Mark 10:22

And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions.

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(22) And he was sad at that saying.—Better, He frowned. The word is the same as that translated “lowering” in Matthew 16:3.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

10:17-22 This young ruler showed great earnestness. He asked what he should do now, that he might be happy for ever. Most ask for good to be had in this world; any good, Ps 4:6; he asks for good to be done in this world, in order to enjoy the greatest good in the other world. Christ encouraged this address by assisting his faith, and by directing his practice. But here is a sorrowful parting between Jesus and this young man. He asks Christ what he shall do more than he has done, to obtain eternal life; and Christ puts it to him, whether he has indeed that firm belief of, and that high value for eternal life which he seems to have. Is he willing to bear a present cross, in expectation of future crown? The young man was sorry he could not be a follower of Christ upon easier terms; that he could not lay hold on eternal life, and keep hold of his worldly possessions too. He went away grieved. See Mt 6:24, Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

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

See Poole on "Mark 10:21"

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

And, he was sad at that saying,.... That he lacked one thing, and especially that he should be bid to sell all that he had, and give it away; and what might add to his sadness is, that he must take up the cross of reproach, affliction, persecution, and death; his countenance fell upon this,

and went away grieved: finding that he must part with two things his heart was set upon, his idol of self-righteousness, and his mammon of unrighteousness; the bladder of his pride was pricked, and his vanity and self-conceit were exposed; and he was called upon to part with his substance; all which were sadly mortifying, and exceedingly disagreeable to him:

for he had great possessions; See Gill on Matthew 19:22.

Geneva Study Bible

And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions.

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Expositor's Greek Testament

Mark 10:22. στυγνάσας: in Matthew 16:3, of the sky, here, of the face, λυπούμενος, following, referring to the mind: with sad face and heavy heart.

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

22. he was sad] “Sorrowful,” says St Matthew (Matthew 19:22); “very sorrowful,” says St Luke (Luke 18:23); “sad,” says St Mark, or rather lowring, with a cloud upon his brow. The original word only occurs in one other place, Matthew 16:3, “for the sky is red and lowring.”

he had great possessions] and these he preferred to possessions in heaven, and made, as Dante calls it, “the great refusal!” “Yet within a few months,” to quote the words of Keble, “hundreds in Jerusalem remembered and obeyed this saying of our Lord, and brought their goods, and laid them at the Apostles’ feet” (Acts 4:34-37).

Bengel's Gnomen

[22. ‘O δὲ, but he) How quickly do men refuse the happiest of all conditions!—V. g.]

Pulpit Commentary

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. Mark 10:22

Vincent's Word Studies

He was sad (στυγνάσας)

Applied to the sky in Matthew 16:3; lowering. The word paints forcibly the gloom which clouded his face.