The Meaning of Mark 10:20 Explained

Mark 10:20

KJV: And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth.

YLT: And he answering said to him, 'Teacher, all these did I keep from my youth.'

Darby: And he answering said to him, Teacher, all these things have I kept from my youth.

ASV: And he said unto him, Teacher, all these things have I observed from my youth.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And  he answered  and said  unto him,  Master,  all  these  have I observed  from  my  youth. 

What does Mark 10:20 Mean?

Verse Meaning

The man"s superficial understanding of God"s standards became apparent in his claim that he had kept all those commandments from his youth up. He regarded obedience simply as external conformity without internal purity (cf. Philippians 3:6). This was the natural implication and consequence of the Pharisees" teaching. At age12 , a Jewish boy became a "son of the covenant" (Heb. bar miswah, from which comes Bar Mitzvah). The Jews regarded themselves as responsible for their obedience to the Law from that age on. [1] It is probably from this time that the man meant he had observed the law.

Context Summary

Mark 10:1-22 - The Divine Law Of Marriage
God made one man for one woman; therefore divorce is not permissible, unless the one act be committed which severs the nuptial tie. Then only is the bond broken by which husband and wife are one. There should be no compulsory celibacy. Some can live the single life; others cannot. Each must work out his own possibilities, and none may judge another.
It would appear that the fathers brought the little ones. They had a truer perception of the heart of Jesus than the disciples. All through the ages men have supposed that strength, wisdom, and wealth have the greatest attractions for our Lord, whereas it is precisely the reverse. Of such is His Kingdom.
Youth, with all its fervor and impetuosity, is very beautiful to the Lord Jesus. In this case it was combined with station, high standing, and wealth. It is not necessary that all should sell their goods, and give away the proceeds; indeed, it is often harder to retain and administer them rightly for God. But it was necessary for Christ to prove to this young man that he was not living the life of love, as he seemed to suppose. That alone can fulfill the law, and secure the highest and most perfect blessedness of which we are capable. It was a severe but necessary test for this young man. [source]

Chapter Summary: Mark 10

1  Jesus disputes with the Pharisees concerning divorce;
13  blesses the children that are brought unto him;
17  resolves a rich man how he may inherit everlasting life;
23  tells his disciples of the danger of riches;
28  promises rewards to those who forsake all for the gospel;
32  foretells his death and resurrection;
35  bids the two ambitious suitors to think rather of suffering with him;
46  and restores to Bartimaeus his sight

Greek Commentary for Mark 10:20

All these [ταυτα παντα]
Literally, these all (of them). [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Mark 10:20

Galatians 5:3 To do the law [ποιῆσαι]
Rare in N.T. See John 7:19; Romans 2:13, Romans 2:25( πράσσῃς ). Τηρεῖν toobserve the law, the tradition, the commandment, Matthew 19:17; Mark 7:9; John 14:15; Acts 15:5James 2:10: πληροῦν tofulfill the law, Romans 13:8; Galatians 5:14; comp. ἀναπληροῦν Galatians 6:2: φυλάσσειν tokeep or guard the law, Acts 7:53; Acts 21:24; Galatians 6:13: also with commandments, word of God or of Christ, ordinances of the law, Matthew 19:20; Mark 10:20; Luke 11:28; John 12:47; Romans 2:26. Τελεῖν tocarry out the law, Romans 2:27; James 2:8. Ποιῆσαι is to perform what the law commands: τηρεῖν toobserve, keep an eye on with the result of performing: φυλάσσειν toguard against violation: τελεῖν tobring to fulfillment in action. [source]
1 Timothy 4:12 Thy youth [σου της νεοτητος]
Genitive case of old word (from νεος — neos) as in Mark 10:20. Be thou (γινου — ginou). Present middle imperative of γινομαι — ginomai “Keep on becoming thou.” An ensample Old word from τυπτω — tuptō a type. Pauline use of the word (1 Thessalonians 1:7; 2 Thessalonians 3:9; Philemon 3:17; Titus 2:7). To them that believe (των πιστων — tōn pistōn). Objective genitive. In word In conversation as well as in public speech. In manner of life (εν αναστροπηι — en anastrophēi). “In bearing” (Galatians 1:13; Ephesians 4:22). In purity Old word from αγνευω — hagneuō Sinlessness of life. Used of a Nazirite (Numbers 6:2, Numbers 6:21). Only here and 1 Timothy 5:2 in N.T. [source]

What do the individual words in Mark 10:20 mean?

- And he was saying to Him Teacher these all I have kept from [the] youth of me
δὲ ἔφη αὐτῷ Διδάσκαλε ταῦτα πάντα ἐφυλαξάμην ἐκ νεότητός μου

  - 
Parse: Article, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
ἔφη  he  was  saying 
Parse: Verb, Imperfect Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: φημί  
Sense: to make known one’s thoughts, to declare.
αὐτῷ  to  Him 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Dative Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Root: αὐτός  
Sense: himself, herself, themselves, itself.
Διδάσκαλε  Teacher 
Parse: Noun, Vocative Masculine Singular
Root: διδάσκαλος  
Sense: a teacher. 2 in the NT one who teaches concerning the things of God, and the duties of man.
ταῦτα  these 
Parse: Demonstrative Pronoun, Accusative Neuter Plural
Root: οὗτος  
Sense: this.
ἐφυλαξάμην  I  have  kept 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Middle, 1st Person Singular
Root: φυλάσσω  
Sense: to guard.
νεότητός  [the]  youth 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Feminine Singular
Root: νεότης  
Sense: youth, youthful age.
μου  of  me 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Genitive 1st Person Singular
Root: ἐγώ  
Sense: I, me, my.