Mark 10:17-31 comments, part one: Good Master

 

Mark 10:17 ¶  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.

 

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.

Psalm 38:20 They also that render evil for good are mine adversaries; because I follow the thing that good is.

If you follow Jesus Christ you will have plenty of enemies. God is the only entity, person, in the universe who is good. He is the judge of all good. Human beings alone couldn’t cut it. Because;

Psalm 14:3 They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one.

Psalm 53:3 Every one of them is gone back: they are altogether become filthy; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.

Only God is holy and good. Is this man acknowledging that Christ is God?

1Samuel 2:2 There is none holy as the LORD: for there is none beside thee: neither is there any rock like our God.

Psalm 145:8 The LORD is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy. 9 The LORD is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works.

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.

Jesus quotes the commandments that have to do with interpersonal relationships. He does not mention the commandments toward God. Defraud refers to coveting, wanting and taking or denying what belongs to someone else by treachery and deceit. See the use of defraud in Leviticus 19:13 as robbing your neighbor by keeping back his wages. 1 Corinthians 6 is about cheating a brother. 1 Corinthians 7 is about a husband and wife cheating each other out of their sexual responsibilities to each other.

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

He took these rules seriously all his life. But there are many people who are good, moral people who don’t really see the point of what Jesus has said. Paul told us Christians;

Romans 13:10 Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.

It is not enough as a Christian to simply not do certain things. Many, however, define their Christian life by not drinking, not cussing, not looking at the wrong woman, not taking things that don’t belong to them, but virtually any non-Christian religion teaches that or something like it. There is more to being a Christian than what you don’t do.