Matthew 19:17

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 19:17

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 19:17

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 19:17

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 19:16-22

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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

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

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