Mat 19:16-22 | PNT | STEP | Behold, one came and said . Compare . We learn that (1) he was a young man ( ); (2) he was a ruler, probably of a synagogue, although these were usually elderly ( ); (3) he was rich, which probably accounts for his holding office, at an unusual age ( ); (4) he came running to Jesus and kneeled to him ( ). Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life ? Whether he had before heard Christ or not, he had learned that eternal life belonged to heirs, the heirs of God, his children, and had to be inherited.

Matthew 19:16-22

Behold, one came and said. Compare Mr 10:17-27 Lu 18:18-30. We learn that (1) he was a young man (Mt 19:20); (2) he was a ruler, probably of a synagogue, although these were usually elderly (Lu 18:18); (3) he was rich, which probably accounts for his holding office, at an unusual age (Mt 19:22); (4) he came running to Jesus and kneeled to him (Mr 10:17).

Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? Whether he had before heard Christ or not, he had learned that eternal life belonged to heirs, the heirs of God, his children, and had to be inherited. Why callest thou me good? [there is] none good but one, [that is,]

God. The Revised Version, following the Siniatic, Vatican, and some other manuscripts, leaves off "good" before "Master" in Mt 19:16, and changes this to, "Why asketh thou me concerning that which is good"? Still, Mark and Luke give the question in the form of the Common Version as here (Mr 10:18 Lu 18:19); hence we are justified in adhering to the text as above. Some have seen in these words of Christ an affirmation that he was not divine. To these, Stier replies: ``Either there is none good but God, Christ is good, therefore Christ is God; or, there is none good but God, Christ is not God, therefore Christ is not good.'' There is no answer to these syllogisms but to deny the sinlessness of Christ.

If thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. The Lord had evidently asked his first question to prepare the way for this direction. He has, in saying that no man is absolutely good, said that no man can keep the commandments perfectly. Thou shalt do no murder. The Lord passes over the first four of the ten commandments, throws the young man back to his relations with his fellow-men, compels him to give an account of his moral goodness, and after keeping the letter of the moral commands, still to confess his sense of a lack. All these things have I kept from my youth up. There was, no doubt, great ignorance in this reply.

What lack I yet? He was sensible of the fact that there was a lack. His soul had not found rest in outward duties. If thou wilt be perfect. To be good he must be perfect.

Sell what thou hast. The injunction of the Lord is manifestly intended to bring out the fact that the young man had made an idol of his riches. He went away sorrowful. He would like to be a disciple of Christ, and an heir of life, but was not ready to pay such a price. The Lord had struck his difficulty, his besetting sin, his ruling passion. This man was required to use his wealth for God and for man; so are we to use ours. There is just one difference; he was commanded to sell and give away; we are required to turn all over to Christ and to hold it as it his stewards.