The Rich Young Ruler - Mark 10:17-31
Mark 10:17-31 tells the story of wealthy young leader who had an encounter with Jesus:
Zacchaeus
As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. “Good teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good — except God alone. You know the commandments: ‘Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, do not defraud, honor your father and mother.’” “Teacher,” he declared, “all these I have kept since I was a boy.” Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth.
Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!” The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said again, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God!
It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” The disciples were even more amazed, and said to each other, “Who then can be saved?” Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.” Peter said to him, “We have left everything to follow you!” “I tell you the truth,” Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age (homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields — and with them, persecutions) and in the age to come, eternal life.
But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”
Mark 10:16-31
An Important Question
The young ruler asked an important question. He wanted to inherit eternal life and the answer Jesus gave him serves as instruction for all of us. It had four components:
- Calling Jesus "good teacher" is not something you can do casually or superficially. When you come to him you must realize you are really dealing with the only "good" one there is - God. Jesus is God in human form.
- Keep the commandments. It's necessary to obey what God has already commanded.
- Sell everything you have and give to the poor.
- Follow Jesus. This is the heart of the matter.
"One Thing You Lack"
The young ruler had the first two components covered. Unfortunately, this left him still lacking "one thing", and based on Jesus' words, that "one thing" had two parts: selling everything he had and following Jesus. This suggests that these two go together and they do. To inherit eternal life we must to both. We have to give up our attachment to everything we have (or everything that has us) and follow Jesus. One is meaningless without the other.
Missed Opportunity
The young rules went away sad because of his great wealth. Apparently he was reluctant to part with it even exchange for treasure in heaven and the privilege of following Jesus. What about you? Will also turn away and hold on to your personal control of your possessions, your time, and your life, or will you give them up for something better? If you're ready for something better then check out our following Jesus page.
Good News Passages
Subject |
Scripture Reference |
|---|---|
| The Rich Young Ruler | |
Day of Pentecost |
|
Cornelius' Household |
|
Paul in Pamphylia |
|
Paul in Athens |
|
Paul's Gospel |
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