We learn from the text two great and important truths:
I. That the followers of Christ are not necessarily His friends or true disciples. In the multitudes who accompanied Jesus out of Jericho: (1) Some, doubtless, followed Him out of mere curiosity. (2) Some followed because it was just then somewhat fashionable to do so. (3) Some followed with a view to worldly advantage. (4) Such following of Christ is of no real or lasting advantage to these followers themselves.
II. The text suggests to us that among a multitude of Christ's followers you may generally expect to find some friends. Jesus went out of Jericho with His disciplesand a great number of people. (1) This should encourage us to persevere in our own following. (2) It should encourage us in relation to other followers as well as ourselves, and lead us to do and say all we can to encourage them.
J. Morgan, Christian World Pulpit,vol. x., p. 389.
References: Mark 10:40. Church of England Pulpit,vol. xviii., p. 145.Mark 10:46. Homilist,vol. v., p. 52.Mark 10:46-52. Spurgeon, Sermons,vol. v., No. 266; H. W. Beecher, Sermons,1870, p. 172; G. Macdonald, Miracles of our Lord,p. 103; H. M. Luckock, Footprints of the Son of Man,p. 230. Mark 10:46-52. Christian World Pulpit,vol. iv., p. 364.Mark 10:47. Preacher's Monthly,vol. iv., p. 53.Mark 10:47; Mark 10:48. Spurgeon, Sermons,vol. xi., No. 645.Mark 10:49. T. Keane, Christian World Pulpit,vol. iii., p. 81; Spurgeon, Sermons,vol. xxiii., No. 1389; R. W. Evans, Parochial Sermons,vol. i., p. 172.Mark 10:49-50. Spurgeon, My Sermon Notes: Gospels and Acts,p. 74.Mark 10:51. Ibid., Three Hundred Outlines on the New Testament,p. 38; A. Murray, With Christ in the School of Prayer,p. 71.