Mark 10:19 · Bible study
Mark 10:19 Commentary: The Commandments That Expose the Heart
Greek · 5 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Why does Jesus cite only second-table commandments (plus 'do not defraud') to the rich young ruler?
Research Summary
- Meaning: Jesus points the rich young ruler to the second-table commandments to expose the hidden sin of covetousness, summed up in the extra command “do not defraud.”
- Key words: ἐντολάς (entolas, commandments), μὴ φονεύσῃς (do not murder), μὴ ἀποστερήσῃς (do not defraud, verb in aorist subjunctive, a prohibition with ongoing force).
- Main debate: Why does Jesus omit the first table (commands about God)? Some say to focus on what the man can evaluate; others say the omission itself convicts the man of ignoring the first and greatest commandment.
- Theological theme: The law serves as a mirror to show our need for grace; salvation is not by rule-keeping but by following Jesus.
- Best use: A text for examining the gap between external morality and heart allegiance to Christ.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
You know the commandments: ‘Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not bear false witness, do not cheat others, honor your father and mother.’”
WEB World English Bible 2000
You know the commandments: ‘Do not murder,’ ‘Do not commit adultery,’ ‘Do not steal,’ ‘Do not give false testimony,’ ‘Do not defraud,’ ‘Honor your father and mother.’”
KJV King James Version 1769
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.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
Thou knowest the commandments, Do not kill, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor thy father and mother.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
the commands thou hast known: Thou mayest not commit adultery, Thou mayest do no murder, Thou mayest not steal, Thou mayest not bear false witness, Thou mayest not defraud, Honour thy father and mother.'
Darby Darby Bible 1890
Thou knowest the commandments: Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honour thy father and mother.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
Thou knowest the commandments: Do not commit adultery, do not kill, do not steal, bear not false witness, do no fraud, honour thy father and mother.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Los mandamientos sabes: No adulteres: No mates: No hurtes: No digas falso testimonio: No defraudes: Honra á tu padre y á tu madre.
Sabes os mandamentos: Não adulterarás; não matarás; não furtarás; não darás falso testemunho; não serás enganador; honra o teu pai e a tua mãe.
Tu connais les commandements: Tu ne commettras point d’ adultère; tu ne tueras point; tu ne déroberas point; tu ne diras point de faux témoignage; tu ne feras tort à personne; honore ton père et ta mère.
Du weißt ja die Gebote wohl: “Du sollst nicht ehebrechen; du sollst nicht töten; du sollst nicht stehlen; du sollst nicht falsch Zeugnis reden; du sollst niemand täuschen; ehre Vater und Mutter.”
Gij weet de geboden: Gij zult geen overspel doen; gij zult niet doden; gij zult niet stelen; gij zult geen valse getuigenis geven; gij zult niemand te kort doen; eer uw vader en uw moeder.
Tu sai i comandamenti: Non uccidere; non commettere adulterio; non rubare; non dir falsa testimonianza; non far torto ad alcuno; onora tuo padre e tua madre.
Przykazania umiesz: nie będziesz cudzołożył, nie będziesz zabijał, nie będziesz kradł, nie będziesz mówił świadectwa fałszywego, nie będziesz oszukiwał nikogo, czcij ojca twego i matkę twoję.
Знаешь заповеди: не прелюбодействуй, не убивай, не кради, не лжесвидетельствуй, не обижай, почитай отца твоего и мать.
誡命 你是曉得的：不可 殺人；不可 姦淫；不可 偷盜；不可 作假見證；不可 虧負人；當孝敬 父 母。」
You have knowledge of what is said in the law, Do not put any one to death, Do not be untrue in married life, Do not take what is not yours, Do not give false witness, Do not get money by deceit, Give honour to your father and mother.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Koine Greek)
New Testament · Koine Greek · Mark 10:19
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators agree Jesus cites the second table of the Decalogue, the commandments concerning love of neighbor, in response to the rich young ruler’s question about eternal life. Cambridge Bible notes that Jesus “is referred to the Commandments of the Second Table only,” and that “do not defraud” (ἀποστερήσῃς) sums up the four preceding prohibitions. Gill points out the order is not that of Exodus; Mark places adultery before murder and the fifth commandment last, consistent with the Jewish rule that “there is no first nor last in the law.” The real point, as Matthew Henry and Lange observe, is that Jesus meets the man on his own ground of external observance. The list is deliberately incomplete: no first-table commands about worshiping God alone. This sets the stage for the man’s claim to have kept all, which Jesus then exposes as hollow by calling him to sell his possessions. The consensus is that the selection is not random but targeted, the addition of “defraud not” points to the man’s hidden insecurity: his wealth.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Medium
Main views:
- Focus on second table alone: Jesus cites only commandments about neighbor relationships because the man already knows them; this tests his self-assessment of obedience (Matthew Henry, Gill).
