The Rich Young Ruler
Mark 10:17-31
Message #37
We continue in the “Hard Sayings of Jesus” today, our third “Hard Sayings” message. There was a feeling (a belief) in Judaism in that day that Christianity has kind of held onto today. It is the belief that wealth was the evidence that God is blessing you, and wealth certainly can be a blessing from God, depending on the truths we’ll learn today.
But the Rabbis taught if you had wealth, it was a sign that you were doing things right with God. It meant that you had achieved a certain approval rating with God – very similar to the Prosperity Teaching heresy of today. But today, we’re going to meet a man who has come to be known as “The Rich Young Ruler,” and it is going to lead to one of the “Hard Sayings of Jesus” about wealth.
It’s important we connect our text today with our previous text because Mark puts his events in order for a reason. Last week, in Mark 10:15, Jesus said,
Mark 10:15 (NLT)
15 I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn’t receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.”
Then, on the heels of that huge statement (needing to receive the Kingdom of God like a child), we meet the Rich Young Ruler.
Mark 10:17 (NLT)
17 As Jesus was starting out on his way to Jerusalem, a man came running up to him (that’s our guy), knelt down, and asked, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
As our Rich Young Ruler is introduced to us, he is running up to Jesus (a little intense). Then kneeling down (I see him sliding in on his knees for a dramatic entrance), and then he calls Jesus Good Teacher. That is a three-fold, over-doing-it introduction. Running up, slides in on knees, and Good Teacher.
You see, the Rabbis would never let anybody call them Good Teacher because they taught that only God was “truly good.” So, in verse 18, Jesus kind of splashes water in this guy’s face to shock him, to kind of “slow his roll.”
Mark 10:18 (NLT)
18 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus asked. “Only God is truly good.
It seems to me that Jesus wants to interrupt this guy’s “pattern for success.” This guy knows how to win. He knows how to come on strong and take home the prize. So, Jesus interrupts him, shocks him, and suddenly Jesus is in charge of the conversation, not the Rich Young Ruler. (Do you see what Jesus did there?)
So, now that Jesus has control of the conversation, he’s going to walk this “over-confident young ruler” right to where he wants him – not only for the Rich Young Ruler’s benefit but also for ours. Jesus continues in Mark 10:19.
Mark 10:19 (NLT)
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 (coveting). Honor your father and mother.’”
Jesus begins by saying, to answer your question. But is Jesus really answering his question? Or is Jesus just gently setting up this religious “overachiever”? In verse 19, Jesus lists all six of the horizontal (love your neighbor) commands – the second half of the Ten Commandments. But notice Jesus doesn’t mention the first half, which are the four vertical (love God) commandments, and maybe it’s because Jesus will be getting to the “Love God” commands soon enough.
But because Jesus is moving this guy to a crisis moment, he lists only the back half of the law (the horizontal half). And the Rich Young Ruler starts doing the happy dance. And we read in Mark 10:20,
Mark 10:20 (NLT)
20 “Teacher,” the man replied, “I’ve obeyed all these commandments since I was young.”
And right here, this guy is thinking, “Man, I’ve got it – I’ve nailed it. I’m at the top of the class. I’m at the front of the line. I am good to go with God.”
And then, Jesus looked at him. Not glanced at him, not casually. Jesus looked intently at him.
Mark 10:21(a) (NLT)
21 Looking at the man, Jesus felt genuine love for him . . .
The word translated “looking” means to look intently or to examine closely.
Jesus LOOKED into this man’s heart
Jesus LOOKED at what truly motivated him
Jesus LOOKED at what this man actually loved
and Jesus felt genuine love for him
And Jesus was trying to lead him to the answer that he truly needed.
Mark 10:21(b) (NLT)
21 . . . “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.”
This is critical. What Jesus is saying to this Rich Young Ruler is: your stuff is in your way.
Jesus is saying; you don’t own your stuff, your stuff owns you. And that is a problem.
Now, please always remember, context determines correct interpretation, and so we’ve got to keep this verse in its context.
