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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadBob Utley You Can Understand the Bible - Mark 10:17 - 10:22
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NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Mar_10:17-22
17As He was setting out on a journey, a man ran up to Him and knelt before Him, and asked Him, "Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?" 18And Jesus said to him, "Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone. 19You know the commandments, 'Do not murder, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.'" 20And he said to Him, "Teacher, I have kept all these things from my youth up." 21Looking at him, Jesus felt a love for him and said to him, "One thing you lack: go and sell all you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me." 22But at these words he was saddened, and he went away grieving, for he was one who owned much property.
Mar_10:17 "As He was setting out on a journey" Mark's Gospel is characterized by Jesus' travel. This was Mark's literary technique of structuring his presentation of Peter's memories (or sermons).
▣ "a man" Mat_19:20 adds the adjective "young"; Mat_19:22 adds "He was one who owned much property (i.e., rich)"; while Luk_18:18 calls him a "ruler." This man was apparently a wealthy, moral, significant civic and religious leader. The term "ruler" implies that he was a leader in the local synagogue. See hyperlink at 1Pe_3:14.
▣ "ran. . .and knelt" This was very unusual action for a wealthy Oriental man in public. This man seems to be sincere in his question and desire to know. This is not an attempt to test or trick Jesus.
▣ "'Good Teacher'" This phrase opened the opportunity for Jesus to probe this man's spiritual worldview (cf. Mar_10:18). The term "good" (i.e., agathos) can be understood in several ways (good, profitable, generous, beneficial, upright, or virtuous). The man meant it one way, but Jesus used it in an ultimate sense.
▣ "'what shall I do'" His understanding of spiritual matters focused on his actions. This man had been steeped in rabbinical performance tradition (cf. Mat_19:16).
▣ "'to inherit'" This familial word implies a personal relationship with God. In the OT the priests were said to be God's inheritance and He was theirs because they received no land allocations as did the other tribes. This very question implies the man believed he was fully accepted by God, but just wanted to make sure.
▣ "'eternal life'" The concept of an afterlife (or eschatological kingdom) came from passages such as Dan_12:2 or Job_14:14; Job_19:25-27. The Pharisees affirmed an afterlife in physical terms. They were confident that YHWH would grant them eternal life because of (1) their racial identity (i.e., children of Abraham) and (2) their performance of the Orad Traditions (i.e., Talmud).
Mar_10:18 "good" This is used to show that the only true standard of comparison is God's righteousness. The term "righteous" comes from an OT construction term (i.e., river reed), used as a standard or ruler.
▣ "'No one is good except God alone'" Jesus is not making a statement about His own goodness, but He wanted to jolt this man's shallow thinking about God and true goodness (cf. Mat_5:48). This may be an OT allusion to 1Ch_16:34; 2Ch_5:13; 2Ch_7:3; Psa_25:8; Psa_86:5; Psa_100:5; Psa_106:1; Psa_107:1; Psa_118:1; Ezr_3:11.
The Matthew parallel changes the ruler's question to "Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may obtain eternal life?" (Mat_19:16). This change gives a clue to this man's concept of goodness and his attainment of that goodness (cf. Mat_19:20).
Mar_10:19 "'You know the commandments'" This is a summary of the second half of the Ten Commandments, which dealt with how covenant partners are to treat one another.
▣ "'Do not defraud'" This may refer to coveting. This commandment, as it is stated, was not part of the Ten Commandments, nor is it found in this form elsewhere in the OT. Also the parallels in Mat_19:18-19 and Luk_18:20 do not have this phrase. However, to be fair, the Synoptics all disagree on Jesus' quote of the Commandments. This again is a common problem with eyewitness testimony. It surely does not affect the inspiration or trustworthiness of the Gospel accounts!
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Mar_10:20 "'I have kept these things'" This man had performed all of the religious requirements of his culture. The Apostle Paul also felt he had also fulfilled the religious requirements (cf. Act_23:1-2; Php_3:6). This man was not lying. He believed he was blameless before God.
▣ "from my youth up" This referred to the Bar Mitzvah ceremony at age 13 by which a boy became a man and responsible for keeping the Law.
Mar_10:21 "Looking at him, Jesus felt a love for him" This is unique to Mark. Jesus' love, however, did not lower the standards of the Kingdom of God. Here is the paradox of unconditional love requiring an appropriate faith response.
▣ "'One thing you lack'" This comment is similar to Mar_12:34. Jesus recognized that humans were degrees closer or farther from the true Kingdom, which was not conditioned on Mosaic performance or racial identity (cf. Joh_8:33), but personal faith in Him. This religious leader came in the right spirit, to the right person, asked the right question, but was apparently unable to make a decisive choice! Jesus did not lower the standard! The man went away sad! So close and yet so far!
▣ "'sell all you possess and give to the poor. . .and come, follow Me'" This shows the radical nature of NT faith (cf. Luk_14:33). Jesus knew where this man's priorities were. To be a Christian one must lay down all other priorities. In one sense this makes Christianity very difficult indeed! In this statement Jesus was focusing on the first half of the Ten Commandments relating to one's priority commitment to God and God alone (cf. Mat_5:20).
This text cannot be turned into a law for all believers (i.e., poverty is God's best). It must be seen in its context. Spiritual relationship between God and mankind must be priority over physical relationship (i.e., wealth, fame, work, family, possessions, even life itself). If possessions are evil in and of themselves, why would they be given to the poor?
One more point. We always focus on Jesus' demand, but did you realize that Jesus gave this man an unprecedented motivation also. He invited him to join His group of disciples! His opportunity was far greater than its cost!
▣ "'you will have treasure in heaven'" Because of humanity's rebellion, God's blessings are reserved for the afterlife (cf. Mar_10:30; Matthew 5-7). Humans must be willing to renounce earthly riches as evidence of spiritual conversion, not as a basis.
Mar_10:22 "he was saddened" This term can be understood in two senses: (1) shock or surprise or (2) sadness expressed by a downcast or gloomy face. Both of these make sense in this context.