Mark 10:17 — Community Reflections

MARK 10:17 — KING JAMES VERSION 0

“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?”

As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. Good teacher, he asked, what must I do to inherit eternal life? — the rich young man's approach is enthusiastic (ran), respectful (fell on his knees), and addressed to Jesus with the unusual title good teacher. The question what must I do to inherit eternal life is the right question asked with the wrong framework: the doing assumption is the problem. Eternal life is an inheritance — you receive an inheritance, you do not earn it.

Church Fathers on Mark 10:17

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.
Bede · 8th century

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.
Theophylact · 11th century

For in that He loved, or kissed him [ed. note: osculaius, interpretation in Ed. Ben. (?)], He appears to affirm the truth of his profession, in saying that he had fulfilled all those things; for on applying His mind to him, He saw that the man answered with a good conscience.
Origen · 3rd century · in Evan. tom. xv, 14

Read all 15 entries in the readerCatena Aurea · St. Thomas Aquinas, tr. J. H. Newman · public domain

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