And Jesus said unto him, Why tallest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God. (10:18)

Jesus stopped the man in his tracks. "What do you mean when you call Me `good,'?" Jesus asked. In effect, He asked, "Are you talking about relative goodness? Goodness as compared with other `good' men? Or are you talking about absolute goodness, the kind of goodness that is found only in God Himself?" In other words, was this young man prepared to stake everything on the absolute goodness of the Lord Jesus, a goodness that recognized Him to be totally apart from all ordinary men and made Him equal with God? If it came, however, to the question of practical human goodness, then the place to go was the law.

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. (10.19)

These were the comparatively simple commandments to keep — at least outwardly. Paul, in his unconverted days, imagined that he had kept all of these commandments. Not until he came to the tenth commandment — "Thou shalt not covet" (i.e., entertain no lust, have no evil desire) did he realize his utter inability to live a holy life (Rom. 7:7).

And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth. (10:20)

How painful and pointed was the young man's willingness to drop the word good in his reply. It was no longer "Good Master!" but simply "Master!" Evidently, he was not prepared to own Jesus as God. He also claimed ever since coming of age to have kept conscientiously the commandments that Jesus cited. The Lord now proved to him that he had not kept them at all. But first Mark adds an observation.

Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest:: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me. (10:21)

The word used for "beholding" means "to look in," "to fix the eyes upon," or to look intently." It means to know something or someone by inspection. Jesus read this young man's heart. He saw the turmoil that His next words would bring. His own great heart of love went out to him.