Matthew 19:21

τέλειος. Used here in relation to τί ἔτι ὑστερῶ, ‘complete;’ not (1) in the deeper sense which the word sometimes bears in reference to the ancient mysteries, as 1 Corinthians 2:6, σοφίαν δὲ λαλοῦμεν ἐν τοῖς τελείοις (see also Colossians 1:28); nor (2) in the sense of ‘perfect’ in manhood, opposed to babes, as Philippians 3:15, ὅσοι οὖν τέλειοι τοῦτο φρονῶμεν (see also 1 Corinthians 14:20; Ephesians 4:13; Hebrews 5:14).

ὕπαγε, πώλησον κ.τ.λ. Jesus does indeed bid him do something, but to do that would be a proof of being perfect, it is the test for his special case, not a universal rule. With many it is more difficult to use wealth for Christ than to give it up for Christ. St Mark has the touching words ‘Jesus beholding him loved him.’ The incident recalls the parable of the ‘merchant man seeking goodly pearls’ (ch. Matthew 13:45-46). Here is a seeker after good, the pearl is found: will he not sell all that he hath and buy it?

The aorist πώλησον indicates the single act, ἀκολούθει the continual following of Christ. Cp. Dem. Phil. I. 14, ἐπειδὰν ἅπαντα� (‘decide once for all’), μὴ πρότερον προλαμβάνετε (‘don’t be prejudging as I go on’); and Eur. Med. 1248, λαθοῦ βραχεῖαν ἡμέραν παίδων σέθεν κἄπειτα θρήνει. ‘For one brief day forget, and then go on lamenting.’