Matthew 19:16-22

The Rich Young Man Who Did Not Have The Humility And Openness Of A Little Child Because He Was Too Caught Up In His Riches And Thus Could Not Enter Under His Kingly Rule (19:16-22).

In total contrast to these receptive children who have nothing to offer but themselves was a rich young man whose heart was seeking truth, and who coveted the gift of eternal life. And it is this young man who now approaches Jesus. But sadly in his case there are other things that take up his heart. He does not come in humility and total openness. He is hindered by other things that possess his heart. And so when the final choice is laid before him, instead of coming openly and gladly to Jesus as the little children had done previously, he goes away sorrowfully, unable to relinquish the things that gripped his soul. He was thus unable to come with the simplicity of a little child. He had discovered that he could not serve God and Mammon (compare Matthew 6:24).

Analysis.

a Behold, one came to Him (Matthew 19:16 a).

b And said, “Teacher, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?” (Matthew 19:16 b).

c And He said to him, “Why do you ask Me concerning what is good? One there is who is good” (Matthew 19:17 a).

d “But if you would enter into life, keep the commandments” (Matthew 19:17 b).

e He says too Him, “Which?” And Jesus said, “You shall not kill, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness. Honour your father and mother, and, You shall love your neighbour as yourself” (Matthew 19:18).

d The young man says to Him, “All these things have I observed. What do I still lack?” (Matthew 19:20).

c Jesus said to him, “If you would be perfect, go, sell what you have, and give to the poor” (Matthew 19:21 a).

b “And you will have treasure in heaven, and come, follow Me” (Matthew 19:21 b).

a But when the young man heard the saying, he went away sorrowful, for he was one who had great possessions (Matthew 19:22).

Note that in ‘a' he comes eagerly seeking eternal life, and in the parallel he sorrowfully relinquishes eternal life because of his great possessions. In ‘b' he is eager for eternal life, and in the parallel he is offered treasure in Heaven, which assumes eternal life. In ‘c' he speaks of true goodness and in the parallel Jesus calls him to true goodness. In ‘d' he is told that if he would enter into life he must keep the commandments, and in the parallel he claims to have done so but says that he knows that he is still lacking something. Centrally in ‘e' Jesus summarises the sermon on the mount in terms of the commandments and Leviticus 19:18.