What Must I Do to Be Saved? (Mark 10:17-31)
In Mark 10:17-31 a rich man kneels before Jesus and asks about how to make it to heaven. Jesus’ answer shocks everyone who hears it, especially those who are trying to work their way into heaven.
The rich man was desperate to get an answer from Jesus, but he failed to recognize the true identity of Jesus and his own identity. Had he recognized his brokenness, he wouldn’t have asked, “What must I do?” He would have asked, “Will you save me?”
--
About this episode:
This is part of our Gospel of Mark series at pursueGOD.org. Find resources to talk about it with your family, small group, or mentor at www.pursueGOD.org/mark.
--
Additional notes:
--
Mark 10:17-18 (NLT) 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?” “Why do you call me good?” Jesus asked. “Only God is truly good.”
Jesus was on his way out of town. This man is desperate to get an answer from him before he leaves. He likely had heard Jesus teach during his time in the region. At the very least, he had heard from others about Jesus and the kinds of things he had been teaching. There was something in Jesus’ teaching that caused this man to think that Jesus had the answer to his question. It’s the most important question we could ever seek the answer to - How can we restore our relationship with God and have eternal life? He runs to Jesus and kneels before him. He’s desperate to catch him before he leaves town. He’s pursuing him. We talk all the time about pursuing God. Are we really pursuing him? Are we chasing him with intent, or are we just wandering around and if we happen to run into him that’s great? Are we desperate for him to give us answers and guidance?
He calls him “Good teacher”. This title was never applied to rabbis in Jesus’ day. The title implied perfection and being completely without sin. Only God was called good by the ancient rabbis. He’s on the right track, but does he understand why he’s on the right track? Jesus wants to help the young man really process and think about the gravity of what he is saying. “Why do you call me good?” Jesus never denied his goodness. He didn’t say, “I’m not good.” He’s trying to help the man understand that he is good because he is God.
The young man didn’t truly recognize Jesus’ identity. The Bible proclaims Jesus is fully God. Passages like John 1:1, Colossians 1:15, Jesus did things only God can do - power over the elements, walking on water, conquering death. He received worship. Only God can receive worship.
Mark 10:19-22 (NLT) 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.’”
“Teacher,” the man replied, “I’ve obeyed all these commandments since I was young.”
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.”
At this the man’s face fell, and he went away sad, for he had many possessions.
Because he didn’t recognize Jesus’ identity, he didn’t recognize his own true identity. He didn’t recognize his brokenness and need for a savior. He thought he was righteous. He thought he was blameless by the law. He wasn’t. He may have looked blameless by the outward letter of the law but he certainly fell short from the heart of the law. All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. If he did, he wouldn’t have asked, “What must I do?” He would have begged Jesus to save him.
This man is sincere. This isn’t like the religious leaders who are trying to trap Jesus with their questions. He genuinely is seeking the answer. He’s asking the question that no one else has asked Jesus up to this point, at least not that it’s recorded in scripture - not even the disciples. Notice that Jesus brings up the commandments that deal with our relationships with others. He doesn’t bring up the first 4 commandments that deal with our relationship with God. We can see from the man’s response that he had allowed wealth to become an idol in his life. He clearly had violated that commandment.
Jesus could have called him to task on his claim that he had kept the commandments. Jesus taught that if you have even looked lustfully at a woman, you’ve committed adultery with her in your heart. If you’ve hated your brother or sister, you’ve murdered them in your heart. This man was deceived when he thought he had kept the commandments. He isn’t the only one in the Bible who struggled with this. This is how the apostle Paul thought before he met Christ. Philippians 3:6-9 I was so zealous that I harshly persecuted the church. And as for righteousness, I obeyed the law without faullt 7 I once thought these things were valuable, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done. 8 Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ 9 and become one with him. I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law; rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ.[c] For God’s way of making us right with himself depends on faith.
Jesus looked at him lovingly. He wanted this man to experience real relationship with him, not just some checklist that would never make him right before God. Jesus didn’t tell him to sell his things and give them to the poor because that is the prerequisite to follow him. That isn’t a blanket commandment that Jesus gave to everyone before they could follow him. He did it because the man loved his wealth more than he loved God. He was breaking the commandment to have no other gods before me and didn’t even realize it.
Even though Jesus promised him treasure in heaven, he left downcast. He traded an eternity of riches, for momentary wealth. How would our calendar and checkbook reflect where we’re storing our treasure?
The question isn’t “what do I do”, it is “who do I trust”?
(Pillar New Testament Commentary) No one who heard Jesus teach in Galilee asked a question of such magnitude, nor indeed have Jesus' own disciples. At last, Jesus is asked the essential question, capable of divulging the meaning of his ministry.
The man thought works were the key. Jesus knew faith was the key, faith that he is God! The guy knew the ethical commands (last 6), but didn’t really know God (first 4)
(Pillar New Testament Commentary) To the prohibitions against murder, adultery, theft, false testimony, and dishonoring of parents, Jesus commands the man not to defraud the poor. This commandment is not found in the Ten Commandments but may have been added because of its relevance to the rich man, since wealth is often gained at the expense of the poor.
(Pillar New Testament Commentary) Christian readers often assume that the man was hypocritical in bringing his moral report card to Jesus. That would not seem to be the case, however, for Mark says that "Jesus looked at him and loved him." Jesus did not look on hypocrisy with love…. There must have been something rare and admirable in the man, for of no one else in the Gospel does Mark say Jesus "loved him."
(Pillar New Testament Commentary) How profoundly ironic is the kingdom of God. The children in the former story who possess nothing are not told they lack anything, but rather that the kingdom of God is theirs; yet this man who possesses everything still lacks something! Only when he sells all he has – only when he becomes like a vulnerable child – will he possess everything.