So, first, Jesus did not tell every wealthy person he met to do this. In fact, we know there were wealthy people who supported Jesus and his disciples during their three years of full-time ministry. And to support them, some chose to travel with them, since online giving wasn’t a thing yet. And, we know God moved on wealthy people throughout the New Testament to finance and provide places for the New Testament church to meet and grow. We see in Acts Chapters 4 and 5 it was not a requirement for wealthy people to sell what they had, but some still did by choice.
And I can tell you for sure that both this Church and Word By Mail would not exist without some people who have some money being willing to invest in God’s Kingdom through these ministries.
So, why this man? Why did Jesus require this particular, successful, wealthy, religious man to sell everything? Because Jesus looked at him and Jesus saw his heart, and because Jesus loved him, Jesus revealed this man’s own heart to him. This Rich Young Ruler had “success in life” written all over him. But the attitude of the heart that can come from too much success in life can easily get in the way of us truly surrendering our lives to Jesus as Lord.
Which is exactly what is about to happen to our Rich Young Ruler here.
Mark 10:22 (NLT)
22 At this the man’s face fell, and he went away sad, for he had many possessions.
At this, the man’s face FELL. The word means to become greatly downcast. But listen very carefully, please. His face fell, and he went away sad because his possessions owned him. He didn’t own his possessions; his possessions owned his heart.
And Jesus requires your heart. And it seems clear both in the Bible and in our world that one of the tip things that will either keep your heart from Jesus or steal it away from Jesus. Are your possessions owning you?
Whether it is you idolizing what you do have or you coveting what you don’t have – either way, the stuff of this world can keep your heart from Jesus.
Remember earlier, Jesus didn’t list the first half of the Ten Commandments those are the “love God” commandments, and that was the Rich Young Ruler’s struggle. The first commandment is, “Have NO OTHER GODS before me.” The second commandment is, “Have NO IDOLS in your life.” And the challenge Jesus gave this man proved he was not willing to embrace those first two vertical commands to love God, and so he went away sad.
And then, it just gets harder for the Disciples.
Mark 10:23 (NLT)
23 Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the Kingdom of God!”
That is a bombshell statement because the Disciples thought (like some of us) that wealth was the sign that a person was approved by God. And so, this statement amazes the Disciples.
Mark 10:24 (NLT)
24 This amazed them. But Jesus said again, “Dear children, it is very hard to enter the Kingdom of God.
The NKJV adds – it is very hard “for those who trust in riches” to enter the Kingdom of God
And it is very hard indeed to enter the Kingdom of God. In fact, it is impossible, which is exactly what Jesus says in Mark 10:25.
Mark 10:25 (NLT)
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!”
This verse has caused a lot of attempted explanations. Maybe you’ve heard the explanation of the small door within the large gate in Jerusalem that is called the Eye of the Needle. We’ve had fun at this Eye of the Needle “door” that is part of the Jaffa Gate at the old city. They only problem is, there is no historical evidence of that type of door in the gate until the ninth century.
But the analogy that comes out of the small door within the gate explanation is that the rich person has to rid themselves of all the baggage that often comes with riches, and humble themselves to receive Christ by faith and enter heaven – which can be a good analogy if it’s used correctly.
But that is probably not what Jesus was talking about because the camel and the eye of the needle was actually a “figure of speech” in the first century. It is hyperbole. And when you say it would be easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, what you are saying is this is impossible – period.
This is exactly what Jesus ends up saying, but first, the Disciples were astounded. Look at Mark 10:26.
Mark 10:26 (NLT)
26 The disciples were astounded. “Then who in the world can be saved?” they asked.
The Disciples heads are spinning right now. They’re thinking, wait. We thought riches were a sign of God’s approval on someone’s life. So, if someone with riches can’t be saved, then who in the world can be? And that is really the ultimate point. Which is what Jesus says in Mark 10:27.
Mark 10:27 (NLT)
27 Jesus looked at them intently (the same word for looked as before – Jesus looked straight thru them) and said, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But not with God. Everything is possible with God.”
