MARK 10:17-22

MARK 10:17-22

MARK 10:17-22 - This young man seems to have been, up to a point at least, intensely in earnest. Jesus took him up on his own legal ground. He first asked him why he used the term “good” in speaking to Him. Scripture says, “There is none that doeth good, no, not one” (Ps. 14:3). Why, then, address Jesus as good, unless indeed one recognized in Him the divine Son of God, for God alone is good? To this the young man made no reply.

Jesus then quoted the six commandments that set forth our responsibility to our neighbors, including that which calls upon us to honor our parents, who, as we have seen, stand in the place of God to children in the home. The law said, “Which, if a man do, he shall live in them” (Lev. 18:5). 

  Outwardly, he, like Saul of Tarsus before his conversion, was blameless as touching the righteousness of the law. What he did not realize was that all human righteousness is but as filthy rags in the sight of God, because of the corruption of the heart. 

   To test him and expose the hidden evil of his heart Jesus said, “One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow Me.” It was a call to receive Christ as Saviour and own Him as Lord. But he, who seemed so earnest at first, could not rise to the opportunity put before him; he who professed to love his neighbor as himself was not prepared to give up his wealth for the good of others; nor was he ready to yield control of his life to Jesus. So he went away sorrowful, because his great wealth stood between him and allegiance to Christ. Did he ever repent? We know not. So far as Holy Writ is concerned we know only that he went away in nature’s darkness, because he turned from the Light of Life.