Mar 10:17-25 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for Mark 10:17-31: 10:17-31 The story of the rich man continues the themes of discipleship begun in 9:33 and the requirements for entering the Kingdom of God (10:13-16 ). The attitude of the rich man contrasts sharply with the childlike faith necessary for entering the Kingdom of God. 10:17 The rich man (10:22 ) was a young ruler (Matt 19:20 ; Luke 18:18 ) who showed respect toward Jesus by kneeling and calling Jesus Good Teacher . Teacher is a frequent title for Jesus in Mark (see Mark 4:38 ; 5:35 ; 9:17 , 38 ; 10:20 , 35 ; 12:14 , 19 , 32 ; 13:1 ; 14:14 ); the addition of good is unique.

Summary for Mark 10:17-31: 10:17-31 ^a The story of the rich man continues the themes of discipleship begun in 9:33 ^b and the requirements for entering the Kingdom of God (10:13-16 ^c). The attitude of the rich man contrasts sharply with the childlike faith necessary for entering the Kingdom of God. 10:17 ^d The rich man (10:22 ^e) was a young ruler (Matt 19:20 ^f; Luke 18:18 ^g) who showed respect toward Jesus by kneeling and calling Jesus Good Teacher. Teacher is a frequent title for Jesus in Mark (see Mark 4:38 ^h; 5:35 ⁱ; 9:17 ^j, 38 ^k; 10:20 ^l, 35 ^m; 12:14 ⁿ, 19 ^o, 32 ^p; 13:1 ^q; 14:14 ^r); the addition of good is unique.
10:18 ^s Jesus’ reply has troubled interpreters for centuries. Jesus was probably objecting to the man’s loose application of the term good to any human being, since ultimate goodness and perfection belong to God alone. Without in any way denying his own goodness, Jesus wanted to focus the rich man’s attention on God. The rich man wanted to enter the Kingdom of God, and Jesus was contrasting God’s goodness with the man’s own human sinfulness.
10:19 ^t Jesus’ reply seems strange to Christians who are familiar with Paul’s teaching on this subject (e.g., Rom 3:20 ^u; Gal 2:16 ^v). In naming five of the Ten Commandments Jesus was not implying that the man could earn eternal life by keeping them; he was telling him what God’s standards are and allowing the man to evaluate his own performance. Truly loving God with all one’s heart, soul, mind, and strength, and one’s neighbor as one’s self (Mark 12:30-31 ^w), requires trusting in God’s grace, accepting Jesus’ sacrificial death on our behalf (10:45 ^x; 14:24 ^y), and keeping his commands (John 15:10 ^z; 1 Jn 2:4 ^aa; 3:22 ^ab).
10:20 ^ac The man’s reply was naive (as to what it really means to keep these commands; see Matt 5:21-48 ^ad), but it was not arrogant, as the lack of any rebuke indicates (cp. Mark 12:13-17 ^ae; Matt 23:1-36 ^af).
10:21 ^ag Instead of having an extended discussion about what it means to truly keep the commandments, Jesus focused on the specific issue that revealed this man’s problem. He still lacked one thing: He loved riches more than he loved God, thus breaking the first and most important commandment (12:29-30 ^ah; Exod 20:3 ^ai; Deut 6:5 ^aj). Entering the Kingdom of God requires repentance (Mark 1:15 ^ak; 6:12 ^al), and Jesus helped this man to understand exactly what repentance entailed for him. He did not need, as he might have thought, to attain a higher level of personal righteousness. He needed to enter God’s Kingdom through repentance and wholehearted love for God, thereby obtaining eternal life. He must deny himself (8:34 ^am) and love God first and foremost by giving away his money. For other commands involving a negative [sell all] and a positive [follow me] element, see 1:15 ^an, 18 ^ao, 20 ^ap; 10:28 ^aq; see also Acts 2:38 ^ar; 20:21 ^as.

• Jesus’ command to the rich man was not a universal requirement for entering the Kingdom of God but was addressed to his particular situation. It teaches anyone seeking eternal life that nothing else can come before God; repentance (Mark 1:15 ^at; 6:12 ^au) requires the removal of anything that we place above God.
10:22 ^av Mark records the rich man’s tragic choice. The man departed, still possessing his earthly riches (Matt 6:19 ^aw) but lacking eternal treasure (Matt 13:44-46 ^ax). His demeanor (face fell ... sad) showed his awareness that his awful choice had brought him sorrow rather than joy.
Summary for Mark 10:23-27: 10:23-27 ^ay Jesus astounded the disciples by reversing the idea, popular at that time, that riches were a sign of God’s favor.
10:24 ^az In response to the disciples’ amazement, Jesus addressed them affectionately as dear children.
10:25 ^ba Jesus was emphatically warning that riches are an obstacle to entering the Kingdom of God. The camel was the largest animal in Palestine, the eye of a needle the smallest hole. Some rich people are evidently able to overcome the problem created by riches and follow Jesus, but Jesus’ followers came from among the poor more than from the rich.

• Explanations about a gate in the Jerusalem wall called the “Eye of the Needle” are ill-conceived. There never was such a gate, and this explanation loses sight of Jesus’ frequent use of hyperbole in his teaching (see also Matt 7:3-5 ^bb; 23:24 ^bc).