Matteo 19:20 Commento

And it came to pass, that when Jesus had finished these sayings,.... Concerning humility, avoiding offences, the methods to be taken in reproving offenders, and the forgiveness that is to be exercised towards them: he departed from Galilee; where he had chiefly preached and wrought his miracles, no more to return thither till after his resurrection: and came into the coasts of Judea beyond Jordan; that is, to that country which was called "beyond Jordan", and bordered on Judea; coming still nearer and nearer to Jerusalem, where he had told his disciples, a little while ago, he must come, and suffer, and die. Rather, it should be rendered, "on this side Jordan", as also in Joh 1:28 for the coasts of Judea were on this side; so , is rendered in

The young man saith unto him,.... For though he was so very rich and in such an exalted station in life, as to be a ruler, it seems he was but a young man; and to be so early serious and religious, amidst so much riches and grandeur, though it was but externally, was both remarkable and commendable: upon hearing the answer of Christ, with which he was highly pleased and greatly elated, he very pertly replies, all these things have I kept from my youth up: as soon as he was capable of learning, his parents taught him these precepts; and ever since he had the use of his reason, and understood the letter, and outward meaning of them, he had been careful to observe them; nor could he charge himself with any open and flagrant transgression of them; not understanding the internal sense, extensive compass, and spirituality of them; and therefore asks, what lack I yet? In what am I deficient hitherto? in what have I come short of doing these things? what remains at last to be performed? what other precepts are to be obeyed? if there are any other commands, I am ready to observe them, which may be thought necessary to obtain eternal life.

Then since Jesus mentioned those out of the law, he saith, "All these things have I kept from my youth up." And neither at this did he stop, but again asks, "What lack I yet?" which itself again was a sign of his very earnest desire.

(Verse 20.) The young man said to Him: All these things I have kept from my youth, what do I still lack? Jesus said to him: The young man lies. For if he had fulfilled the commandments: You shall love your neighbor as yourself, how then, upon hearing: Go, sell what you have and give to the poor, did he go away sad, for he had many possessions?

The young man saith unto Him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet? Some accuse him of boasting and arrogance. For how could he have achieved love for neighbor if he were rich? For no one who loves his neighbor as himself is wealthier than his neighbor. Others understand it thus: suppose, he says, that I have kept all these things - what do I still lack?

The young man said to him: all these have I kept from my youth. After the Lord delivered the doctrine of common salvation, here he delivers the doctrine of perfection. And first he delivers the doctrine; secondly the necessity of this doctrine; thirdly the reward of observance. The second at and Jesus said to his disciples; the third at Peter answering etc. And first the occasion for delivering the doctrine is presented; secondly the promulgation; thirdly the effect. The second at Jesus said to him etc.; the third at when the young man had heard the word, he went away sad. The occasion for promulgating this doctrine is the request of the young man. And first he confesses himself an observer of the law; secondly he asks what perfection is, to which he can attain, at what is yet wanting to me? He says therefore all these have I kept from my youth; and he says all, because it does not suffice to do only one unless all are kept; James 2:10: whosoever shall offend in one point is become guilty of all. Likewise he says from my youth; Proverbs 22:6: a young man according to his way, and when he is old he will not depart from it. Hence what is said in Job 23:12 was fitting for him: I have not departed from the way of his lips. But whether he spoke the truth is a question. Jerome says that he lied: which is clear, because immediately before this comes, you shall love your neighbor as yourself. If he had so loved, he would not have gone away sad when the Lord said, go, sell all that you have, and give to the poor. Chrysostom says that he spoke the truth, that he had kept the legal precepts; and this is confirmed by what is found in Mark 10:21, that Jesus looking on him loved him, which he would not have done unless he were good. For there is a twofold way. One sufficient for salvation; and this is the love of God and neighbor with benefit to oneself, without self-harm, according to what is found in 1 Corinthians 8:3: he who loves God is known by him, and this he had kept. The other is of perfection, namely to love one's neighbor with detriment to oneself; and this he had not kept; therefore when it was announced to him, he went away sad. With the first he was not content; therefore he asked, what is yet wanting to me? Everyone is bound to ask this question, according to what is said: make known to me, O Lord, my end, and what is the number of my days, that I may know what is wanting to me. For he alone knows what is wanting to us. Your eyes saw my imperfection (Ps 138:16).

FINAL DEPARTURE FROM GALILEE--DIVORCE. ( = Mar 10:1-12; Luk 9:51). (Mat 19:1-12) And it came to pass, that when Jesus had finished these sayings, he departed from Galilee--This marks a very solemn period in our Lord's public ministry. So slightly is it touched here, and in the corresponding passage of Mark (Mar 10:1), that few readers probably note it as the Redeemer's Farewell to Galilee, which however it was. See on the sublime statement of Luke (Luk 9:51), which relates to the same transition stage in the progress of our Lord's work. and came into the coasts--or, boundaries of Judea beyond Jordan--that is, to the further, or east side of the Jordan, into Perea, the dominions of Herod Antipas. But though one might conclude from our Evangelist that our Lord went straight from the one region to the other, we know from the other Gospels that a considerable time elapsed between the departure from the one and the arrival at the other, during which many of the most important events in our Lord's public life occurred--probably a large part of what is recorded in Luk 9:51, onward to Mat 18:15, and part of John 7:2-11:54.