Mark 10 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Mark 10:17-22 – Sell and Give to Poor
Mark 10:17-22 – Sell and Give to Poor
|| Matthew 19:16-22;[1] Luke 18:18-23
MK10:17 Now after Jesus had continued on his travels, a man came running up to him and fell on his knees. He pleaded: “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit everlasting life?” MK10:18 Then Jesus said to him: “Why do you call me ‘good’?[2] No one is ‘good’ but One – the God![3] MK10:19 You know the commandments? ‘Do not murder! Do not commit adultery! Do not steal! Do not testify falsely! Honor your father and mother!’” [Exodus 20:12-16][4] MK10:20 Now the man answered Jesus: “Teacher, I have kept all of these[5] [commandments] since I was a child!” MK10:21 Jesus studied him with loving concern[6] and then said: “You lack one thing. Leave now and go sell every thing you possess and give the money to the poor[7] – then you will have treasure in heaven. [Afterward] return, [[shoulder your own stake,]][8] and then follow me.”[9] MK10:22 Now this statement made the man very sad[10] and so he left grieving, for he had many possessions.
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[1] Matthew 19:16-22: For details see notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000 on Matthew.
[2] Why do you call me ‘good’: Had Jesus been God himself he could not have even posed the question, for the answer would be obvious. While Messiah is called the “Righteous One” he is never called “Good.”
[3] No one is ‘good’ but One – the God: Jesus is in no way “God.” Whatever goodness Jesus possessed he received from the Absolute Source of all Goodness – the God [HO THEOS]. Only “the God” is perfect and absolute goodness. All others must receive from His goodness.
[4] Exodus 20:12-16: Jesus quotes from the Ten Commandments. We note he omits two commands that many would consider premier – God’s Name and the Sabbath.
[5] I have kept all of these: He had never murdered, never committed adultery, never stolen anything, never lied as a witness, and always cared respectfully for his parents. By any basis of judgment among civilized nations, this Jews was an outstanding human being.
[6] Jesus studied him with loving concern: Or, KJV: beholding him loved him; BER: looking at him, prized him dearly; PME: looked steadily at him, and his heart warmed toward him. The Greek is EGAPESEN and may be without emotion or sentiment. Jesus is interest and concerned about the man and now takes positive action to seek his highest good – even though this may not be received well.
[7] Go sell every thing you possess and give the money to the poor: Jesus has said the same to his “little flock” of personal disciples. See notes on Luke 12:32, 33. This rich man must do this BEFORE he even becomes an intimate follower of Jesus. It is a challenge for all Christians do research the words riches, money, and possessions. See notes on Acts 4:32-37 and 1 Timothy 6:17-19.
[8] Bracketed words are recognized as not adequately supported.
[9] And then follow me: The man must first do all that Jesus asked, and only after that, even begin to follow him.
[10] Made the man very sad: Or, countenance fell, brow darkened, face clouded, somber look.
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Preceding
Matthew 19:16-24 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Difficulty of Rich Entering the Kingdom
Mark 10 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Mark 10:1-12 – Pharisees Debate About Divorce
Mark 10 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Mark 10:13-16 – Kingdom Belongs to Child-like
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Additional reading
- Memorizing wonderfully 63: 1 Corinthians 6:9 – Be not deceived for The Kingdom of God
- Thought for today in CoViD times: He looked round about (Peter Banyard)
- Today’s thought “Peace, peace, when there is no peace” (July 18)
- Today’s thought “You stiff necked people” (April 30)
- To remember (or not to forget): God is!
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Related
- Is Your Heart Set On The Things Of This World? Or Are You Investing In Eternal Life?
- Scriptural Meditation- Mark 10:21
- Let Them Come!
- Astonishing Words About Wealth
- The Peril of Having Too Much – Mark 10:17-22
- The Rich Young Man
- Far More Wealth
- Mammon
- Good isn’t Perfect, Perfect isn’t Good
- Super Quick Bible Study: Good vs. Decent
- This Mile’s for You
- Questions of the Soul
- Goodness Gracious
- Money in Mark’s Gospel
- Who Rules Your Life?
- Who Are You Serving?
- Jesus and the Rich Young Ruler (Mark 10:17-31) Sunday School Lesson and Activities
- Being Needy for Jesus
- Come, Follow Jesus!
Nazarene Commentary Matthew 5:21-26 – 1. The Nazarene’s Commentary on Exodus 20:13
Matthew 5:21-26 – 1. The Nazarene’s Commentary on Exodus 20:13
|| Luke 12:58, 59
MT5:21 “You heard it was said[1] to the Ancients: ‘Murder not’ [Exodus 20:13] but the murderer will be judged.[2] MT5:22 But, I tell you: Anyone angry[3] with his brother will be judged. But, anyone saying ‘Raca!’[4] to his brother will be liable to the Sanhedrin.[5] But, anyone saying ‘Moron!’[6] will be liable to the Gehenna[7] of the Fire. MT5:23 And so, when you bring your gift-offering to the Altar[8] and right then you remember your brother has something against you[9] MT5:24 leave your gift-offering at the Altar. First leave and be reconciled with your brother[10] and then return and offer up your gift. MT5:25 Think well of your adversary,[11] and quickly, while on the way, so your adversary never hand you over to the judge and the judge to the court-officer and he throw you into prison. MT5:26 I tell you the truth: You will not get out until you have repaid the last little coin![12]
Depiction of the Parable of the Unmerciful Servant. Photograph of stained glass window at Scots’ Church, Melbourne (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
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[1] It was said: Here begins the first of six rabbinical commentaries by the Nazarene on the spirit of the law, or its fulfillment. James does something similar at James 2:8, 11.
