Mark 10:17
in Mark 10As Jesus started on His way, a man ran up and knelt before Him. “Good Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
And as he was going forth into the way, there ran one to him, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?
KJV
And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?
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This verse in Mark 10
Commentary
16 notes on this verseA commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
See this passage illustrated in the notes at Mat 19:16-30. Mar 10:17 Gone forth - From the place where he had been teaching. Into the way - Into the road or path on his journey. Running - Thus showing the intensity with which he desired to know the way of life. Zeal to know the way to be saved is proper, nor is it possible that it should be too intense if well directed. Nothing else is so important, and nothing demands, therefore, so much effort and haste.
This site's exposition
what must I do to inherit eternal life
on Mark 10:17-18
Jesus meets the title first with a question, Why do you call Me good, and a statement, No one is good except God alone. Readers differ on whether this veils a claim to deity or points the man to God alone.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers5 voices
Let us see, then, how the questioner styled Him, beside calling Him good. He said, Good Master, what good thing shall I do? adding to the title of "good" that of master. If Christ then did not chide because He was called good, it must have been because He was called "good Master." Further the manner of His reproof shews that it was the disbelief of the questioner, rather than the name of master, or of good, which He resented. A youth, who prides himself upon the observance of the law, but did not know the end of the law, which is Christ, who thought himself justified by works, without perceiving that Christ came to the lost sheep of the house of Israel, and to those who believe that the law cannot save through the faith of justification, questioned the Lord of the law, the Only-begotten God, as though He were a teacher of the common precepts and the writings of the law. But the Lord, abhorring this declaration of irreverent unbelief, which addresses Him as a teacher of the law, answered, Why callest thou Me good? and to shew how we may know, and call Him good, He added, None is good, save one, God, not repudiating the name of good, if it be given to Him as God.
A commentator
Philoxenus of Mabbug13 Ascetic Discourses, Discourse 9 -- Second Discourse on Poverty · Written before 523.
proposed
"And one drew nigh unto Him while He was teaching in the temple, and said unto Him, Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit life?" Now what did Jesus say unto this man? "Why callest thou me 'Good'? There is none Good save One, …
That rich man did go his way who had not "received" the precept of dividing his substance to the needy, and was abandoned by the Lord to his own opinion. Nor will "harshness" be on this account imputed to Christ, the Found of the vicious action of each individual free-will.
Some passages, also, which occur in the Gospels, receive from them a colouring of the same kind, such as the answer which He gave His mother when He was twelve years of age: "Wist ye not that I must be about My Father's business?" Thus, they say, He announced to them the Father of whom they were ignorant. On this account, also, He sent forth the disciples to the twelve tribes, that they might proclaim to them the unknown God.
Just as the world is composed of opposites, of heat and cold, dry and wet, so also is it made up of givers and receivers. Again when he says, "If you would be perfect, sell your possessions and give to the poor," he convicts the man who boasts that he has kept all the commandments from his youth up. For he had not fulfilled "Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself." Only then was he taught by the Lord who wished to make him perfect, to give for love's sake.
9 more voices on this verse
The Medieval Church4 voices
Some falsely portray this young man as a cunning and deceitful tempter. This is not so: he was merely a covetous man, not a tempter. For listen to what the Evangelist notes: "Jesus, looking at him, loved him." However, I marvel at this young man …
I wonder at this young man, who when all others come to Christ to be healed of their infirmities, begs of Him the possession of everlasting life, notwithstanding his love of money, the malignant passion which afterwards caused his sorrow.
And as He went out onto the road, a certain man ran up, knelt before Him, and asked Him, saying, etc. I believe that this seeker of eternal life had heard from the Lord that only those who wish to be like little children are …
(ubi sup.) A certain man had heard from the Lord that only they who are willing to be like little children are worthy to enter into the kingdom of heaven, and therefore he desires to have explained to him, not in parables, but openly, by the merits of what works a man may attain everlasting life. Wherefore it is said: And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
Some circumstances here are, which we had not in Matthew, which makes his address to Christ very promising. He came running to Christ, which was an indication of his humility; he laid aside the gravity and grandeur of a ruler, when he came to Christ: thus too he manifested his earnestness and importunity; he ran as one in haste, and longing to be in conversation with Christ.
And when he was gone forth into the way,....
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
A commentator
J.C. Ryle1816–1900
Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: Mark (lightly modernized text, Grace Gems edition) (1857)
proposed
The story we have now read is recorded no less than three times in the New Testament. Matthew, Mark, and Luke were all inspired by one Spirit to write it for our learning. There is no doubt a wise purpose in this three-fold repetition of the same simple facts. It is intended to show us that the lessons of the passage deserve particular notice from the Church of Christ. Let us learn for one thing from this passage, the self-ignorance of man.
