Matthew 19:16-17

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Matthew 19:16-22

Here is an account of what passed between Christ and a hopeful young gentleman that addressed himself to him upon a serious errand; he said to be a young man (Matt. 19:20); and I called him a gentleman, not only because he had great possessions, but because he was a ruler (Luke 18:18), a magistrate, a justice of peace in his country; it is probable that he had abilities beyond his years, else his youth would have debarred him from the magistracy. Now concerning this young gentleman, we are... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Matthew 19:16-22

19:16-22 And, look you, a man came to him and said, "Teacher, what good thing am I to do to possess eternal life?" He said to him, "Why do you ask me about the good? There is One who is good. If you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments." He said to him, "What kind of commandments?" Jesus said, "'You must not kill; you must not commit adultery; you must not steal; honour your father and your mother.' And, 'You must love your neighbour as yourself.'" The young man said, "I have... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 19:16

And behold, one came ,.... The Persic version reads, "a rich man"; and so he was, as appears from what follows: Luke calls him, "a certain ruler"; not of a synagogue, an ecclesiastical ruler, but a civil magistrate: perhaps he might be one of the sanhedrim, which consisted of "twenty one" persons; or of that which consisted only of "three", as in some small towns and villages Mark represents him as "running"; for Christ was departed out of the house, and was gone into the way, the high road,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 19:17

And he said unto him ,.... By way of reply, first taking notice of, and questioning him about, the epithet he gave him: why callest thou me good ? not that he denied that he was so; for he was good, both as God and man, in his divine and human natures; in all his offices, and the execution of them; he was goodness itself, and did good, and nothing else but good. But the reason of the question is, because this young man considered him only as a mere man, and gave him this character as... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 19:16

One came - Instead of εις one, several MSS., the Slavonic version, and Hilary, read νεανισκος τις , a certain young man. Good, etc. - Much instruction may be had from seriously attending to the conduct, spirit, and question of this person. He came running, ( Mark 10:17 ;), for he was deeply convinced of the importance of his business, and seriously determined to seek so as to find. He kneeled, or caught him by the knees, thus evidencing his humility, and addressing himself... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 19:17

Why callest thou me good? - Or, Why dost thou question me concerning that good thing? τι με ερωτας περι του αγαθου . This important reading is found in BDL, three others, the Coptic, Sahidic, Armenian, Ethiopic, latter Syriac, Vulgate, Saxon, all the Itala but one, Origen, Eusebius, Cyril, Dionysius Areop., Antiochus, Novatian, Jerome, Augustin, and Juvencus. Erasmus, Grotius, Mill, and Bengel approve of this reading. This authority appears so decisive to Griesbach that he has received... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 19:16

Verse 16 Matthew 19:16.And, lo, one. Luke says that he was a ruler, ( ἄρχων,) that is, a man of very high authority, not one of the common people. (616) And though riches procure respect, (617) yet he appears to be here represented to have been held in high estimation as a good man. For my own part, after weighing all the circumstances, I have no doubt that, though he is called a young man, he belonged to the class of those who upheld the integrity of the Elders, by a sober and regular life.... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 19:17

Verse 17 17.Why callest thou me good? I do not understand this correction in so refined a sense as is given by a good part of interpreters, as if Christ intended to suggest his Divinity; for they imagine that these words mean, “If thou perceivest in me nothing more exalted than human nature, thou falsely appliest to me the epithet good, which belongs to God alone. ” I do acknowledge that, strictly speaking, men and even angels do not deserve so honorable a title; because they have not a drop of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 19:16

And, behold. The exclamation, as usual, denotes the suddenness and unexpected nature of the occurrence. It took place probably on the next day after the blessing of the children. One came ( εἶς προσελθω ì ν ). This is more emphatic than the enclitic τις , and we learn from St. Luke that he was "a ruler," i . e . of the synagogue, and he must have been of noted piety and worth to have arrived at this dignity while still a youth (verse 22). St. Mark gives more... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 19:16

The ruler's mistakes. The assumption that this ruler was a youth has no, foundation. The man could not have been a ruler if he had been a youth. He must have been in what we should call the prime of life; but he evidently retained something of the impetuousness of youth. His mistakes suggest the impulsive temperament, that readily yields to emotion, and is wont to act before it thinks. Our Lord skilfully dealt with individuals. "He needed not that any should testify of man; for he knew... read more

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