Idolatry Keeps Us from Eternal Life | Mark 10:20–22


And he said to Him, “Teacher, I have kept all these things from my youth up.”
Looking at him, Jesus felt a love for him and said to him, “One thing you lack: go and sell all you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”
But at these words he was saddened, and he went away grieving, for he was one who owned much property.

Like in the parable of the soils (Mk 4:3–20), the rich young ruler indicates initial growth, but his heart is stony underneath.  He loved something more than God.  Specifically, he bowed before the altar of money.

The commandments reveal his idolatrous state.  As we discussed last time, Jesus used the Law to reveal this man’s heart—even altering the command, “Thou shalt not covet,” to highlight his sin of fraud.  Jesus wants to demonstrate the full weight of the Law, which includes the intents of the heart and demands entire perfection (cf. 5:21–48).  However, Jesus’s words fall on spiritually deaf ears, as the young man believes that he’s blameless. 

So, Jesus turns from the second table of the law (our interaction with others) to the first table (our interaction with God).  Some misinterpret Jesus’s words here to mean that we must sell everything, taking a vow of poverty, to get eternal life—but would be a works-based salvation.  No; Jesus expounds on the weight of the first commandment, to “have no other gods before Me” (Ex 20:3).  If this man loved God more than his money, then he would be willing to donate all to follow Christ.

His reaction reveals his idolatrous state.  He became “disheartened” (ESV)—“his countenance fell” (RSV).  This was his moment of decision, when the rich young ruler finally realized that his soul was waging a war of worship against God.  Because of the love of his many possessions, however, he chose a side and walked away from Christ grieving. In the end, he chose temporary comfort to eternal life—and Jesus said, “You cannot serve God and wealth” (Mt 6:24).

Thankfully, for those who want to change their state, there is hope.  Jesus says, “Repent [turn from whatever idols you have and any means of self-justification before God] and believe in the gospel” (Mk 1:15).  Even if you’ve chosen idolatry in the past, you have a chance right now for your sins to be forgiven.  Repent and believe.

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