^ Under the old Theocracy " the far " are either exiled Jews (Isa. Ivii. 19) or the Gentiles (Eph. ii. 13) ; distance from the new Kingdom is measured neither by miles nor by ceremonial standards, but by spiritual conditions. The man was to some
340 THE GREAT TEXTS OF THE BIBLE
extent intellectually qualified for the Kingdom ; certainly he had grasped one of its fundamental principles. It would be interesting to work out a comparison between this scribe and the ruler of 17. In both cases something was wanting to convert admiration nto discipleship. If wealth was the bar in one case, pride of ntellect may have been fatal in the other. The mental acumen which detects and approves spiritual truth may, in the tragedy of human life, keep its possessor from entering the Kingdom of God.i
Thou strong and loving Son of Man, Eedeemer from the bonds of sin, 'Tis Thou the living spark dost fan
That sets my heart on fire within. Thou openest heaven once more to men,
The soul's true home, Thy Kingdom, Lord, And I can trust and hope again, And feel myself akin to God.^
^ 2. This is one of the many instances in which Jesus took a very kind view ; and saw — and was not afraid to say that He saw
:. — the good that was in every one. Many, perhaps, see it, viho do not think it well to say that they see it. You need not be afraid. True praise never does any harm. On the contrary, it softens and humbles. This man belonged to a class which had no right to expect any indulgence at Christ's hand ; and there was a good deal of the feeling of superiority or patronage in what he had said. And after all, it was very partial truth, and did
/ not even touch the great truth of all, which Christ came to teach
"< and to be. Nevertheless, Christ sees the good points. \Ai the scribe had not spoken very humbly, he had been intelHgent and discriminating, — he had spoken discreetly. And if he did not see the whole truth, or the chief truth, his thoughts were leading on in that direction. And Christ, who likes to see nearness rather than farness, — and who discovers the kindling of the flax even by its smoking, — said, " Thou art not far from the kingdom of God."
^ It would be very well if we copied Christ in our familiar intercourse ; and always sought out, not the points of disagreement, but of agreement, on which to dwell in all our conversation ; and especially in our conversation upon religious subjects.
But there is a much higher lesson than this contained in
1 H. B. Swete. ^ Novalis.
4
ST. MARK 341
the kindliness of our Saviour's conduct. If any of us are ever inclined to think of God as a fault-finder, — as One who is quick to see what is wrong, and who does not see and appreciate what is good in us, — let us read the accounts of Christ's intercourse with those among whom He was thrown; and we will unlearn our / false estimate of that kind, loving, hopeful heart. Not our own v mother likes more to magnify our best traits.^
3. What was there in this man, what is there in any man, that makes it possible for Christ to say to him, " Thou art not far from the kingdom of God " ?
(1) There is a nearness that is brought about by intellectual y sincerity. We may believe that this was true of the lawyer in the narrative. He appears to have been an anxious inquirer, from the intellectual standpoint. " And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly," that is, wisely, thoughtfully, intelligently, " He said unto him, Thou art not far from the kingdom of God." Sincere, honest thought brings the thinker close to those higher y^ truths which are not contrary to reason, but which unassisted reason does not apprehend. /
^ Dr. Johnson was accustomed to say, " If a man thinks "* V deeply he thinks religiously " ; and deeply pondering the problems of nature, life, and duty, men have often found themselves brought to His feet who spake as never man spake. No merely intellectual endeavour can bring us into the enjoyment of saving truth and spiritual satisfaction ; it may easily prepare us, how- ever, for the word of Christ, and to receive in Him the fulness of the Ijlessing of reconciliation and peace. In reading the writings of authors known as agnostics, utilitarians, and sceptics, we must often feel that while verbally they seem a long way from the Christian creed, yet actually they come very near it in the doctrines they accredit and the spirit they reveal. They use other language than theologians use, they contend against this or the other position of conventional religion, they suffer from many misconceptions and prejudices, yet are they in fact not unlike this lawyer in the great truths they admit and in the fine spirit they display; and we believe that our Lord says of these, as of the intellectual seeker in the text, " Thou art not far from the kingdom of God." They are not in the Kingdom, but they are enamoured \J of its walls of jasper and gates of gold.