Mark 10:17-22 (NKJV) Jesus Counsels the Rich Young Ruler
(Matt. 19:16–22; Luke 18:18–23)
17 Now as He was going out on the road, one came running, knelt before Him, and asked Him, “Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?”
18 So Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. 19 You know the commandments: Do not commit adultery, ‘Do not murder,’ ‘Do not steal,’ ‘Do not bear false witness,’ ‘Do not defraud,’ ‘Honor your father and your mother.’ ”
20 And he answered and said to Him, “Teacher, all these things I have kept from my youth.”
21 Then Jesus, looking at Him, loved Him, and said to Him, “One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me.”
22 But he was sad at this word, and went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.
V17 “Now as He was going out on the road, one came running, knelt before Him, and asked Him, “Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?”
Interesting that this man was running to Jesus. It is not because he is in a hurry to get this religious business over, but he sincerely wanted to know if he had eternal life. Kneeling before Jesus, in this case, is not worship but respecting Jesus as a great teacher. Compare John 3:1-2 and Isaiah 55:6-7. The Greek word for inherit is (G2816) κληρονομέω klēronomeō, which means (Mounce) “to acquire by lot; to inherit, obtain by inheritance; in NT to obtain, acquire, receive possession of.” Vine adds: “The following list shows how in the NT the idea of inheriting broadens out to include all spiritual good provided through and in Christ, and particularly all that is contained in the hope grounded on the promises of God.”
V18 “”So Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God.” As usual, Jesus asks some questions. Jesus knows the answer but wants this man to think why. Jesus emphasizes that no one is good, that is, we are all sinners or at least we do not meet God’s standards perfectly. The only one who can do so is God.
Comments:
Holman Commentary: “Some interpreters have said that Jesus’ response indicated he was disclaiming an identity with God. But we see from Jesus’ teachings in other places that Jesus often used questions to draw a statement of faith from a seeker. For example, in Luke 8:45, a woman was healed of a hemorrhage by touching the hem of Jesus’ garment. He asked, “Who touched me?” Jesus knew who had touched him, but he wanted her to come forward and acknowledge her faith. It helped restore her to community.
Warren W. Wiersbe: “With all of his fine qualities, the young man was very superficial in his views of spiritual things. He certainly had a shallow view of salvation, for he thought that he could do something to earn or merit eternal life. This was a common belief in that day among the Jews (John 6:28), and it is very common today.”
V19 “You know the commandments: Do not commit adultery, ‘Do not murder,’ ‘Do not steal,’ ‘Do not bear false witness,’ ‘Do not defraud,’ ‘Honor your father and your mother.’ ” Jesus quotes from the 10 commandments to provide conviction of sins.
V20 “And he answered and said to Him, “Teacher, all these things I have kept from my youth.” Sin is something done in thoughts, desires, words, and deeds. This young man knew that outwardly he had completely obeyed God’s laws, but he was evidently unaware of the inward sins he had committed.
V21 “Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me.” Jesus’s actions here indicate that indeed outwardly, this young man had diligently followed Mosaic law. Jesus now begins to deal with the inward sins of thought and desire. His sin is covetousness. Romans 7:7 CSB What should we say then? Is the law sin? Absolutely not! But I would not have known sin if it were not for the law. For example, I would not have known what it is to covet if the law had not said, “ Do not covet.”
V22 “But he was sad at this word, and went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.” This young man saw that he was not good enough, nor was he willing to give up his possessions. The young man chose money as more important than eternal life. He thought he could have both, but this is not always possible. If something hinders us from believing, we must get rid of it. Consider this one who did—Matthew 13:45-46. See Matthew 18:7-9 regarding throwing away hindrances.
We learn:
- We are not good.
- Sometimes our love for something is more important than eternal life.
Questions:
- Are you good?
- What is your priority?