Skip to content

Commentaries
English
Mark
  
11. Jesus and the Rich Man
(Mark 10:17-27)
17Now as He was going out on the road, one came running, knelt before Him, and asked Him, “Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?”18So Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God.19You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery,’ ‘Do not murder,’ ‘Do not steal,’ ‘Do not bear false witness,’ ‘Do not defraud,’ ‘Honor your father and your mother.’”20And he answered and said to Him, “Teacher, all these I have observed from my youth.”21Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me.”22But he was sad at this word, and went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.23Then Jesus looked around and said to His disciples, “How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!”24And the disciples were astonished at His words. But Jesus answered again and said to them, “Children, how hard it is for those who trust in riches to enter the kingdom of God!25It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”26And they were greatly astonished, saying among themselves, “Who then can be saved?”27But Jesus looked at them and said, “With men it is impossible, but not with God; for with God all things are possible.”


Every man wants to secure his life in ease and freedom, trying to gather money, properties, and gold. Students study to reach a well-paid office, peoples build their policies on economy and welfare, and some countries nationalize the individuals’ properties to make the people proprietors of everything.
But who thinks of his Creator, serves him, and delivers to him all his life and money? Many try to serve both God and mammon, seeking good life on earth and security in the other life too. Yet, they are losers.
A young man of quality came to Jesus asking salvation for eternal life. How beautiful to find young people today interested in spiritualities, and leaving material vanities! That young man was prepared for sacrifice and good deeds, and he called Jesus “Good Teacher” with all respect.
However, Christ refused this superficial title, and modified the human ideals in the young man’s mind, saying to him, “No one is good except God alone.” Did you recognize that these words condemn all men – including us - and upbraid them with their iniquities?
These words included the hidden demand to the young man to recognize and believe that he who stood before him was not only a good teacher, but the good God himself, for Jesus Christ is in fact the Good Shepherd, and the loving Son of God. He demands of us faith in his absolute power.
Jesus loved this young man who, through his human power, sought to keep God’s commandments circumspectly, and wanted to excel his friends in virtues and clean walk. This is exactly what Jesus wants of us: to become free from the bonds of sin, keep away from mammon, and trust God alone. Then, in the light of Christ, we may see our numerous sins, and the corrupt of men in us, and resort to the only possibility of salvation that is the cross. In this manner, we can receive everlasting life today.
But the young man was rich, and he preferred money rather than following Jesus. In this choice, he refused the spiritual things, and relied on the material things, in spite of his apparent godliness.
Dear reader, test yourself sincerely. Do you love money, and trust riches, property, and health, falling to destruction, for building yourself on perishable things? Did you recognize that you are very rich in yourself? For example, how much is your right eye? What price are your gifts and times? Did you thank God for all the good things he had given you? If you were faithful to your Creator, then put all your gifts, immediately, at his disposal. Do not care if you were poor among the people, but strive to be rich in Christ, who emptied himself from the riches of his glory, lived among us, and satisfied himself with the least, trusting the protective care of his heavenly Father at all times. God offers himself to him who commits himself, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, to God and his service. He makes of the sinner a saint, and changes the idolater into a child of God.

Prayer
O Lord Jesus, you called us your sons, and made us children of God our Father. Remove our love of money from our hearts, and our trust in material things from our minds. Renew your followers that they may not join themselves to earthly things, but become satisfied with your power, your providence, and your appearance with us. Grant us in the last days’ temptations the gift of discerning spirits, and the obedience of faith that we may not go astray, but follow you alone. Amen.
Question
Why do we see in both mammon and riches two temptations similar to idolatry?