A Rich, Young, Influential Man Meets Jesus

Mark 10:17-22 New King James Version

Mark 10:17 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?”

“What shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?” (Mark 10:17).

What NOT to do to inherit eternal life:

1. Knowing the right words (Mark 10:17-18).

a. Mark 10:17 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?”

b. Mark 10:18 So Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God.

i. His address to Jesus as διδάσκαλε is not surprising: it has been used already by well-disposed outsiders (5:35; 9:17) as well as disciples (4:38; 9:38). But the addition of ἀγαθέ is remarkable: Mark nowhere else uses ἀγαθός of a person, and its combination with διδάσκαλε (producing a form of address for which no contemporary Jewish parallel is known) suggests either flattery or an outsider with an unusually positive view of Jesus[1]

2. Being morally good (Mark 10:19).

a. Mark 10:19 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.’ ”

3. Growing up in a Christianhome/church (Mark 10:20).

a. Mark 10:20 And he answered and said to Him, “Teacher, all these things I have kept from my youth.”

4. Possessions and/or position(Mark 10:22; Luke 18:18).

a. Mark 10:22 But he was sad at this word, and went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.

b. Luke 18:18 Now a certain ruler asked Him, saying, “Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”

What TO DO to inherit eternal life:

1. Commit all of you to Jesus (Mark 10:21).

a. Mark 10:21 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.”

i. Jesus listed the last six of the Ten Commandments (Mark 10:19 c.f. Exodus 20:12-17).

ii. The first four commandments relate to our relationship with God(Exodus 20:1-11; Mark 12:28-31).

1. Sell whatever you have = love the Lord with all your heart.

iii. The man didn’t have possessions; possessions had him (Mark 10:22).

1. Sad 5145 στυγνάζω (stygnazō): vb.; ≡ Str 4768—1. LN 14.56 become dark and gloomy, be overcast, have gloomy (weather), (Mt 16:3+); 2. LN 25.286 be downcast, be gloomy, sad in appearance (Mk 10:22+), for another interp, see next; 3. LN 25.222 be shocked, be appalled (Mk 10:22+), for another interp, see prior[2]

iv. Jesus loved him but let him leave (Mark 10:21-22).

Jesus seesand loves us for who we are (Mark 10:17, 21).

· Mark 10:17 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?”

· Mark 10:21 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.”

· ἐμβλέπω denotes a searching look (see 14:67):[3]

· Mark tells us no more about the man than that he was wealthy and had a good record of religious observance. Only Matt. 19:20 says that he was young, and only Luke 18:18 describes him as a leader in the Jewish community.[4]

[1]France, R. T. (2002). The Gospel of Mark: a commentary on the Greek text (p. 401). Grand Rapids, MI; Carlisle: W.B. Eerdmans; Paternoster Press. vb. verb Str Strong’s Lexicon LN Louw-Nida Greek-English Lexicon + I have cited every reference in regard to this lexeme discussed under this definition. LN Louw-Nida Greek-English Lexicon + I have cited every reference in regard to this lexeme discussed under this definition. interp interpretation LN Louw-Nida Greek-English Lexicon + I have cited every reference in regard to this lexeme discussed under this definition. interp interpretation [2]Swanson, J. (1997). Dictionary of Biblical Languages with Semantic Domains: Greek (New Testament)(electronic ed.). Oak Harbor: Logos Research Systems, Inc. [3]France, R. T. (2002). The Gospel of Mark: a commentary on the Greek text (p. 403). Grand Rapids, MI; Carlisle: W.B. Eerdmans; Paternoster Press. [4]Hurtado, L. W. (2011). Mark (p. 168). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books.