HOW TO INHERIT ETERNAL LIFE

Passage: Mark 10:17-31

Key verse: 27

NIV

The Rich and the Kingdom of God(A)

17 As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees(B) before him. “Good teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”(C)

18 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. 19 You know the commandments: ‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, you shall not defraud, honor your father and mother.’[a]”(D)

20 “Teacher,” he declared, “all these I have kept since I was a boy.”

21 Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor,(E) and you will have treasure in heaven.(F) Then come, follow me.”(G)

22 At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth.

23 Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the rich(H) to enter the kingdom of God!”

24 The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said again, “Children, how hard it is[b] to enter the kingdom of God!(I) 25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”(J)

26 The disciples were even more amazed, and said to each other, “Who then can be saved?”

27 Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.”(K)

28 Then Peter spoke up, “We have left everything to follow you!”(L)

29 “Truly I tell you,” Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel 30 will fail to receive a hundred times as much(M) in this present age: homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields—along with persecutions—and in the age to come(N) eternal life.(O) 31 But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”(P)

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Footnotes
  1. Mark 10:19 Exodus 20:12-16; Deut. 5:16-20
  2. Mark 10:24 Some manuscripts is for those who trust in riches
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

The Rich Young Man

17 (A)And as he was setting out on his journey, a man ran up and (B)knelt before him and asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to (C)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: (D)‘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, (E)all these I have kept from my youth.” 21 And Jesus, (F)looking at him, (G)loved him, and said to him, “You lack one thing: go, (H)sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have (I)treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” 22 (J)Disheartened by the saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.

23 And Jesus (K)looked around and said to his disciples, (L)“How difficult it will be for those who have wealth to enter (M)the kingdom of God!” 24 And the disciples (N)were amazed at his words. But Jesus said to them again, (O)“Children, (P)how difficult it is[a] to enter (Q)the kingdom of God! 25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter (R)the kingdom of God.” 26 And they were exceedingly astonished, and said to him,[b] “Then who can be saved?” 27 Jesus (S)looked at them and said, (T)“With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God.” 28 Peter began to say to him, “See, (U)we have left everything and followed you.” 29 Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, (V)there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and (W)for the gospel, 30 who will not receive a hundredfold (X)now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, (Y)with persecutions, and in (Z)the age to come eternal life. 31 But (AA)many who are first will be last, and the last first.”

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Footnotes
  1. Mark 10:24 Some manuscripts add for those who trust in riches
  2. Mark 10:26 Some manuscripts to one another
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

One day, a very wealthy and influential young man ran up to Jesus and fell on his knees before him. He asked Jesus, “Good teacher…What must I do to inherit eternal life?” No doubt Jesus surprised the man by wanting to know why he called him good. Only God is good and Jesus wanted the man to realize that there is nothing lost sinners can do on their own to be good in God’s eyes. Only Jesus is good and we need his perfect righteousness instead of trying to create our own. This man needed to come to Jesus and accept the free gift of salvation he offers. To demonstrate what he lacked, Jesus asked the man to sell all his possessions and give to the poor so that he would have treasure in heaven. He then invited the man to come and follow him. This is the way to inherit eternal life! Unfortunately, the man became sad and left because he could not part with his wealth.

It can be very difficult for the wealthy to depend on God instead of their resources. Jesus says that this is harder than squeezing a camel through the eye of a needle! People had believed that the rich were somehow closer to God because of all the blessings they had and the disciples wondered how anyone could enter the kingdom of God if it was so difficult for even the rich. However, everything is possible with God. By his wonderful grace, everyone who believes in Jesus can be saved.

Prayer: Jesus, you are our treasure and wealth.

One Word: Follow Jesus into eternal life.