- Defraud-as-key view: The added command 'do not defraud' exposes the man’s covetousness and attachment to wealth, which the other commandments alone would not have revealed (Cambridge Bible, Lange).
- Law-as-mirror view: The whole list, including the omission of the first table, functions to show the man that he cannot keep the law perfectly in heart, setting up Jesus’ radical call to sell all.
What is clear: Jesus cites the commandments to the rich young ruler as part of his answer to the question about inheriting eternal life, and the man’s failure to follow through reveals that keeping the law externally is not enough — following Jesus requires total allegiance.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Why omit the first table commandments (about love for God)? | Christians agree Jesus intentionally cites only the second table to address the man's relationships with others, setting up the deeper issue of his love of wealth. | Some traditions see it as a pastoral approach, start with what the man knows. Others argue it implicitly accuses the man of breaking the first commandment by trusting in riches more than God. |
| Meaning of 'do not defraud' (ἀποστερήσῃς) | Most agree it refers to depriving others of what is rightfully theirs, often linked to covetousness or the tenth commandment. | Some see it as an explanatory summary of the preceding four prohibitions (Cambridge Bible). Others treat it as a specific expansion that targets the man's wealth, he may have been defrauding others, or his mere attachment to wealth defrauds the poor. |
| Order of the commandments | All note that Mark's order differs from Exodus (adultery before murder, fifth commandment last). This is seen as a free quotation rather than a textual error. | Some commentators (e.g., Gill) appeal to the Jewish principle 'there is no first nor last in the law' to explain the rearrangement. Others (e.g., Cambridge Bible) view it as simply a loose citation, common in first-century Jewish teaching. |
Historical & Cultural Context
The rich young ruler was not a casual inquirer. He ran to Jesus and knelt, a posture of respect unusual for a man of his standing. Lange suggests he may have been a synagogue leader. The phrase “Good Teacher” and Jesus’ sharp reply (“Why do you call me good? No one is good except God”) set the theological frame: eternal life is God’s gift, not a reward for human goodness.
Jesus’ choice of commandments reflects first-century Jewish practice. Children memorized the Decalogue early. By citing only the second table, Jesus avoids theological debate and turns the conversation to concrete relationships. The fifth commandment, “Honor your father and mother”, included supporting aged parents materially (see Matthew 15:4-6). The final position of this command may underscore the man’s duty to use his wealth for family, a duty his hoarding undermined.
The verb “defraud” (ἀποστερέω) meant to deprive someone of what rightfully belongs to them. It appears in 1 Corinthians 6:7-8 and James 5:4, where the rich are accused of withholding wages. In the Decalogue, the tenth commandment forbids coveting a neighbor’s property. By adding “do not defraud,” Jesus gets at the heart of the issue: the man’s possessions were tied to his identity, and he may have gained them at others’ expense. The man walks away sorrowful (v.22), revealing that his wealth held him tighter than God’s commands.
Textual Notes
The consulted sources note no significant textual variants for Mark 10:19. All major Greek manuscripts (Sinaiticus, Vaticanus, Alexandrinus) agree on the wording of the commandments listed, though the order varies slightly in a few later manuscripts. None of the supplied commentaries raise a text-critical issue here.
Reception History
Early church fathers, such as Clement of Alexandria, interpreted this passage as showing that the law prepares us for Christ, the rich young ruler’s inability to keep the second table perfectly points to the need for grace. In the medieval period, the passage was read through the lens of the two ways: the law as a guide, but the counsels of perfection (poverty, obedience) as a higher calling for those who seek perfection. The Reformers (Luther, Calvin) stressed that the law’s function here is not to save the man but to show him his sin and drive him to faith. In modern times, the verse is often cited in discussions on wealth and discipleship, with Christians from many traditions agreeing that attachment to money can block entrance into the kingdom.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- The commandments Jesus chooses. He picks the relational commands (second table) plus a pointed addition: “do not defraud.” This is not a random list. It confronts the man where he thinks he is strong, his neighbor relationships.
