Mark 10:21 Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said to him, One thing you lack: go your way, sell whatever you have, and give to the poor… Now we come to Christ's answer, and there take notice. First: Of the admonition of his defect: "Jesus said unto him, One thing thou lackest." 1. Because it would have been tedious to convince him of all his defects, Christ would take the more compendious way, and insist but upon one thing, which was enough to show that he was not perfect, as he vainly dreamed. If a man brag that he is able to pay one hundred pounds, you convince him of his penury when you press him to pay one penny, and he cannot. 2. This one thing was sure, and would strike home; for our Lord knew his heart, and therefore was resolved to touch his privy sore, and doth propose such a precept as would cross his darling sin; and therefore he would only come with one thing, which would try him to the purpose. 3. That one thing which he lacked was the main thing, the principal thing of the law, which was loving God above all things; the sum of the law is to love God above all, and our neighbours as ourselves. 4. Because the young man erred out of ignorance, Christ would not deal roughly with him, or by way of sharp reproof; He doth not rate him. (1) We learn — That proud sinners must not be soothed up in their self-conceit, but convinced of their defects. (2) That the way to convince them is by representing their principal and chief faults, some one sin; as Christ dealt with this young man: and so He deals with the woman of Samaria, convincing her of her sin. (3) The more our failings strike deep upon the main articles of our obedience to God, the greater our conviction, and the more sense we should have of our condition before God. Secondly: We come to Christ's precept, command, and injunction. First: "Go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven." Not applicable to all, in all circumstances.But yet still in some cases we are to forsake all. 1. When God by His providence reduceth us to a poor condition. 2. When we cannot obey any particular precept of God without danger of being undone by it. The reasons why we must do so. (1) God hath an absolute right to all that we have by His own eminency and prerogative. (2) Because it is impossible we should be Christians, if we come not to Christ with this mind and resolution to forsake all for our duty to Him (Luke 14:33). (T. Manton, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me. |
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