Mark 10:17

As he was going out into the way, one ran to him, knelt before him, and asked him, “Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?”

World English Bible
Learn

Your notes

Private to you. Anything you write on this verse, here or while reading, shows up here and in My study.

Other translations

WEBBE

As he was going out into the way, one ran to him, knelt before him, and asked him, “Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?”

BSB

As Jesus started on His way, a man ran up and knelt before Him. “Good Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

KJV

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?

ASV

And as he was going forth into the way, there ran one to him, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?

BBE

And while he was going out into the way, a man came running to him, and went down on his knees, saying, Good Master, what have I to do so that I may have eternal life?

Original Greek

Look up a word

Tap a word to see what it means and everywhere else it's used.

Καὶ Kai And G2532 ἐκπορευομένου ekporeuomenou when is going forth G1607 αὐτοῦ autou He G846 εἰς eis on G1519 ὁδὸν hodon [the] journey G3598 προσδραμὼν prosdramōn having run up G4370 εἷς heis one G1520 καὶ kai and G2532 γονυπετήσας gonupetēsas he having knelt down to G1120 αὐτὸν auton Him G846 ἐπηρώτα epērōta he was asking G1905 αὐτόν auton Him G846 διδάσκαλε didaskale Teacher G1320 ἀγαθέ agathe good G18 τί ti what G5101 ποιήσω poiēsō shall I do G4160 ἵνα ina that G2443 ζωὴν zōēn life G2222 αἰώνιον aiōnion eternal G166 κληρονομήσω;¶ klēronomēsō I may inherit G2816

The early church

(ubi sup.) 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. Wherefore it is said: 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?
Bede · d. 735Catena Aurea (Aquinas, 1274)
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 of Ohrid · d. 1107Catena Aurea (Aquinas, 1274)

Commentary

Matthew Henry · Verses 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, Psa 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.

Read Matthew Henry on Mark 10 →

Parallel passages

3

The same words or events elsewhere.

Matthew 19:16Luke 10:25Luke 18:18

Cross-references

23

Topics

Jesus, The ChristCommandmentsWorksSelf-RighteousnessRichesRich, TheYoung Men

Cross-references: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. Hebrew and Greek data from STEPBible.org (Tyndale House, Cambridge), CC BY 4.0. Library: sources.