Mat 19:16-30 | TNotes

19:17 ^a Why ask me? The man, as a Jew, should have known that God’s standard of goodness is clearly reflected in his commandments. The man’s questions (also 19:20 ^b) show that he was not trusting in the adequacy of God’s revealed will.

• only One ... is good: The man may have believed he could act with perfect goodness on his own, whereas only God is truly good and thus the source of all goodness.

• keep the commandments: Jesus has in mind either leading the man to see his sinfulness by asking him to do the impossible, or more probably, restating that good works are a telling gauge of the truthfulness of a person’s faith (see 7:13-27 ^c).
Summary for Matt 19:21-22: 19:21-22 ^d By calling the man to go and sell and come, follow me, Jesus revealed that the man had not in fact kept the first of the ten commandments (Exod 20:3 ^e). His possessions—his wealth and security—had become his god (see Matt 6:20 ^f, 24 ^g; 13:44-46 ^h).
19:23 ⁱ Jesus draws a lesson for discipleship from the rich man’s tragic denial. It is hard for the rich to humble themselves, admit their need, and trust in God (see 5:3 ^j; Luke 6:24 ^k; 1 Tim 6:9-10 ^l).

• Kingdom of Heaven is equivalent here to eternal life (Matt 19:16-17 ^m, 29 ⁿ) or to salvation as the result of God’s regenerating work (19:25-26 ^o).
19:24 ^p easier for a camel: This analogy reinforces the difficulty that wealthy people face in entering the Kingdom. A few manuscripts have a Greek word meaning rope (Greek kamilos) instead of camel (Greek kamēlos), a difference of only one letter.

• to go through the eye of a needle: The image makes the wealthy entering the Kingdom an impossibility. The situation is not utterly hopeless, however (19:26-27 ^q). See study note on Mark 10:25.
19:26 ^r God’s regenerating grace is absolutely essential before the wealthy are able to repent from their idolatry, abandon their possessions if called to do so, and follow Jesus (19:21 ^s).
19:28 ^t you ... will also sit on twelve thrones: The disciples’ part in judging is a reversal—those who are wealthy and powerful now will be judged by those who are humble and poor (see 19:30 ^u).

• Judging can mean both ruling and condemning (see Rev 20:4 ^v).