A commentator
J.C. Ryle1816–1900
Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: Mark (lightly modernized text, Grace Gems edition) (1857)
proposed
The story we have now read is recorded no less than three times in the New Testament. Matthew, Mark, and Luke were all inspired by one Spirit to write it for our learning. There is no doubt a wise purpose in this three-fold repetition of the same simple facts. It is intended to show us that the lessons of the passage deserve particular notice from the Church of Christ. Let us learn for one thing from this passage, the self-ignorance of man. We are told of one who "came running" to our Lord, and "kneeled to him and asked" the solemn question, "what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?" At first sight there was much that was promising in this man's case. He showed anxiety about spiritual things, while most around him were careless and indifferent. He showed a disposition to reverence our Lord, by kneeling to Him, while Scribes and Pharisees despised Him. Yet all this time this man was profoundly ignorant of his own heart. He hears our Lord recite those commandments which make up our duty to our neighbor, and at once declares, "All these have I observed from my youth." The searching nature of the moral law, its application to our thoughts, and words, as well as actions, are matters with which he is utterly unacquainted. The spiritual blindness here exhibited is unhappily most common. Myriads of professing Christians at the present day have not an idea of their own sinfulness and guilt in the sight of God. They flatter themselves that they have never done anything very wicked. "They have never murdered, or stolen, or committed adultery, or borne false witness. They cannot surely be in much danger of missing heaven." They forget the holy nature of that God with whom they have to do. They forget how often they break His law in temper, or imagination, even when their outward conduct is correct.
There came one running - See the case of this rich young man largely explained on Mat 19:16 (note), etc.
The words behind it
20 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Καὶ | kai | And | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| ἐκπορευομένου | ekporeuomenou | when is going forth | G1607 → | 33 times |
| αὐτοῦ | autou | He | G846 → | 5565 times |
| εἰς | eis | on | G1519 → | 1755 times |
| ὁδὸν | hodon | [the] journey | G3598 → | 101 times |
| προσδραμὼν | prosdramon | having run up | G4370 → | |
| εἷς | heis | one | G1520 → | 343 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| γονυπετήσας | gonupetesas | he having knelt down to | G1120 → | |
| αὐτὸν | auton | Him | G846 → | 5565 times |
| ἐπηρώτα | eperota | he was asking | G1905 → | 56 times |
| αὐτόν· | auton | Him; | G846 → | 5565 times |
| διδάσκαλε | didaskale | Teacher | G1320 → | 58 times |
| ἀγαθέ, | agathe | good, | G18 → | 102 times |
| τί | ti | what | G5101 → | 563 times |
| ποιήσω | poieso | shall I do | G4160 → | 569 times |
| ἵνα | ina | that | G2443 → | 668 times |
| ζωὴν | zoen | life | G2222 → | 135 times |
| αἰώνιον | aionion | eternal | G166 → | 68 times |
| κληρονομήσω;¶ | kleronomeso | I may inherit? | G2816 → |
ΚαὶAnd
kaiG2532 →9120 times
ἐκπορευομένουwhen is going forth
ekporeuomenouG1607 →33 times
αὐτοῦHe
autouG846 →5565 times
εἰςon
eisG1519 →1755 times
ὁδὸν[the] journey
hodonG3598 →101 times
προσδραμὼνhaving run up
prosdramonG4370 →
εἷςone
heisG1520 →343 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
γονυπετήσαςhe having knelt down to
gonupetesasG1120 →
αὐτὸνHim
autonG846 →5565 times
ἐπηρώταhe was asking
eperotaG1905 →56 times
αὐτόν·Him;
autonG846 →5565 times
διδάσκαλεTeacher
didaskaleG1320 →58 times
ἀγαθέ,good,
agatheG18 →102 times
τίwhat
tiG5101 →563 times
ποιήσωshall I do
poiesoG4160 →569 times
ἵναthat
inaG2443 →668 times
ζωὴνlife
zoenG2222 →135 times
αἰώνιονeternal
aionionG166 →68 times
κληρονομήσω;¶I may inherit?
kleronomesoG2816 →
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Luke 10:25One day an expert in the law stood up to test Him. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
it leads to
- Matthew 22:34–39
And when the Pharisees heard that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, they themselves gathered together.
- Luke 18:18
Then a certain ruler asked Him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
- Acts 16:30–31
Then he brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
- Matthew 22:34–39
Through
Romans 2:7To those who by perseverance in doing good seek glory, honor, and immortality, He will give eternal life.
it leads to
- 2 Timothy 4:7–8
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
- Luke 8:15
But the seeds on good soil are those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, cling to it, and by persevering produce a crop.
- 2 Timothy 1:10
And now He has revealed this grace through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has abolished death and illuminated the way to life and immortality through the gospel,
- 1 Corinthians 15:58
Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast and immovable. Always excel in the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
- 1 Peter 1:7–8
so that the proven character of your faith—more precious than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
- 2 Timothy 4:7–8
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies27
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About Mark
This page draws on 16 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Gospels; Bede, On the Gospel of Mark; Bede, Catena Aurea by Aquinas; Clement of Alexandria, The Stromata Book 3; Hilary of Poitiers, ON THE TRINITY 9.16; Irenaeus, Against Heresies Book I; J.C. Ryle, Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: Mark (lightly modernized text, Grace Gems edition); John Calvin, Commentary on a Harmony of the Evangelists; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Philoxenus of Mabbug, 13 Ascetic Discourses, Discourse 9 -- Second Discourse on Poverty; Tertullian, On Monogamy; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Mark and Theophylact of Ohrid, Catena Aurea by Aquinas.