in one who will not plow deeply in the soul.
[1] Strong’s Concordance
And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, he said unto him, Thou art not far from the kingdom of God. And no man after that durst ask him any question.
Wouldn't you just love to know if this man was either Nicodemus or Joseph of Arimathaea?
The scribe comes to Jesus after hearing these others questioning Christ and trying to "catch Him in His words." But he appears to have come with an entirely different mentality. He has perceived that Jesus had answered their objections well. His questions is more likely legitimate and from the heart of the man.
And his response to Christ's answer bore out that he had both listened intently and considered Christ's words. The Bible says "he answered discreetly." His answered was in a "mind having way"[1]. Jesus said that he was "not far from the kingdom of God." He is near to the place where he would receive the Gospel message.
Saving faith is not the result of logic and reason. Saving faith comes from a conviction that the Holy Spirit of God places in a person's soul. On the other hand, saving faith can never come to one whose mind is flighty and shallow and who refuses to think upon the deeper and more serious things of life and the after life. Those who joke and play and mock the things of the spirit, unless they are the ones who do it as a guise while all the while really listening and taking in the message, will never come to true repentance. This is a work that goes on deeply in the inner man. Those who are shallow and all too casual about the spiritual things might think saving faith is a decent proposal, but the word of God will take not root in one who will not plow deeply in the soul.
[1] Strong’s Concordance
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