In today’s passage, Jesus teaches us about the Ten Commandments in a very different way. In this understanding of the Ten Commandments, we can learn about the essence of Christianity (Matt 19:16-22, Luke 18:18-23). Our founding pastor Rev. Abraham Park also took this passage to teach about the principles of Christology or Christianity. This story is so important that Matthew, Mark and Luke all recorded this incident in their gospels.
1. Rich young ruler who ran up and knelt before Jesus
He seemed so great outwardly. Matthew and Mark say he’s rich, Luke says he’s a ruler (government official), and Matthew says he’s young. He seems to be perfect. And on top of that, he’s humble and seeks spiritual things.
Mark 10:17 (NASB95) As 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?”
(1) He ran up to Jesus and knelt before Him
For a ruler to come kneel before a man who is accused of being a heretic demonstrates his seeking heart. He must have some discernment and hunger for the Word.
(2) He called Jesus “Good Teacher.”
He is a respected ruler. For him to kneel before Jesus shows that he is very humble. It shows his willingness to learn from Jesus, and that he considers/respects Jesus as someone in a higher position than he.
(3) He sought for eternal life
He is not only humble, but he is spiritual. For a rich young ruler, who has wealth and honor, to seek eternal life indicates he is spiritual.
2. Jesus’ answer
- Mark 10:18 (NASB95) — 18 And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone.
Some theologians, upon reading this passage, deny the divinity of Jesus and claim that He was admitting He was not without sin. However, the meaning of Jesus’ words was not that. Jesus was already providing an answer to the rich young man’s question. Jesus was asking whether the young man recognized His divinity and called Him “Good Teacher” in this light.
In other words, to obtain eternal life, one must know God and correctly understand who Jesus is and have a relationship with Him (John 17:3).
- Mark 10:19 (NASB95) — 19 “You 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.’”
Jesus said to him, “You know the commandments…” and then He mentions the 5th through the 10th commandments. Why did Jesus only mention these six commandments? In Matthew 22:36-40, Jesus explains that the commandments are about loving God and loving one’s neighbor.
The 1st to the 4th commandments is about our relationship with God. The 5th to 10th commandments is about our relationship with others/neighbors. This rich young man was already failing to keep the 1st to the 4th commandments, that is, he was not maintaining a right relationship and faith with God.
Let us think about this man’s confession and response:
(1) “Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” (v17)
- This young man understands goodness based on the worldly standard of actions. However, the goodness that Jesus speaks of is the existence of God and being in a state of sinlessness (Psalm 23:6).
- He thought that eternal life could be obtained through his actions.
(2) “And he said to Him, “Teacher, I have kept all these things from my youth up.” (v20)
- According to Jesus’ teachings, no one can perfectly keep the law. No one is made righteous by keeping the law. The law shows us that we are sinners and need a Savior.
- One thing he lacked. Mark 10:21 (NASB95) — 21 Looking 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.”
Since he failed to keep the first four commandments, Jesus gave him an opportunity through the remaining six commandments.
Furthermore, Jesus tested him with the 1st and 2nd commandments: “You shall have no other gods before Me” and “You shall not make for yourselves a carved image” (Exodus 20:3, 4). To this young man, material wealth was more important than God—it was his god and his idol.
If he had known that Jesus is the greatest treasure of heaven and earth, the source of all blessings, he could have obeyed this command and would not have walked away.
It is important to understand that when Jesus said to sell all your possessions and give to the poor, this is not a universal method that applies to everyone seeking eternal life. Simply selling everything and giving it to the poor does not guarantee entrance to heaven. However, the reason Jesus spoke this to the rich young man was to reveal his lack.
He did not have a relationship with God, did not understand who God is, and did not have faith that obeys and trusts Him. His faith was formal and conventional, merely following the rituals of religion.
This passage points out that even our worship can become an empty ritual, like an empty tin can, if we do not know whom we are worshiping and fail to encounter Him.
What was the one thing he lacked?
He should have said, “I am a sinner.” External humility and spirituality are useless without this. True humility and spirituality come from realizing that you are a sinner. That confession is only made when you believe that Jesus is God.
In the end, Jesus’ question was this: What is most important to you—following God or your material possessions?
Conclusion: 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.
After the young ruler went away because he owned much property (v22). Jesus then spoke these words to His disciples (v23-25):
Mark 10:22–25 (NASB95) — 22 But at these words he was saddened, and he went away grieving, for he was one who owned much property. 23 And Jesus, looking around, said to His disciples, “How hard it will be for those who are wealthy to enter the kingdom of God!” 24 The disciples were amazed at His words. But Jesus answered again and said to them, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! 25 “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.”
Jesus was emphasizing the impossibility of it. Jesus said, “With people it is impossible, but not with God; for all things are possible with God.” (v27)
Jesus was speaking of the impossibility of salvation apart from God’s grace. That’s why we have to follow God.
Matthew 5:3 (NASB95) — 3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
A person consumed by material wealth cannot recognize their spiritual poverty. However this message is not just for outwardly rich people. The “rich” in this context refers to anything in our hearts that blocks the path to eternal life. Whatever fills our hearts and prevents us from walking the path that leads to Jesus—whether it is wealth, status, or anything else—makes us spiritually “rich,” and in the same way, it prevents us from entering the kingdom of God.
Matthew 6:31–34 (NASB95) — 31 “Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’ 32 “For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. 34 “So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
