J.A. Matteson
Entrance into the kingdom of God is by grace, citizens thereof display an otherness in their spiritual perceptions, being born of the Spirit; and where grace is at work in the soul to be reborn a heightened awareness of the awfulness of personal sin increasingly becomes excruciatingly unbearable. "You are not far from the kingdom of God" (Mk. 12:34). This man was in anguish of soul, intimately mindful of his sin. Jesus declared the man was not "far" from the kingdom of heaven; far (mak-ros') in time, his rebirth was immanent. Jesus next informs the man, by speaking to the crowd in which he stood, that the faith he possessed in God can be placed in Himself, He is the Son of David, the incarnate LORD of glory, the Lamb of God, come to die for the sins of His people. Mark does not recorded the scribes response to Jesus' teaching on David's Son, wherein He is the fulfillment of the prophetic word. Yet Jesus said with authority and certainty that the man was not far (in time) from entering the kingdom of God. What a beautiful picture of irresistible grace, drawing the soul of the elect to the Savior. Blessed be the LORD our God who makes all things new, and who by His grace saves sinners from the misery of sin and death unto everlasting life and eternal bliss. To the King immortal and all powerful, Jesus Christ, be the glory and the majesty and dominion now and forever more.
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