Matthew 19

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 19:16-30

The young ruler. I. HIS INTERVIEW WITH CHRIST . 1 . His question . Christ was "gone forth into the way" ( Mark 10:17 ); he was leaving Peraea; his ministry there was ended. But there was a young man, a ruler of the synagogue, a man of large possessions and of blameless life, who came running and kneeled to him. Perhaps he had already felt the supreme goodness of Christ, the holiness of his teaching; hut his position, his Jewish prejudices, had hitherto prevented him from... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 19:17

Why callest thou me good? Such is the reading of the received text here, and without any variation in the parallel passages of Mark and Luke. Our Lord takes the ruler to task for applying this epithet to him. unless the youth believed in his Divinity. You think of me only as a learned Teacher: how, then, can you speak of me in a term which can really be predicated of no child of man? Christ answers the ruler's address before he touches the subject of his interrogation, reproving him for... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 19:18

Which ( ποι ì ας ) ? Christ's answer was disappointing to the inquirer; it was too vague and general to satisfy his thought. He expected to hear (as the rabbis taught) of some special precept or precepts, difficult of accomplishment, and not usually regarded, by observance of which he could obtain his great reward. So he asks with laudable persistence, " Of what sort are these commandments which I have to obey?" He is far from thinking of the common duties of the Decalogue, though... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 19:19

Honour , etc. Lange considers that in this verse we have a summary of the two tables, "Honour thy father and mother," summing up the commandments of the first; and "Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself," those of the second (Le Matthew 19:18 ). Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. St. Mark and St. Luke omit this clause; the latter adds, "Defraud not." According to our text, Christ gives four negative and two positive commands: the last being a summary taken from Le Luke 19:18 ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 19:19

Right attitude towards parents. "Honour thy father and thy mother." It is significant that the old Law did not say, "Obey thy father and mother," or even "Love thy father and mother." Perhaps we are intended to see that obeying and loving have no will necessarily in them. We obey in simple yielding to the force that commands; we love our parents in the animal sort of way that characterizes all young creatures. "Honour thy father" suggests active intelligence, careful estimates, operative... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 19:20

All these things have I kept [ from my youth up ]. The bracketed words are omitted in some good manuscripts, and by most modern editors; but they have high authority, and are found in most versions, and in the parallel passages of Mark and Luke. They accurately express the ruler's view of his conduct. He could say without hesitation or mental reservation that he had scrupulously observed the duties of the Decalogue from the time that he knew right from wrong. Of course, we accuse one... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 19:20

The rich young man. "What lack I yet?" Plainly the young man who put this question was in earnest. He was not one of those who approached Jesus merely from curiosity, or for the sake of measuring themselves with this renowned Dialectician and Teacher. With him the search for life eternal was an important personal matter. He went away sorrowful, with no heart to prolong the conversation, as soon as his own case was pronounced upon. Probably he had an idea that our Lord would recommend him to... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 19:21

If thou wilt ( θε ì λεις ) be perfect. I believe what you tell me. You have led a religious life in the ordinary way; now yon aspire to higher things; you have a noble ambition to serve God more completely; yon have the power, if you have the will, to do so; I will tell you how. To be "perfect" is to be lacking in nothing that is required for life eternal. It is spoken of Noah and Job; it is required of Christ's disciples ( Matthew 5:48 ). Christ is here giving a counsel of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 19:22

When the young man heard that saying. Such an injunction was wholly unexpected; it completely staggered him; it appealed to the one point in his character which was weak and imperfect. He would have endured any amount of legal requirements or of vexatious and painful observances; he would gladly have become a disciple of Christ; but the previous sacrifice was too great; he could not make it; not that he was specially covetous or avaricious, but his heart was set on his riches; he had a... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 19:23

Then said Jesus. He derives an important lesson from the sad result of the above incident. St Luke connects it with what had just preceded: "When Jesus saw that he [the ruler] was very sorrowful, he said." It was a strange and most emphatic assertion, quite alien from general opinion and sentiment. A rich man shall hardly ( δυσκο ì λως , with difficulty ) enter into the kingdom of heaven. Remembering that Christ had just invited the young ruler to range himself on his side and... read more

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 19:16-30

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 19:17

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 19:18

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 19:19

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 19:19

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 19:20

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 19:20

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 19:21

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 19:22

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 19:23

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