Mar 10:17-31 | Barnes | STEP | Verses 17-31. See Barnes , and . Verse 17. Gone forth . From the place where he had been teaching. Into the way . Into the road or path on his journey. Running . Thus showing the intensity with which he desired to know the way of life. Zeal to know the way to be saved is proper; nor is it possible to be too intense, if well directed. Nothing else is so important, and nothing demands, therefore, so much effort and haste.

Mark 10:17-31

Verses 17-31. See Barnes Mt 19:16, and Mt 19:17-30.

Verse 17. Gone forth. From the place where he had been teaching.

Into the way. Into the road or path on his journey.

Running. Thus showing the intensity with which he desired to know the way of life. Zeal to know the way to be saved is proper; nor is it possible to be too intense, if well directed. Nothing else is so important, and nothing demands, therefore, so much effort and haste. Verse 18.

(o) "one" Ps 86:5, 119:68 Verse 19. Defraud not. Do not take away your neighbour's property by fraud or dishonesty. To cheat or defraud supposes a covetous desire of a neighbour's property, and is usually attended with falsehood or false witness against a neighbour in obtaining it. It is thus a violation of the ninth and tenth commandments; and our Saviour very properly, therefore, condensed the two, and expressed their substance in this--not to defraud. It is, besides, expressly forbidden in Lev 19:13--"Thou shalt not defraud thy neighbour."

(p) "commandments" Ex 20:1; Rom 13:9 Verse 20.

(q) "all these" Isa 58:2, Eze 33:31,32, Mal 3:8, Rom 7:9, Php 3:6 Verse 21. Jesus--loved him. What occurred afterwards showed that the young man did not love the Saviour, or was not a true disciple. So that this expression denotes, simply, natural affection; or means that Jesus was pleased with his amiableness, his morality, and his external regard for the law of God. At the same time, this was entirely consistent with deep sorrow that he would not give his heart to God, and with deep abhorrence of such a love of the world as to blind the mind to the beauty of true religion, and to lead to the rejection of the Messiah, and the destruction of the soul.

One thing thou lackest. When the young man came to Jesus, he asked him, "What lack I yet?" Mt 19:20. This question Mark has omitted, but he has retained the answer. The answer means-- There is one thing yet wanting. Though all that you have said should be true yet to make the system complete, or to show that you really are disposed to keep the commands of God, go and sell your property. See whether you love God more than you do your wealth. By doing that, you will show that your love of God is supreme; that your obedience is not merely external and formal, but sincere and real; the thing, now lacking, will be made up.

(r) "One thing" Jas 2:10 (s) "treasure" Mt 6:19,20, Lk 12:33, 16:9 Verse 24. Children. An expression of affection, perhaps also implying a reproof that their slowness of understanding was like children. When they should have seen at once the truth of what he said, they were slow to learn it. It became necessary, therefore, to repeat what he had said.

How hard. With how much difficulty.

(t) "trust in riches" Job 31:24, Ps 52:7, 62:10, Hab 2:9, 1Timm 6:17 Rev 3:17 Verse 26. Out of measure. Very much, or exceedingly. The Greek means no more than this. Verse 27.

(u) "with God" Genn 18:14, Job 42:2, Jer 32:17, Lk 1:37 Verse 30. An hundredfold. A hundred times as much.

In this time. In this life. In the time that he forsakes all.

Houses, etc. This cannot be taken literally, as promising a hundred times as many mothers, sisters, etc. It means, evidently, that the loss shall be a hundred times compensated or made up; or that, in the possession of religion, we have a hundred times the value of all that we forsake. This consists in the pardon of sin, in the favour of God, in peace of conscience, in support in trials and in death, and in raising up friends in the place of those who are left--spiritual brethren, and sisters, and mothers, etc. And this corresponds to the experience of all who ever became Christians. At the same time, it is true that godliness is profitable for all things, having the promise of the life that is, as well as of that which is to come. The favour of God is the security for every blessing. Obedience to his law secures industry, temperance, chastity, economy, prudence, health, and the confidence of the world--all indispensable to success in life, and all connected, commonly, with success. Though the wicked sometimes prosper, yet the surest way of prosperity is to fear God and keep his commandments. Thus will all needed blessings descend on us here, and eternal blessings hereafter.

With persecutions. Persecutions, or the contempt of the world, and bodily sufferings on account of their religion, they must meet. Jesus did not conceal this. But he consoled them. He assured them that amidst these, or perhaps it should be rendered "after" these, they should find friends and comfort. It is well to bear trial if God be our friend. With the promises of the Bible in oar hand, we may hail persecutions, and thank God that, amidst so many sorrows, he has furnished such superabundant consolations. Verse 31.

(u) "But many" Mt 20:16, Lk 13:30