Bible Strands
Mark 10:22
But the man was saddened by these words and went away in sorrow, because he had great wealth.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Jesus addresses the rich young ruler immediately after commanding him to sell everything, give to the poor, and follow Him. The man stands before Jesus at the moment of decision, directly responding to that demand.
The words — στυγνήσας (stugynasas) translates literally to "having been grieved," and λυπούμενος (lupoumenos) means "sorrowful" or "grieving." These terms describe the man's internal reaction to Jesus' command before he departs.
The thread — The conflict between material wealth and spiritual devotion appears in 1 John 2:15, 1 Timothy 6:9, and Luke 12:15. These texts warn that love for the world or trust in riches displaces devotion to God.
Why it lands — The text forces a reader to identify what they refuse to surrender when confronted with a direct call to obedience. It demands an unflinching assessment of whether security or status outweighs following Christ.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions.
Cross-references
- 1 John 2:15 Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
- 1 Timothy 6:9 Those who want to be rich, however, fall into temptation and become ensnared by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction.
- Luke 12:15 And He said to them, “Watch out! Guard yourselves against every form of greed, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”
- Ephesians 5:5 For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure, or greedy person (that is, an idolater) has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
- 2 Timothy 4:10 because Demas, in his love of this world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia.
- Ezekiel 33:31 So My people come to you as usual, sit before you, and hear your words; but they do not put them into practice. Although they express love with their mouths, their hearts pursue dishonest gain.
- Matthew 13:22 The seed sown among the thorns is the one who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.
- Matthew 19:22 When the young man heard this, he went away in sorrow, because he had great wealth.
- Job 21:7 Why do the wicked live on, growing old and increasing in power?
- Luke 18:23 But when the ruler heard this, he became very sad, because he was extremely wealthy.