Mark 10:17-22
He Went Away Sad
Read the passage
17As Jesus started on His way, a man ran up and knelt before Him. “Good Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
18“Why do you call Me good?” Jesus replied. “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 cheat others, honor your father and mother.’”
20“Teacher,” he replied, “all these I have kept from my youth.”
21Jesus looked at him, loved him, and said to him, “There is one thing you lack: Go, sell everything you own and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow Me.”
22But the man was saddened by these words and went away in sorrow, because he had great wealth.
Berean Standard Bible
Read aloud
A man runs to Jesus, kneels and asks what he must do to inherit eternal life. Jesus takes up his address of Good Teacher, asking why he calls Him good and saying that God alone is good. The man must consider the goodness he names rather than use the title casually.
Jesus lists commands about how to treat other people: prohibitions of murder, adultery, theft, false witness and cheating, along with honoring parents. The man says he has kept them from his youth. Jesus looks at him and loves him.
The next words come within that love. Jesus tells him to sell what he owns, give to the poor and follow Him, with treasure in heaven promised. The invitation is personal and costly. The man has great wealth, and he goes away saddened.
His sorrow reveals a hold that his account of obedience has not faced. He wants eternal life, yet the call to follow Jesus meets something he will not release. Love has not made Jesus flatter him or leave that attachment untouched.
This is not a price list by which generosity buys salvation. The next passage will say plainly that salvation is impossible for human beings and possible with God. Here the invitation exposes where this man’s trust is lodged. The possessions he keeps cannot give him the life he came asking about.
How We Know
The commands Jesus lists include several from Exodus 20. Leviticus 19:13 also forbids defrauding a neighbor and withholding wages. These connections show that honest treatment of others belongs within the obedience being discussed; Mark does not accuse this man of a particular unpaid wage.
Questions
1 What does the man ask Jesus?
AnswerWhat he must do to inherit eternal life. He comes urgently and respectfully, but the answer will challenge his attachment to wealth.
2 How does Jesus regard him before giving the costly instruction?
AnswerHe looks at him and loves him. The challenging call belongs within that love rather than showing indifference to the man.
3 What does Jesus ask him to do?
AnswerSell his possessions, give to the poor and follow Him. The invitation offers treasure in heaven while exposing the hold of his present wealth.
4 What can this encounter help us examine?
AnswerWhether a possession, ambition or source of security has become more important than following Jesus. Ask for His help to receive correction and obey rather than defend the attachment.
What This Means for Us
Jesus’ love can bring a searching question into our life. We may think of ourselves as obedient while protecting one area from His claim. The man’s sorrow invites us to ask what we would find hardest to place under Christ’s authority.
Do not make a dramatic gesture simply to prove something. Consider an actual choice involving generosity, honesty or security, and seek wise counsel where needed. Ask the Savior to free your trust from what you own and lead you into obedience to Him.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, thank You for love that tells us the truth. Show us what has taken too strong a hold on our hearts. Free us to trust You, give generously and follow where Your Word leads. Amen.