Matthew 19:17-19

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 19:16-22

Answer to the inquiry of the rich young ruler concerning eternal life . ( Mark 10:17-22 ; Luke 18:18-23 .) read more

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 19:16-22

The great refusal. The young man who won the love of Christ by his ardour and enthusiasm, and who grieved our Lord by his refusal to make an unexpected sacrifice, stands before us in vivid portraiture—an example, and yet a warning. Let us consider the successive traits of his character revealed by his conduct. I. HIS WISE QUESTION . It is much for a man to have a definite object before him; it is more for him to choose a worthy pursuit. Of all personal things the young ruler chose... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 19:16-22

The perfection of goodness. To attain to this should be the aim of every rational being. In quest of it we should be willing to do anything and to sacrifice anything. "Who will show us any good?" I. CHRIST IS THE IMPERSONATION OF PERFECT GOODNESS . 1 . The ruler, in a sense, discerned this . 2 . But he discerned it falsely . II. THE LAW OF GOD IS THE RULE OF GOODNESS . 1 . This is expressed in the instruction of Christ . 2 .... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

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

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Matthew 19:16-30

This account is found also in Mark 10:17-31; Luke 18:18-39.Matthew 19:16One came - This was a young man, Matthew 19:20. He was a ruler (Luke); probably a ruler in a synagogue, or of the great council of the nation; a place to which he was chosen on account of his unblemished character and promising talents. He came running (Mark); evincing great earnestness and anxiety, He fell upon his knees (Mark); not to worship him, but to pay the customary respectful salutation; exhibiting the highest... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Matthew 19:17-22

Matthew 19:17-22. He said, Why callest thou me good? Whom thou regardest merely as a prophet sent from God, and therefore supposest to be only a man; there is none good Supremely, originally, essentially, but God. If thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments From a principle of loving faith. Believe, and thence love and obey. And this undoubtedly is the way to eternal life. Our Lord therefore does not answer ironically, which had been utterly beneath his character, but gives a... read more

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