Mark 10:23

And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto his disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(23) And Jesus looked round.—The glance and gesture are mentioned by St. Mark only.

Benson Commentary

Mark 10:23-27. Jesus looked round about — On all that were about him; and saith to his disciples, How hardly, Πως δυσκολως, with how great difficulty, shall they that have riches — Not only that love them, but that possess them; enter into the kingdom of God — Respecting this difficulty, see note on Matthew 19:23-24. And the disciples were astonished at his words — For they were ready to imagine that ere long all the rich and great people of the country would appear for their Master, and fix him on the throne of Israel. But Jesus answereth again — To that surprise which he saw in their countenances; Children, &c. — See how he softens the harsh truth, by the manner of delivering it! And yet without retracting or abating one tittle: How hard is it for them that trust in riches — Either for defence, or happiness, or deliverance from the thousand dangers that life is continually exposed to. That these cannot enter into God’s glorious kingdom, is clear and undeniable; but it is easier for a camel to go through a needle’s eye, than for a man to have riches, and not trust in them. Therefore, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. And they were astonished out of measure — Περισσως εξεπλησσοντο, they were more abundantly struck with astonishment, more even than before; having now heard Christ’s repetition and illustration of what he had said before; saying, Who then can be saved? — Who that are rich can ever get to heaven? and what a discouragement will it be to others, to see the rich and the great neglecting salvation, and turning the means of their happiness and usefulness into the instruments of their destruction? And Jesus looking upon them, &c. — See on Matthew 19:25-26.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

10:23-31 Christ took this occasion to speak to his disciples about the difficulty of the salvation of those who have abundance of this world. Those who thus eagerly seek the wealth of the world, will never rightly prize Christ and his grace. Also, as to the greatness of the salvation of those who have but little of this world, and leave it for Christ. The greatest trial of a good man's constancy is, when love to Jesus calls him to give up love to friends and relatives. Even when gainers by Christ, let them still expect to suffer for him, till they reach heaven. Let us learn contentment in a low state, and to watch against the love of riches in a high one. Let us pray to be enabled to part with all, if required, in Christ's service, and to use all we are allowed to keep in his service.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Jesus beholding him, loved him - What occurred afterward showed that the young man did not love the Saviour, or was not a true disciple; so that this expression denotes simply natural affection, or means that Jesus was pleased with his amiableness, his morality, and his "external" regard for the law of God. At the same time, this was entirely consistent with deep sorrow that he would not give his heart to God, and with deep abhorrence of such a love of the world as to blind the mind to the beauty of true religion, and to lead to the rejection of the Messiah and the destruction of the soul.

One thing thou lackest - When the young man came to Jesus he asked him, "What lack I yet?" Matthew 19:20. This "question" Mark has omitted, but he has retained the "answer." The answer means, there is "one thing" yet wanting. Though all that you have said should be "true," yet, to make the system complete, or to show that you "really" are disposed to keep the commands of God, go and sell your property. See whether you love "God" more than you do your "wealth." By doing that you will show that your love of God is supreme; that your obedience is not merely "external" and "formal," but "sincere" and "real;" the thing now "lacking" will be made up.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

Mr 10:17-31. The Rich Young Ruler. ( = Mt 19:16-30; Lu 18:18-30).

See on [1473]Lu 18:18-30.

Matthew Poole's Commentary

Ver. 23-27. See Poole on "Matthew 10:23", and following verses to Matthew 10:26, where the same history occurred, and all the additions to it here are opened.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

And Jesus looked round about,.... To see what effect the discourse he had with the young man, and the consequence of it, had upon his disciples; as also to raise their attention to what he was about, to say:

and saith unto his disciples, how hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God! the Gospel dispensation, by embracing the doctrines, and submitting to the ordinances of it; See Gill on Matthew 19:23.

Geneva Study Bible

And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto his disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Expositor's Greek Testament

Mark 10:23-27. The moral of the story given for the benefit of the disciples, περιβλεψάμενος (Mark 3:5; Mark 3:34), looking around, to see what impression the incident had made on the Twelve.—πῶς = ἀληθῶς, Euthy.—πῶς δυσ., with what difficulty!—τὰ χρήματα, wealth collectively held by the rich class (Meyer).

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

23. looked round about] “Sæpe describitur vultus Christi, affectui conveniens, et affectibus auditorum attemperatus.” Bengel. Comp. Mark 3:5; Mark 3:34; Mark 8:34; Luke 6:10; Luke 22:61.

Bengel's Gnomen

Mark 10:23. Περιβλεψάμενος, having looked round about) We have often the look [countenance] of Christ described, corresponding as it did to His inward feeling, and adapted to the inward feelings of His hearers: Comp. Mark 5:21; Mark 5:27.—πῶς, how) The proposition stated is, A rich man is with difficulty saved: the subject of the proposition is limited in Mark 10:24 [They that trust in riches being substituted for, they that have riches]: the predicate is enlarged [amplified: Mark 10:25 being the amplification of the simple predicate, enter into the kingdom of God]. They [the subject and predicate of the proposition, A rich man is with difficulty saved] differ in the abstract; they for the most part agree in the concrete.[15]—οἱ τὰ χρήματα ἔχοντες, they that have riches) The few have most of the wealth of the world.

[15] As a matter of fact, and not reasoning a priori, rich men are with difficulty saved.—ED. and TRANSL.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 23. - And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto his disciples (καὶ περιβλεψάμενος ὁ Ιησοῦς λέγει). St. Mark frequently uses this word περιβλέπω. Our Lord turned from the young man, who was now going away, and looked round about, no doubt with a sad and disappointed look, and said to his disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God! Why is this? Partly because the love of riches tempts men to heap them up, whether lawfully or unlawfully. Partly because the love of riches binds the soul to earth, so that it is less likely to think of Partly because riches are an incentive to pride and luxury and other sins. The heathen poet Ovid could speak of riches "irritamenta malorum." Poverty and contempt of riches often open that heaven which wealth and covetousness close. Mark 10:23