“17) As He was setting out on a journey, a man ran up to Him and knelt before Him, and asked Him, “Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” 18) And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone. 19) You know the commandments, ‘Do not murder, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.’ ” 20) And he said to Him, “Teacher, I have kept all these things from my youth up.” 21) Looking at him, Jesus felt a love for him and said to him, “One thing you lack: go and sell all you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” 22) But at these words he was saddened, and he went away grieving, for he was one who owned much property.” Mark 10:17-22
This same story is recorded in Luke 18:18-30. Luke adds the detail that he was a ruler. We have no idea what level of government was under his charge, but he was a very good, moral and upright man.
He came and bowed down to Jesus with a pressing question, “Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” It appears that he was sincere but had no assurance of salvation.
That is a byproduct of a works based system of religion. You never know when you’ve done enough to be approved. He fell short in his own conscience.
Jesus responded by commenting on His greeting of “Good Teacher.” Verse 18 says, “And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone.” He was so close! He recognized Jesus was “Good” but he fell short of acknowledging Him as God. This is a fate shared by many self righteous people.
In His response, Jesus quoted six of the Ten Commandments. The man responded that he had kept these from his youth up. In other words, he was saying, “I too am a good man!”
His response was like so many religious people today. When you ask them why God should let them into His heaven, they say, “I’m a good person!”
Jesus then raised the mark. He said; “One thing you lack: go and sell all you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”
He had a choice between following Jesus or the ways of the world. Sadly, he turned away from faith in Jesus Christ and embraced self righteousness and the deceitfulness of riches. He viewed himself as good enough apart from following Jesus.
Rejection of Jesus Christ is a terminal decision. He was rejecting Jesus as both Savior and Lord. He fell short of the only means of salvation. (See Acts 4:8-12) He refused to humble himself and trust in Jesus Christ for his salvation.
Daily Bible Commentary
By Terry Baxter: Cofounder of GoServ Global