Who can get into heaven? Jesus says, Humanly Speaking – It is Impossible!! Without God stepping in and doing it for us, it is impossible for us to get into heaven. And if we, if all of us – rich and poor – would fully embrace that truth, we would stop trying to be “good enough” or “religious enough.” And we would crush the Devil’s lie that makes us say, well, I’m doing pretty good. I think God will accept me when I get there. Not if you’re showing up in your own effort, he won’t.
The Bible is clear. There is no amount of good that you can do on your own to earn God’s acceptance of you into heaven.
And ultimately, this is true for rich or poor. But the core of this message, the central point of this message, is how the possessions that owned this rich young ruler kept him from seeing his need for Jesus.
Matthew 6:24 (NLT)
24 “No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money.
The word translated “money” here is mammon, which is an Aramaic word for wealth or riches. This Rich Young Ruler was enslaved by his riches, and it seemingly cost him his eternal life.
But it also brought up a thought from the ever-willing-to-speak Apostle Peter.
Mark 10:28 (NLT)
28 Then Peter began to speak up. “We’ve given up everything to follow you,” he said.
Now Peter is a fisherman, and it certainly seems like he’s fishing here.
And Jesus responds to him with one of the greatest promises in the New Testament.
Mark 10:29-30 (NLT)
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.
Jesus promises a hundred times more blessing than what it will cost you to truly follow him. Along with the persecution, you will gain a hundred times the family within the family of God. And the very real blessings will always far outweigh the cost.
And then, in closing, it seems Jesus refers back to the Rich Young Ruler who just walked away, and he says in Mark 10:31,
Mark 10:31 (NLT)
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.”
The Kingdom of God is an upside-down Kingdom. We – like the Rich Young Ruler – must decide which Kingdom we want our reward in. Do we want to win it all now and risk losing it all for eternity?
Just two chapters ago, Jesus said in Mark 8:36-37,
Mark 8:36–37 (NLT)
36 And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? 37 Is anything worth more than your soul?
Jesus tried to get the Rich Young Ruler to choose wisely. May we make a better choice than he did. Whether we are rich or poor, may we make sure that Jesus Christ truly has our heart.
But the Rabbis taught if you had wealth, it was a sign that you were doing things right with God. It meant that you had achieved a certain approval rating with God – very similar to the Prosperity Teaching heresy of today. But today, we’re going to meet a man who has come to be known as “The Rich Young Ruler,” and it is going to lead to one of the “Hard Sayings of Jesus” about wealth.
It’s important we connect our text today with our previous text because Mark puts his events in order for a reason. Last week, in Mark 10:15, Jesus said,
Mark 10:15 (NLT)
15 I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn’t receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.”
Then, on the heels of that huge statement (needing to receive the Kingdom of God like a child), we meet the Rich Young Ruler.
Mark 10:17 (NLT)
17 As Jesus was starting out on his way to Jerusalem, a man came running up to him (that’s our guy), knelt down, and asked, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
As our Rich Young Ruler is introduced to us, he is running up to Jesus (a little intense). Then kneeling down (I see him sliding in on his knees for a dramatic entrance), and then he calls Jesus Good Teacher. That is a three-fold, over-doing-it introduction. Running up, slides in on knees, and Good Teacher.
You see, the Rabbis would never let anybody call them Good Teacher because they taught that only God was “truly good.” So, in verse 18, Jesus kind of splashes water in this guy’s face to shock him, to kind of “slow his roll.”
Mark 10:18 (NLT)
18 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus asked. “Only God is truly good.
It seems to me that Jesus wants to interrupt this guy’s “pattern for success.” This guy knows how to win. He knows how to come on strong and take home the prize. So, Jesus interrupts him, shocks him, and suddenly Jesus is in charge of the conversation, not the Rich Young Ruler. (Do you see what Jesus did there?)
So, now that Jesus has control of the conversation, he’s going to walk this “over-confident young ruler” right to where he wants him – not only for the Rich Young Ruler’s benefit but also for ours. Jesus continues in Mark 10:19.
