Contemplative Bible Reading

Mark 10:19-21 (New Living Translation)

19 … Honor your father and mother.

20 “Teacher,” the man replied, “I’ve obeyed all these commandments since I was young.”

21 Looking at the man, Jesus felt genuine love for him. “There is still one thing you haven’t done,” he told him. “Go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

There are several items to discuss in these and the surrounding text. Let’s compare the person to whom honor is due. Jesus speaks first of the old law. This is because Jesus knows this man knows those laws and abides by them. One of the laws is to honor your father and mother. That honor takes many forms, but one part of the old law was that the children would provide material care for their aging parents, i.e., spend money on their aging parents.

Next Jesus moves to the subject of the poor. Jesus encourages the man to spend money on the poor. In other words, honor the poor in the same way that you honor your parents.

But I am poor, so give to me or all my friends and I are poor, so we just get along and all is well.

Perhaps, but are we honoring our parents and our close friends more than everyone else? I think that Jesus is once again giving a “new law” to the people of the day. Don’t just honor your parents, honor everyone. Jesus served and sacrificed for everyone. I should do the same—even on the days when I am tired and just don’t feel like it.