Mark 10:23-34
In the Old Testament the blessings were for the earth and riches were considered to be proof of God’s favour (Deuteronomy 8:18). How astonished the disciples are! They had just seen a prosperous man, thus by appearances blest of God, likeable, of irreproachable behaviour and who was disposed to do a lot of good. And the Lord had let him go away! Really, if such advantages were not giving him access to the kingdom of God, who then could be saved? In fact, the Lord Jesus replies, salvation is impossible with men; God alone can accomplish it.
The Lord does not condemn riches here but "them that trust in riches". Besides, to follow Him inevitably implies giving up some things, which for certain people can be very costly (v. 29). But if they do this for love of the Lord and the Gospel, it will at the same time be a source of incomparable joys, the first of which will be the knowledge of the Lord’s approval. Yes, the penetrating look of the Lord (vv. 21, 23, 27) reads our hearts to see if the motives by which we act are good — if there is a true response to the love of Him who has left all for us (see Zechariah 7:5).
In this chapter we find various characteristics of the flesh: it is attractive (vv. 17-22); it is presumptuous (v. 28); it is fearful (v. 32); and finally, it is selfish (vv. 35-40).