[2] The murderer will be judged: The first of two commentaries on the Ten Commandments. It is interesting the Nazarene makes no comment on the abuse of the Divine Name (YHWH) or the Sabbath (Exodus 20:13; James 1:19; 5:6; 1 John 3:15).
[3] Anyone angry: Various renderings are: WMS: harbors malice; NEB: nurses anger; MOF: maligns. It is anger which is the root of murder. Mere anger makes one liable to judgment though Jesus does not explain what this is. Benjamin Wilson suggests: “The Jews had a Common Court consisting of 23 men.” Later in Matthew 12:36 he warns against speaking the unprofitable, probably about someone else in anger, and how this will not escape the Judgment. Meekness and peaceableness both oppose anger. The Nazarene Saint is on guard against anger which rises out of an egocentric heart.
[4] Raca: NJB: “The Aramaic word raqa, transliterated in Matthew, translated here, means: ‘empty-headed’, ‘nitwit’.” Various renderings are: NJB: fool.
[5] Sanhedrin: Jesus has the Jewish audience in mind and thus Raca! is something worthy of the attention of these judges.
[6] Moron: This is more exact to the Greek word, MORE. Various renderings are: LAM: I spit on you; BER: simpleton; BECK: empty-head; PHI: looks down on his brother as a lost soul; BWD: Apostate; NJB: Traitor!; NJB ftn: “Jewish usage added the much more contemptuous one of ‘apostate’.” Job, Moses, David, Jesus and Paul were all objects of wrathful contempt, often by the very ones professing a relationship with God. It is one thing to be reproached by the Gentile pagans and wholly another to have ‘endured the contradictions of sinners’ among your own fellow worshippers (Hebrews 12:3).
In all the Scriptures the word-group “apostate” occurs most often in the Book of Job as an accusation against that godly man (Job 8:13; 13:16; 17:8; 20:5; 27:8; 34:30; 36:13). In the Christian Bible it occurs as a charge against Paul (Acts 21:21). “Apostate” is a most dangerous word to use as Jesus makes the consequences clear. Jesus never uses it against his foes.
[7] Gehenna: See various lexicons, dictionaries or commentaries on this word. It alludes to the city dump where the dead bodies of criminals were thrown who were judged unworthy of a resurrection. The dump was kept burning night and day and at the edges were to be found worms which seem to never die (See Isaiah 66:24).
The Jewish commentator David Kimhi (1160?-1235?), in his comment on Psalm 27:13, gives the following historical information concerning “Gehinnom”: “And it is a place in the land adjoining Jerusalem, and it is a loathsome place, and they throw there unclean things and carcasses. Also there was a continual fire there to burn the unclean things and the bones of the carcasses. Hence, the judgment of the wicked ones is called parabolically Gehinnom.”
[8] Altar: The image is one of a Jewish worshipper approaching the Temple and about to hand over his sin-offering or communion gift to the priest serving at the Temple. The worshipper’s purpose is to give a sacrifice for his sin. In the Christian Age there is another “altar,” a spiritual one associated with the New Covenant (Hebrews 13:10, 12, 15, 16). In these verses the inspired writer outlines two aspects to this “altar”: a) praise; and, b) charitable care of the Saints. Using Jesus’ teaching, the Nazarene Saint will keep this in mind before offering ‘a sacrifice of praise’ or ‘sharing’ with others in some charity, to pause and ponder whether there is a fellow Saint who holds a grudge. Better to go and make peace with him or her before approaching this spiritual “altar.”
[9] Against you: Apparently a legitimate charge or accusation of which you are aware. Here the Nazarene shows that peaceful relations come before ceremonial worship. Seeking peace with God through a communion sacrifice is meaningless if relationships with fellows are jeopardized. James writes in a similar vein at James 1:26, 27.
[10] Be reconciled with your brother: Here is the “peaceable” of Matthew 5:9. Various renderings: TCNT: be ready to make friends with; WEY: comes to terms without delay; NEB: if someone sues you come to terms with him promptly.
[11] Adversary: Compare a similar thought at Luke 12:58, 59. Compare Leviticus 19:17 with Colossians 3:13. Various renderings are: KNX: some ground of complaint. Note the singular “you” as if now Jesus’ attention is directed to one individual, singled out in the crowd or among his disciples (who often had personal difficulties), who is not at peace with his fellow. Would not the eye contact of the Nazarene send this worshipper speedily to the door of his brother begging forgiveness?
The context here seems of a material or financial nature for when the worshipper leaves the altar to reconcile with his brother it is over a matter involving a court appearance. It is a financial debt and the Nazarene demonstrates how such matters can take priority over worship. Financial matters are often one of the chief areas of complaint and the cause of disunity among fellow worshippers. Nothing divides persons more than materialism (the god Mammon) with its greed, covetousness, business deceit, or fraud (Compare 1 Corinthians chapter 6; Luke 12:58: disputes; 1 Corinthians 6:7: fraud).
[12] Coin: Compare Luke 12:59: debts. How would one ever get out of prison without borrowing from another or selling some property in order to cancel the debt. From the Altar to Prison in one day! Of course, the other person has much to learn from the Nazarene’s Mountain Teachings about canceling debts if one wants God’s forgiveness.
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Preceding
Nazarene Commentary Matthew 5:1-12 Nazarene Mountain teachings: Blessed and legal commentaries
Nazarene Commentary Matthew 5:13-16 Salt and Light shining bright
Nazarene Commentary Matthew 5:17-20 – The Nazarene Rabbi’s Commentary on the Torah
Next: Nazarene Commentary Matthew 5:27-30 – 2. The Nazarene’s Commentary on Exodus 20:14
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Additional reading
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Further reading
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