The gospel lectionary reading for Trinity 20 in this year B is Mark 10.17–31, the story of the so-called ‘rich’ ‘young’ ‘ruler’. But two of these terms are supplied by Matthew and Luke, and Mark has some significant unique elements to the way he tells the story.
Why does Jesus appear to challenged someone who appears to be a potentially devoted disciple? What is the motivation for confronting him with a hard truth? What does this tell us about the relationship between our actions, and receiving the gift of the kingdom? And how can those in the richest part of the world hear this challenge afresh?
Come and join Ian and James as they explore these questions!
Full written commentary behind the discussion can be found in the next article.
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I am preaching on this passage at St Matthews Northampton in my role as a licensed lay minister , soon to be a Reader. This discussion was very helpful.
Thank you.
Ray Douglas
Glad to hear it! I will post a written commentary in the next day or so.
Now up.
Oh fabulous riches here ! Thankyou James and Ian for uncovering a few of them.
A Blog of 3 or 4 days will barely do it justice.
This, is I think, been a much-abused passage over time.
My first thought on hearing this was of the Laodicean Church
which thought itself rich and in need of nothing. (Rev. 3 vs 17 &18)
Today there is a great deal of religion but little apparent of Faith.
For those of a socialistic bent, this they would claim, is the Christian Ideal Doctrine.
Hence the proliferation of Eco-Equality- Justice -Warriors within and outside the Church.
This young man was perhaps of a similar bent, he perhaps thought himself doing good stuff.
However, God (Jesus) is not looking for all this. He always is looking for Faith.[ Luk.18 v 8 ]
“If thou wilt be perfect” (fully mature) Jesus tells him.
Of the “heroes of faith” in the book of Hebrews none were without major faults and failures but had the one thing God was looking for, Faith.
Jesus in His “pastoral visit” to the churches in Revelations does acknowledge good works but for some
at the same time, He says, in effect “But one thing you lack”
He is looking for Overcomers as John explained “This is that which overcomes the World even our Faith”
When he comes will He find Just religion or will He find Overcoming faith?( Luke 18 v 8)
The call of Jesus to this young man was not to a vow of poverty per say but a complete abandonment to relying entirely upon himself. A giving up of “his right to himself.”(O. Chambers)
A “going out to his own white funeral”(O. Chambers)
Here is the sticking point for many carnal Christians. However, the whole thing rests with God who is The God of Salvation to whom Salvation belongs.
For the Church we major on the good things we are doing but we need to ask God “What are we not doing well”?
When you look at all three Gospel stories of the rich young ruler, Jesus, as you mentioned, speaks about the 6 commandments that apply to other people. But there is one snag – Jesus doesn’t mention Covetousness. So he’s missing one of the commandments. Why? One reason might be that Jesus forgot, which means that Jesus isn’t divine. Another reason might be that the Gospel writers forgot, which means that you can’t trust the Bible. The best reason is that Jesus DELIBERATELY didn’t mention it. For the early church audience, made up of a mix of Jews and Gentiles, the fact that Jesus didn’t mention covetousness would’ve created a reaction – the Jewish Christians would’ve said “Jesus didn’t mention covetousness”. And this is the point – by deliberately avoiding covetousness, Jesus highlights that the problem of the rich young ruler is that he is covetous. This means that Jesus is using a literary device – highlighting an issue by deliberately NOT mentioning it.
The later story of Zacchaeus should be contrasted with that of the rich young ruler. Zacchaeus, when called upon by Jesus to have a meal, responds to the public pressure of their rejection by promising to return any money he had improperly gained through tax collection – he had been guilty of being covetous. Jesus praises him for doing this. But the rich young ruler, he ALSO had gained his wealth through covetousnss, but he could not give back what he now possessed because his wealth was more important than following Jesus.
Specifically, the application for us should be that we should gain our wealth through work, rather than upon shifty dealings that rip other people off. Generally, the application for is should be that those who come to Jesus in repentance and faith should make up for the sins they had committed, so that anyone who has been hurt/damaged by their sin is acknowledged and given reparation.
How do you know the rich young ruler did not gain his wealth through work, rather than ‘shifty dealings’? One could argue if you feel you have worked hard for any wealth you may have, why would you just give it away to others? That might have been his view.
Are you the Neil Cameron I used to know in Blackpool/Preston?
Nope. I live in Australia
Hmmm Neil, that really came out of Left field,
rich in vivid speculations. I am wondering, where did you get this from ?
I came up with it myself, mainly because I asked why would Jesus not mention covetousness. Did Jesus forget one of the ten commandments? Were the Gospel writers mistaken? Or was the omission deliberate?
Is it not possible that this rich young guy inherited his wealth and position. His wealth and position were a barrier between him and the teeming masses of the poor. So, in the environment of little need it possibly is easy to fulfil the law, one’s wealth and position of power insulates you from the struggle of survival. It also blinds you to the power of inspired community living. The one thing he lacks is his ability to see that he is part of all humanity.
Thanks. Yes, that is possible. But it does not appear to be the point that Jesus is making. The ‘one thing he lacks’ is being ready to obey Jesus in all things. The kingdom is a gift, but one that demands our total loyalty.
Jesus has not forgotten one of the ten! The text ( Mark 10:19) includes “do not defraud”.
All of the other commandments included here are in the form of *actions*; but the commandment ” do not covet” relates to “intentions”. The Hebrew for defraud is “quarrel” (see Genesis 26: 20) . In other words, put this way, the man is left without a “spiritual” loophole! All of the cited commandments are now in the form of *actions”. Thus Jesus confronts him with the course of action *he* has to take. This, once again, is and ad hominem (‘to the man’) approach. It is not meant as a general application.
Apologies: For ‘and’ read ‘an’
Does the word “defraud” in Greek match the word “Covet” in the septuagint?
Indeed Colin,
To defraud os highly relevant to the question of the acquisition of wealth.
But it is one of the outworkings of the attitude of heart of ‘coveting’. And of breach of the first ‘word’ by loving wealth being of ultimate importance, above God.
And as such it represents a distinction without a difference.
Where, or Who do we get our, status, identity, acceptance, security, from as Christians, which, if removed, would bring our lives, world, crashing down, which would reveal where we place our ultimate worth and belonging? Do they function as replacement, finite, time bound idols?