“Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother.”
My Notes
What Does Mark 10:19 Mean?
"Thou knowest the commandments." Jesus responds to the rich young ruler's question about eternal life by listing commandments from the second table of the law — the commands about relationships with other people (don't murder, don't steal, don't commit adultery, don't lie, don't defraud, honor parents). He notably omits the first table — the commands about relationship with God.
The omission is strategic: the rich young man's problem isn't with the human-relationship commandments. He's kept those (verse 20: "all these have I observed from my youth"). His problem is with the first commandment: "thou shalt have no other gods before me." His wealth is his other god. And Jesus is about to expose it.
The inclusion of "defraud not" — which isn't in the standard Ten Commandments list — may be specific to this young man. If his wealth was accumulated through exploitation, the command is personally pointed.
Reflection Questions
- 1.What commands are you keeping well while potentially violating 'no other gods before Me'?
- 2.Why does Jesus list only the relational commandments and omit the God-focused ones?
- 3.Can someone be morally excellent and spiritually compromised at the same time?
- 4.What virtue might be disguising a misplaced worship in your life?
Devotional
You know the commandments. Don't murder. Don't steal. Don't commit adultery. Don't lie. Don't defraud. Honor your parents. Jesus lists the relational commands — the ones about how you treat other people. And the young man says: done. Kept them all since I was a kid.
What Jesus doesn't list is what matters: the first commandment. No other gods before Me. The rich young ruler has kept every command about his neighbor. He hasn't kept the command about his God. His wealth occupies the space that belongs to God alone. And Jesus knows it — which is why He'll ask for the one thing the man won't give.
The young man's answer — "all these have I observed" — is probably honest. He's a moral person. He's ethical in his dealings. He doesn't murder, steal, lie, or exploit. By every measurable standard of behavior, he's exemplary. And Jesus loves him for it (verse 21).
But morality isn't enough. You can keep every relational command and still violate the foundational one. You can be kind, honest, generous, and fair — and have a god that isn't God. The rich young ruler is morally excellent and spiritually compromised. His scorecard is perfect on the human side and failing on the divine side.
What commands are you keeping successfully while violating the first one? What relational virtues are disguising a misplaced worship?
Commentary
Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.
And he answered and, said unto him,.... With a great deal of pertness,
master, all these have I observed from my…
See this passage illustrated in the notes at Mat 19:16-30. Mar 10:17 Gone forth - From the place where he had been…
I. Here is a hopeful meeting between Christ and a young man; such he is said to be (Mat 19:20, Mat 19:22), and a ruler…
Thou knowest the commandments The young man is referred to the Commandments of the Second Table only, and they are cited…
Cross References
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