Mark 10:19 (NLT)
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 (coveting). Honor your father and mother.’”
Jesus begins by saying, to answer your question. But is Jesus really answering his question? Or is Jesus just gently setting up this religious “overachiever”? In verse 19, Jesus lists all six of the horizontal (love your neighbor) commands – the second half of the Ten Commandments. But notice Jesus doesn’t mention the first half, which are the four vertical (love God) commandments, and maybe it’s because Jesus will be getting to the “Love God” commands soon enough.
But because Jesus is moving this guy to a crisis moment, he lists only the back half of the law (the horizontal half). And the Rich Young Ruler starts doing the happy dance. And we read in Mark 10:20,
Mark 10:20 (NLT)
20 “Teacher,” the man replied, “I’ve obeyed all these commandments since I was young.”
And right here, this guy is thinking, “Man, I’ve got it – I’ve nailed it. I’m at the top of the class. I’m at the front of the line. I am good to go with God.”
And then, Jesus looked at him. Not glanced at him, not casually. Jesus looked intently at him.
Mark 10:21(a) (NLT)
21 Looking at the man, Jesus felt genuine love for him . . .
The word translated “looking” means to look intently or to examine closely.
Jesus LOOKED into this man’s heart
Jesus LOOKED at what truly motivated him
Jesus LOOKED at what this man actually loved
and Jesus felt genuine love for him
And Jesus was trying to lead him to the answer that he truly needed.
Mark 10:21(b) (NLT)
21 . . . “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.”
This is critical. What Jesus is saying to this Rich Young Ruler is: your stuff is in your way.
Jesus is saying; you don’t own your stuff, your stuff owns you. And that is a problem.
Now, please always remember, context determines correct interpretation, and so we’ve got to keep this verse in its context.
So, first, Jesus did not tell every wealthy person he met to do this. In fact, we know there were wealthy people who supported Jesus and his disciples during their three years of full-time ministry. And to support them, some chose to travel with them, since online giving wasn’t a thing yet. And, we know God moved on wealthy people throughout the New Testament to finance and provide places for the New Testament church to meet and grow. We see in Acts Chapters 4 and 5 it was not a requirement for wealthy people to sell what they had, but some still did by choice.
And I can tell you for sure that both this Church and Word By Mail would not exist without some people who have some money being willing to invest in God’s Kingdom through these ministries.
So, why this man? Why did Jesus require this particular, successful, wealthy, religious man to sell everything? Because Jesus looked at him and Jesus saw his heart, and because Jesus loved him, Jesus revealed this man’s own heart to him. This Rich Young Ruler had “success in life” written all over him. But the attitude of the heart that can come from too much success in life can easily get in the way of us truly surrendering our lives to Jesus as Lord.
Which is exactly what is about to happen to our Rich Young Ruler here.
Mark 10:22 (NLT)
22 At this the man’s face fell, and he went away sad, for he had many possessions.
At this, the man’s face FELL. The word means to become greatly downcast. But listen very carefully, please. His face fell, and he went away sad because his possessions owned him. He didn’t own his possessions; his possessions owned his heart.
And Jesus requires your heart. And it seems clear both in the Bible and in our world that one of the tip things that will either keep your heart from Jesus or steal it away from Jesus. Are your possessions owning you?
Whether it is you idolizing what you do have or you coveting what you don’t have – either way, the stuff of this world can keep your heart from Jesus.
Remember earlier, Jesus didn’t list the first half of the Ten Commandments those are the “love God” commandments, and that was the Rich Young Ruler’s struggle. The first commandment is, “Have NO OTHER GODS before me.” The second commandment is, “Have NO IDOLS in your life.” And the challenge Jesus gave this man proved he was not willing to embrace those first two vertical commands to love God, and so he went away sad.
And then, it just gets harder for the Disciples.
Mark 10:23 (NLT)
23 Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the Kingdom of God!”