- The response the man gives. “I have observed all these from my youth.” He sees the law as a checklist. Jesus does not argue; he loves him (v.21) and then presses to the real issue: the man’s possessions control him.
- The exposure of hidden sin. The command “do not defraud” is the key. The man’s great possessions, gained honestly or not, keep him from following Jesus. The law shows his need for grace, not self-righteousness.
Five-point outline
- Jesus teaches that eternal life is God’s gift, not a reward for rule-keeping.
- The second table commands test our horizontal relationships; the first table (love God) is the vertical foundation.
- “Do not defraud” uncovers the sin of covetousness, which the man likely excused.
- The man’s claim of perfect obedience is confronted by the need to sell all, an act that would break the grip of wealth.
- Jesus’ love (v.21) is not soft; it is the love that tells the truth. The man walks away, and we see the cost of refusing that truth.
Illustration hooks
- The charitable checklist. A person donates to charity monthly, feels good about it, but ignores a family member in financial need. The law mirrors what we avoid.
- The garage full of unused items. Holding on to things we don’t need, while others go without, is that defrauding our neighbor? The command asks us to examine our attachments.
Questions your congregation is asking
- “If I attend church and don’t cheat anyone, isn’t that enough for God?”
- “What is the ‘one thing I lack’ in my own life, the attachment that keeps me from following Jesus fully?”
Leading a Discussion
This passage confronts us with a man who thought he was close to the kingdom but walked away sad. Jesus does not lower the bar; he shows that external obedience cannot substitute for a heart surrendered to God. As you discuss, keep the focus on what the commandments reveal about our own hidden attachments.
Discussion questions
- What stands out to you about the list of commandments Jesus chooses? Why do you think He includes “do not defraud”?
- The man says he has kept these from his youth. Do you think he was lying, or did he genuinely believe he had? Why?
- Jesus looked at him and loved him (v.21). How does that love shape the way we read the hard command to sell everything?
- What is the “one thing” that might be keeping someone in your life from following Jesus more closely?
- How does the command “do not defraud” apply to areas of business, family, or even how we use our time?
- In what ways do we sometimes trust in our own goodness rather than in God’s grace for eternal life?
- How can we, as a group, encourage one another to loosen our grip on possessions and follow Jesus more freely?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Exodus 20:12 | “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land which Yahweh your God gives you. |
| Exodus 20:17 | “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor’s.” |
| Deuteronomy 5:16 | “Honor your father and your mother, as Yahweh your God commanded you, that your days may be long and that it may go well with you in the land which Yahweh your God gives you. |
| Deuteronomy 5:24 | and you said, “Behold, Yahweh our God has shown us his glory and his greatness, and we have heard his voice out of the middle of the fire. We have seen today that God does speak with man, and he lives. |
| Isaiah 8:20 | Turn to the law and to the covenant! If they don’t speak according to this word, surely there is no morning for them. |
| Matthew 5:17 | “Don’t think that I came to destroy the law or the prophets. I didn’t come to destroy, but to fulfill. |
| Matthew 5:20 | For I tell you that unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, there is no way you will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. |
| Matthew 19:17 | He said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good but one, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.” |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
4 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The commentary focuses on the way Jesus cites only the commands about love for neighbor, and does so in a free paraphrase rather than a strict quotation. It points out that "Defraud not" sums up the four preceding commands, and notes that Mark places the command to honor parents at the end.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva Notes list the commandments Jesus recites, including the phrase “Thou shalt hurt no man” as a distinct command. This addition summarizes the law’s prohibition against causing harm to others, placing it alongside the familiar commands against adultery, murder, theft, false witness, and dishonoring parents.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill observes that the commandments Jesus lists to the young ruler do not follow the order found in Exodus, but he notes this is unobjectionable to a Jew since rabbinic tradition does not insist on strict sequence in the law. He also defends Jesus omitting the first-table commandments by arguing that the Lord focuses on the more familiar second-table precepts and uses a lesser-to-greater argument.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry observes that the young man's obedience was only external and self-congratulating; he lacked the one thing that would prove his heart belonged to God rather than his wealth. Jesus loved him even while exposing this flaw, showing that a morally upright life can still fall short of the surrender faith requires.