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    Mark 10:17-31
    Lesson 84

    Read both the "King James Bible" and the "New Living Translation."

    In this lesson: 
      
    The rich young man.
     
    "With God all things are possible." (10:27)
    Study Tip:
     
    Check the margin notes in blue and click on the links.

    The Gospel According to St. Mark

    The King James Bible    ​

    Mark: 10:17-31
    The believers reward

    17 And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?

    18 And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God.

    19 Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother.

    20 And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth.

    21 Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, 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.

    22 And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions.

    23 And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto his disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!

    24 And the disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into 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 into the kingdom of God.

    26 And they were astonished out of measure, saying among themselves, Who then can be saved?

    27 And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.

    28 Then Peter began to say unto him, Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee.

    29 And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel's,

    30 But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.

    31 But many that are first shall be last; and the last first.     
    ​Margin notes: 
     
    "When he was gone forth into the way." (10:17) - Means, "When he had started on the road (to Jerusalem)."
     
    "There came one running." (10:17) - This was a young, rich man (10:22).
     
    "Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God." (10:18) - Since only God is truly good, Jesus is indirectly asking the man if he understands that he is talking to God.
     
    "The commandments." (10:19) - These are six of the Ten Commandments.  The rest are outlined in Exodus 20:3-26 and Deuteronomy 5:6-22.
     
    "Al these have I observed from my youth." (10:20) - "I've obeyed all these (commandments) since my youth." 
     
    "Sell whatsoever thou hast." (10:21) - Jesus doesn't require all Christians to sell everything they own, just the people who put wealth before God.  See Today's Question below.  
     
    "How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!" (10:23) - "How hard it is for the rich to enter into the Kingdom of God." Jesus' statement is answered in Proverbs 11:28.
     
    "The disciples were astonished at his words." (10:24)  In Jesus' day, it was a common belief that the rich were blessed by God and the poor were being punished.  Jesus' words went against everything the disciples had been taught.

    "It is easier... to enter into the kingdom of God." (10:25) - It's hard to keep our eye on God when money and possessions become our focus.  "The love of money is the root of all evil."  (1 Timothy 6:10)
     
    "They were astonished out of measure." (10:26) - People were frequently astonished by Jesus (Matthew 7:28; 13:54; Mark 10:24; Luke 2:47; 4:32) or marveled at Him (Matthew 8:27; 9:8; John 7:15).  Why?  Read John 7:46.
     
    "With God all things are possible." (10:27) - It is impossible to earn eternal life in paradise through our own efforts (Romans 3:20).  But with God, the impossible is made possible.  With faith in Jesus Christ, mountains are moved, camels pass through the eye of a needle, and we can find heaven (Galatians 3:11).
     
    "Lo, we have left all." (10:28) - "Look, we left everything.'
     
    "Many that are first shall be last; and the last first." (10:31) - After death, the last will be first.  Jesus repeats this teaching in Matthew 19:30; 20:16; and Luke 13:30. 
    The story of the rich young man can also be found in Matthew 19:16-30 (lesson 38) and in Luke 18:18-30.


                                                  New Living Translation 
     

    Mark: 10:17-31
    The Rich Man
     
    17 As Jesus was starting out on his way to Jerusalem, a man came running up to him, knelt down, and asked, "Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?"
     
    18 "Why do you call me good?" Jesus asked. "Only God is truly good.

    19 But to answer your question, you know the commandments: 'You must not murder. You must not commit adultery. You must not steal. You must not testify falsely. You must not cheat anyone. Honor your father and mother.'"
     
    20 "Teacher," the man replied, "I've obeyed all these commandments since I was young."
     
    21 Looking at the man, Jesus felt genuine love for him. "There is still one thing you haven't done," he told him. "Go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."
     
    22 At this the man's face fell, and he went away sad, for he had many possessions.
     
    23 Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, "How hard it is for the rich to enter the Kingdom of God!"

    24 This amazed them. But Jesus said again, "Dear children, it is very hard to enter the Kingdom of God.

    25 In fact, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God!"
     
    26 The disciples were astounded. "Then who in the world can be saved?" they asked.
     
    27 Jesus looked at them intently and said, "Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But not with God. Everything is possible with God."
     
    28 Then Peter began to speak up. "We've given up everything to follow you," he said.
     
    29 "Yes," Jesus replied, "and I assure you that everyone who has given up house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or property, for my sake and for the Good News,

    30 will receive now in return a hundred times as many houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and property-along with persecution. And in the world to come that person will have eternal life.

    ​31 But many who are the greatest now will be least important then, and those who seem least important now will be the greatest then."     

    ​This second Bible text from the "New Living Translation" (Tyndale House, Publishers, Wheaton, Illinois) is a paraphrase and not an accurate word for word translation of the Bible.  However, it is a helpful tool when read with the "King James Version."
    Today's question:
     
    1. Is it possible for a rich person to go to heaven? (10:25) 
     


    Let me know if you have any questions, I will do my best to answer them. 
    Answer: (Do you agree?) 
    ​​
    1.  In truth, it's impossible for anyone to go to heaven.  That is, without the grace of God (Matthew 19:26; 10:26-27; Luke 18:27).  We are all sinners, and it is only thanks to God's mercy that are we forgiven.  The rich young man in this passage had an additional hurdle to overcome, his love of money.  Because he had all his material needs met, he felt self-sufficient and put his trust in money (1 Timothy 6:17) and not in Christ.  We can not serve two masters (Matthew 6:24; Luke 16:13), and the young man decided that wealth was more important than following Jesus, so he walked away from the Messiah (10:22).  People who have wealth often lack what is genuinely most important.....a relationship with Christ.  But, the rich are also saved.  Lydia, a wealthy merchant from Thyatira was a baptized Christian (Acts 16:14-15).  Likewise, the wealthy and politically connected Joseph of Arimathaea put himself in danger for Jesus when he went to Pontus Pilate and asked permission to bury the Messiah (Luke 23:50-53).​



    Application thought for the day:
     
    What personal barriers threaten to keep you from heaven?
    Thanks to the writings and commentary of John Wesley and Adam Clarke. Also, "The Layman's Bible Study Notebook" by Irving Jensen published by Harvest House Publishing, Irvine, California; the "Life Change Series" published by NavPress Books, Colorado Springs, Colorado; the "Life Application Study Bible" published by Tyndale House Publishing, Carol Stream, Illinois; "The Quest Study Bible" published by The Zondervan Corporation, Grand Rapids, Michigan; "Robertson's New Testament Word Studies"; "The MacArthur Bible Commentary" by John MacArthur published by Thomas Nelson, Nashville, Tennessee; "Wisdom of the Bible" CD by Topics Entertainment, Inc., Renton, Washington for their inspiring pictures; "My utmost for His Highest" by Oswald Chambers published by Barbour publishing, Inc., Uhrichsville, Ohio; The "Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge" by Reuben Archer Torrey; "Hope For Each Day" by Billy Graham published by J. Countryman, a division of Thomas Nelson, Inc., Nashville, Tennessee; "Easton's Bible Dictionary" by Matthew George Easton; "Unger's Bible Dictionary" by Merrill F. Unger, published by Moody Press, Chicago, Illinois; "Halley's Bible Handbook" by Henry H. Halley, Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, Michigan; "The Living New Testament" published by Tyndale house; "The New Living Translation" published by Tyndale House; BibleGateway.com for all their wonderful links; and of course the "King James Bible".  All were critical in putting these lessons together.
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