That is a bombshell statement because the Disciples thought (like some of us) that wealth was the sign that a person was approved by God. And so, this statement amazes the Disciples.
Mark 10:24 (NLT)
24 This amazed them. But Jesus said again, “Dear children, it is very hard to enter the Kingdom of God.
The NKJV adds – it is very hard “for those who trust in riches” to enter the Kingdom of God
And it is very hard indeed to enter the Kingdom of God. In fact, it is impossible, which is exactly what Jesus says in Mark 10:25.
Mark 10:25 (NLT)
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!”
This verse has caused a lot of attempted explanations. Maybe you’ve heard the explanation of the small door within the large gate in Jerusalem that is called the Eye of the Needle. We’ve had fun at this Eye of the Needle “door” that is part of the Jaffa Gate at the old city. They only problem is, there is no historical evidence of that type of door in the gate until the ninth century.
But the analogy that comes out of the small door within the gate explanation is that the rich person has to rid themselves of all the baggage that often comes with riches, and humble themselves to receive Christ by faith and enter heaven – which can be a good analogy if it’s used correctly.
But that is probably not what Jesus was talking about because the camel and the eye of the needle was actually a “figure of speech” in the first century. It is hyperbole. And when you say it would be easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, what you are saying is this is impossible – period.
This is exactly what Jesus ends up saying, but first, the Disciples were astounded. Look at Mark 10:26.
Mark 10:26 (NLT)
26 The disciples were astounded. “Then who in the world can be saved?” they asked.
The Disciples heads are spinning right now. They’re thinking, wait. We thought riches were a sign of God’s approval on someone’s life. So, if someone with riches can’t be saved, then who in the world can be? And that is really the ultimate point. Which is what Jesus says in Mark 10:27.
Mark 10:27 (NLT)
27 Jesus looked at them intently (the same word for looked as before – Jesus looked straight thru them) and said, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But not with God. Everything is possible with God.”
Who can get into heaven? Jesus says, Humanly Speaking – It is Impossible!! Without God stepping in and doing it for us, it is impossible for us to get into heaven. And if we, if all of us – rich and poor – would fully embrace that truth, we would stop trying to be “good enough” or “religious enough.” And we would crush the Devil’s lie that makes us say, well, I’m doing pretty good. I think God will accept me when I get there. Not if you’re showing up in your own effort, he won’t.
The Bible is clear. There is no amount of good that you can do on your own to earn God’s acceptance of you into heaven.
And ultimately, this is true for rich or poor. But the core of this message, the central point of this message, is how the possessions that owned this rich young ruler kept him from seeing his need for Jesus.
Matthew 6:24 (NLT)
24 “No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money.
The word translated “money” here is mammon, which is an Aramaic word for wealth or riches. This Rich Young Ruler was enslaved by his riches, and it seemingly cost him his eternal life.
But it also brought up a thought from the ever-willing-to-speak Apostle Peter.
Mark 10:28 (NLT)
28 Then Peter began to speak up. “We’ve given up everything to follow you,” he said.
Now Peter is a fisherman, and it certainly seems like he’s fishing here.
And Jesus responds to him with one of the greatest promises in the New Testament.
Mark 10:29-30 (NLT)
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.
Jesus promises a hundred times more blessing than what it will cost you to truly follow him. Along with the persecution, you will gain a hundred times the family within the family of God. And the very real blessings will always far outweigh the cost.
And then, in closing, it seems Jesus refers back to the Rich Young Ruler who just walked away, and he says in Mark 10:31,
Mark 10:31 (NLT)
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.”
The Kingdom of God is an upside-down Kingdom. We – like the Rich Young Ruler – must decide which Kingdom we want our reward in. Do we want to win it all now and risk losing it all for eternity?
Just two chapters ago, Jesus said in Mark 8:36-37,
Mark 8:36–37 (NLT)
36 And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? 37 Is anything worth more than your soul?
Jesus tried to get the Rich Young Ruler to choose wisely. May we make a better choice than he did. Whether we are rich or poor, may we make sure that Jesus Christ truly has our heart.