(Pillar New Testament Commentary) In following Jesus the man "will have treasure in heaven" (v. 21). Jesus offers himself as a substitute for the man's possessions.
The Impossible
Without God moving, it is impossible for anyone to enter the kingdom of God. God had to make a way for us to be forgiven. None of us can do that on our own, rich or poor. Mark 10:23-27
Mark 10:23-27 (NLT) Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the Kingdom of God!” This amazed them. But Jesus said again, “Dear children, it is very hard to enter the Kingdom of God. 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!” The disciples were astounded. “Then who in the world can be saved?” they asked. Jesus looked at them intently and said, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But not with God. Everything is possible with God.”
Jesus looked around: original word means to observe with a sweeping (encompassing) look and with high personal involvement. He wants to look the disciples in the eyes and see what effect the rich young ruler walking away is going to have on them. Are they all in? I remember looking into the eyes of the kids I coached when I coached football before we would leave the locker room, and I knew if they were in it or not.
He makes this statement - How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God”. The disciples are astonished! He’s blown their minds. They think riches are a sign of God’s blessing and favor. If you’re wealthy, you must be living right. You must be honoring God. Mark doesn’t give details on exactly what the disciples said in response to Jesus’ statement, but they clearly said something that revealed just how shocked they were. The NLT says Jesus said again. In Several translations it says Jesus answered them. He responded to their questions and astonishment, and he repeats himself. It is very hard to enter the Kingdom of God. 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.”
Without God moving, it is impossible for anyone to enter the kingdom of God. God had to make a way for us to be forgiven. God had to fulfill the requirements - living a perfect life. None of us can do that on our own, rich or poor.
Contrast the attitude of a rich person with the children from last week where Jesus said we must receive the kingdom of God as a little child. Children recognize their dependence.
We have to come to Jesus in a state of complete dependence. We don’t bring anything of value to the transaction. People who have always prided themselves on being independent, self-reliant, and without need often find it harder to see what a desperate situation they’re in spiritually.
(Pillar New Testament Commentary) Mark now shifts from the rich man to the disciples, which indicates that the wealth and possessions that prevented one man from following Jesus are also matters of concern for those who do follow Jesus. The relevance of the lesson on possessions for the disciples is implied by the introduction to this verse that "Jesus looked around." The Gk. word periblepesthai is a key word for Mark, occurring six times in his Gospel and only once elsewhere (Luke 6:10) in the NT. It signifies a commanding survey of the situation, as though Jesus looks to see whether the disciples will follow the rich man's example.
(Pillar New Testament Commentary) Commentators have tried to eviscerate the force of this inimitable saying by suggesting that the original Gk. meant "rope" instead of "camel." Not only is there no textual evidence for such a reading, but it is equally impossible for a rope to go through the eye of a needle. Nor is "the eye of the needle" a small city gate through which camels might enter Jerusalem by kneeling – as though the rich may enter the kingdom of God if only they humble themselves. There is no evidence for this legendary gate until the 9th century A.D.
The Reward
Peter points out that unlike the rich young ruler who went away sad, the disciples had left everything to follow Jesus. Even though they might have been missing the point, Jesus reassures them that they would be rewarded in this life and in the life to come.
Mark 10:28-31 (NLT) Then Peter began to speak up. “We’ve given up everything to follow you,” he said. “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, 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. But many who are the greatest now will be least important then, and those who seem least important now will be the greatest then.”
Sound familiar? Peter is now sounding like the confident rich man.
Although it may sound arrogant, it was a true statement. The disciples had left homes, businesses, and families to follow Jesus. Their reputations were soiled in the eyes of the religious leaders. They’d be kicked out of synagogues, 10 of the 12 would be martyred. (Judas and John were the exceptions)
(Pillar New Testament Commentary) Followers of Jesus must be clear that discipleship is not a "both . . . and," but an "either . . . or." Jesus will have no divided allegiances; he will have all of us or he will not have us at all, so jealous is his love.
Jim Elliott quote: “He is no fool to give up what he can not keep to gain what he can never lose.”
Jesus isn’t being literal. He’s not going to give us 100 wives or 100 mothers or 100 homes. I think of the relationships I have as a result of my relationship with Jesus. My marriage is 100 times better than it would be without Jesus. My friendships are better. More people pray for me and my family. My life is richer and more rewarding as a result of Jesus inviting me in to be a part of his kingdom and the building of his kingdom.
(Pillar New Testament Commentary) The kingdom of God topples our cherished priorities and demands of disciples new ones. It takes from those who follow Jesus things they would keep, and gives to them things could not imagine.
Close
Jesus does call his followers to sacrifice for him, and that includes our finances. But these works are a result of our salvation, not the cause.
1 Timothy 6:17-19 (NLT) Teach those who are rich in this world not to be proud and not to trust in their money, which is so unreliable. Their trust should be in God, who richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment. Tell them to use their money to do good. They should be rich in good works and generous to those in need, always being ready to share with others. By doing this they will be storing up their treasure as a good foundation for the future so that they may experience true life.
Maybe you’re listening today because you’re searching for the same answer that the rich young ruler was searching for: what must I do to inherit eternal life? There isn’t anything you can do, except accept the grace that God has lavished upon you through Jesus Christ. Admit that you’re a sinner and that you can’t save yourself. Repent of your sins and trust in the finished work of Jesus on the cross.
Enduring Word commentary This man, like all men by nature, had an orientation towards a works-righteousness; he asked, “what shall I do.” If we really want to do the works of God, it must begin with believing on Jesus, whom the Father has sent (John 6:29)
