Mark 10:17-31

The Rich Young Ruler

17 As He was setting out on a journey, a man ran up, knelt down before Him, and asked Him, "Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?"
18 "Why do you call Me good?" Jesus asked him. "No one is good but One-God.
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. " [a]
20 He said to Him, "Teacher, I have kept all these from my youth."
21 Then, looking at him, Jesus loved him and said to him, "You lack one thing: Go, sell all you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, [b] follow Me."
22 But he was stunned[c] at this demand, and he went away grieving, because he had many possessions.

Possessions and the Kingdom

23 Jesus looked around and said to His disciples, "How hard it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!"
24 But the disciples were astonished at His words. Again Jesus said to them, "Children, how hard it is [d] to enter 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 the kingdom of God."
26 So they were even more astonished, saying to one another, "Then who can be saved?"
27 Looking at them, Jesus said, "With men it is impossible, but not with God, because all things are possible with God."
28 Peter began to tell Him, "Look, we have left everything and followed You."
29 "I assure you," Jesus said, "there is no one who has left house, brothers or sisters, mother or father, [e] children, or fields because of Me and the gospel,
30 who will not receive 100 times more, now at this time-houses, brothers and sisters, mothers and children, and fields, with persecutions-and eternal life in the age to come.
31 But many who are first will be last, and the last first."

Footnotes 5

  • [a]. Ex 20:12-16; Dt 5:16-20
  • [b]. Other mss add taking up the cross, and
  • [c]. Or he became gloomy
  • [d]. Other mss add for those trusting in wealth
  • [e]. Other mss add or wife
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