And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions.
sad.
Mark 6:20,26 For Herod feared John, knowing that he was a just man and an holy, and observed him; and when he heard him, he did many things, and heard him gladly…
Matthew 19:22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.
Matthew 27:3,24-26 Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, …
for.
Genesis 13:5-11 And Lot also, which went with Abram, had flocks, and herds, and tents…
Deuteronomy 6:10-12 And it shall be, when the LORD thy God shall have brought thee into the land which he sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give thee great and goodly cities, which thou buildedst not, …
Deuteronomy 8:11-14 Beware that thou forget not the LORD thy God, in not keeping his commandments, and his judgments, and his statutes, which I command thee this day: …
and went away in sorrow
The man's departure in sorrow indicates a decision to cling to his wealth rather than follow Jesus. This reaction underscores the difficulty many face when confronted with the demands of true discipleship. The sorrowful departure is a poignant reminder of the cost of discipleship and the challenge of prioritizing the kingdom of God over personal wealth. This moment is illustrative of the broader biblical theme that one cannot serve both God and money, as seen in Matthew 6:24.
because he had great wealth
The man's great wealth is central to the narrative, emphasizing the difficulty for those with riches to enter the kingdom of God. In the cultural context of the time, wealth was often seen as a sign of God's favor, making Jesus' teaching particularly radical. The wealth itself is not condemned, but the man's attachment to it is. This passage connects to the broader biblical theme of the dangers of wealth, as seen in 1 Timothy 6:10, which warns that the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. The man's inability to part with his wealth serves as a cautionary tale about the spiritual peril of materialism.
- This individual is the same earnest truth-seeker who “ran up and knelt before Him” (Mark 10:17).
- Scripture treats him as a real person, illustrating that sincere outward zeal can still mask an inner attachment.
- Parallel accounts (Matthew 19:22; Luke 18:23) confirm his youth and prominence, underscoring that position or morality alone cannot secure eternal life.
- The “words” are Jesus’ call to “Go, sell everything you own and give to the poor … then come, follow Me” (Mark 10:21).
- His immediate emotional drop shows God’s word piercing the heart (Hebrews 4:12).
- Unlike “godly sorrow” that leads to repentance (2 Corinthians 7:10), this grief stalls at mere sentiment—similar to disciples who said, “This is a hard teaching” and walked away (John 6:60-66).
- Turning away is more than physical distance; it signals a choice to decline the path of life (Mark 10:21).
- Jesus later laments how “it is hard for the rich to enter the kingdom of God” (Mark 10:23-25), hinting that departure can become permanent if not reversed.
- Compare Matthew 7:13-14, where few choose the narrow gate, and John 6:66, where many “turned back and no longer walked with Him.”
- His possessions became the deciding factor—a living example of Mark 4:19: “the deceitfulness of wealth … choke the word.”
- Riches themselves are not evil, yet the love of them is “a root of all kinds of evil” (1 Timothy 6:10).
- Jesus already warned, “You cannot serve God and money” (Matthew 6:24). Clinging to one inevitably means releasing the other.
- The irony: he feared losing treasure on earth while forfeiting “treasure in heaven” (Mark 10:21).
Mark 10:22 shows a man confronted with a clear, literal choice: cling to temporal wealth or follow Christ. His sadness reveals conviction, but his departure exposes divided loyalty. Scripture affirms that possessions can blind hearts, turning even earnest seekers away. The verse therefore stands as a sober reminder: genuine discipleship requires surrender of anything—especially wealth—that competes with wholehearted obedience to Jesus.
(22) And he was sad at that saying.--Better, He frowned. The word is the same as that translated "lowering" in Matthew 16:3.Verse 22. - But his countenance fell at the saying (ὁ δὲ στυγνάσας ἐπὶ τῳ λόγῳ). The same word is used in St. Matthew (Matthew 16:3) for a "lowering," "frowning sky" (οὐρανὸς στυγνάζων). And he went away sorrowful (ἀπῆλθε λυπούμενος)- literally, for he was one that had (η΅ν γὰρ ἔχων) - great possessions.