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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width; initial-scale=1.0; maximum-scale=1.0; user-scalable=0;"/><title>Matthew 19:21 Commentaries: Jesus said to him, "If you wish to be complete, go and sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me."</title><link rel="stylesheet" href="/newcom.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/print.css" type="text/css" media="Print" /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head> <script async src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtag/js?id=G-LR4HSKRP2H"></script> <script> window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; function gtag(){dataLayer.push(arguments);} gtag('js', new Date()); gtag('config', 'G-LR4HSKRP2H'); </script><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="../vmenus/matthew/19-21.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="/bmcom/matthew/19-21.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="http://biblehub.com">Bible</a> > <a href="http://biblehub.com/commentaries/">Commentaries</a> > Matthew 19:21</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="../matthew/19-20.htm" title="Matthew 19:20">◄</a> Matthew 19:21 <a href="../matthew/19-22.htm" title="Matthew 19:22">►</a></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse">Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go <i>and</i> sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come <i>and</i> follow me.</div><div id="jump">Jump to: <a href="/commentaries/alford/matthew/19.htm" title="Henry Alford - Greek Testament Critical Exegetical Commentary">Alford</a> • <a href="/commentaries/barnes/matthew/19.htm" title="Barnes' Notes">Barnes</a> • <a href="/commentaries/bengel/matthew/19.htm" title="Bengel's Gnomen">Bengel</a> • <a href="/commentaries/benson/matthew/19.htm" title="Benson Commentary">Benson</a> • <a href="/commentaries/illustrator/matthew/19.htm" title="Biblical Illustrator">BI</a> • <a href="/commentaries/calvin/matthew/19.htm" title="Calvin's Commentaries">Calvin</a> • <a href="/commentaries/cambridge/matthew/19.htm" title="Cambridge Bible">Cambridge</a> • <a href="/commentaries/chrysostom/matthew/19.htm" title="Chrysostom Homilies">Chrysostom</a> • <a href="/commentaries/clarke/matthew/19.htm" title="Clarke's Commentary">Clarke</a> • <a href="/commentaries/darby/matthew/19.htm" title="Darby's Bible Synopsis">Darby</a> • <a href="/commentaries/ellicott/matthew/19.htm" title="Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers">Ellicott</a> • <a href="/commentaries/expositors/matthew/19.htm" title="Expositor's Bible">Expositor's</a> • <a href="/commentaries/edt/matthew/19.htm" title="Expositor's Dictionary">Exp Dct</a> • <a href="/commentaries/egt/matthew/19.htm" title="Expositor's Greek">Exp Grk</a> • <a href="/commentaries/gaebelein/matthew/19.htm" title="Gaebelein's Annotated Bible">Gaebelein</a> • <a href="/commentaries/gsb/matthew/19.htm" title="Geneva Study Bible">GSB</a> • <a href="/commentaries/gill/matthew/19.htm" title="Gill's Bible Exposition">Gill</a> • <a href="/commentaries/gray/matthew/19.htm" title="Gray's Concise">Gray</a> • <a href="/commentaries/guzik/matthew/19.htm" title="Guzik Bible Commentary">Guzik</a> • <a href="/commentaries/haydock/matthew/19.htm" title="Haydock Catholic Bible Commentary">Haydock</a> • <a href="/commentaries/hastings/matthew/19-16.htm" title="Hastings Great Texts">Hastings</a> • <a href="/commentaries/homiletics/matthew/19.htm" title="Pulpit Homiletics">Homiletics</a> • <a href="/commentaries/icc/matthew/19.htm" title="ICC NT Commentary">ICC</a> • <a href="/commentaries/jfb/matthew/19.htm" title="Jamieson-Fausset-Brown">JFB</a> • <a href="/commentaries/kelly/matthew/19.htm" title="Kelly Commentary">Kelly</a> • <a href="/commentaries/king-en/matthew/19.htm" title="Kingcomments Bible Studies">King</a> • <a href="/commentaries/lange/matthew/19.htm" title="Lange Commentary">Lange</a> • <a href="/commentaries/maclaren/matthew/19.htm" title="MacLaren Expositions">MacLaren</a> • <a href="/commentaries/mhc/matthew/19.htm" title="Matthew Henry Concise">MHC</a> • <a href="/commentaries/mhcw/matthew/19.htm" title="Matthew Henry Full">MHCW</a> • <a href="/commentaries/meyer/matthew/19.htm" title="Meyer Commentary">Meyer</a> • <a href="/commentaries/parker/matthew/19.htm" title="The People's Bible by Joseph Parker">Parker</a> • <a href="/commentaries/pnt/matthew/19.htm" title="People's New Testament">PNT</a> • <a href="/commentaries/poole/matthew/19.htm" title="Matthew Poole">Poole</a> • <a href="/commentaries/pulpit/matthew/19.htm" title="Pulpit Commentary">Pulpit</a> • <a href="/commentaries/sermon/matthew/19.htm" title="Sermon Bible">Sermon</a> • <a href="/commentaries/sco/matthew/19.htm" title="Scofield Reference Notes">SCO</a> • <a href="/commentaries/ttb/matthew/19.htm" title="Through The Bible">TTB</a> • <a href="/commentaries/vws/matthew/19.htm" title="Vincent's Word Studies">VWS</a> • <a href="/commentaries/wes/matthew/19.htm" title="Wesley's Notes">WES</a> • <a href="#tsk" title="Treasury of Scripture Knowledge">TSK</a></div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="comtype">EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)</div><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/matthew/19.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(21) <span class= "bld">Jesus said unto him . . .</span>—St. Mark (<a href="/mark/10-21.htm" title="Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said to him, One thing you lack: go your way, sell whatever you have, and give to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.">Mark 10:21</a>) adds the striking and interesting words, “Jesus beholding him” (better, perhaps, <span class= "ital">gazing on him</span>)<span class= "ital">,</span> “loved him.” There was something in the young seeker after holiness which drew to him, in a measure altogether exceptional, the affection of the Great Teacher. The same word is used in regard to him which is used in relation to the “disciple whom Jesus loved,” and (here the coincidence takes its place in the chain of evidence for the view above suggested) to Lazarus, and Martha, and Mary (<a href="/john/11-5.htm" title="Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus.">John 11:5</a>). There was the fervour, the longing after a higher life, the personal trust, which made him a not unworthy object of the love of Jesus, and therefore He would not spare the discipline which the questioner needed, the test which, being such as he was, was required for the completeness of his life.<p><span class= "bld">If thou wilt be perfect.</span>—Better, <span class= "ital">if thou wishest.</span> St. Mark and St. Luke report the words, “One thing thou lackest,” reminding us forcibly of the “One thing is needful” of <a href="/luke/10-42.htm" title="But one thing is needful: and Mary has chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.">Luke 10:42</a>. (See Note on <a href="/matthew/19-16.htm" title="And, behold, one came and said to him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?">Matthew 19:16</a>.)<p><span class= "bld">Go and sell that thou hast.</span>—It would be altogether a mistake to see in this either an obligation binding on all seekers after eternal life, or even what has been called a “counsel of perfection,” a precept laying down an indispensable condition for all who aim at its higher forms and powers. It was strictly a remedy for the special evil which hindered the young ruler’s progress to perfection, applicable to others so far only as their cases are analogous. It would be idle to deny that there have been and are many such analogous types of character, and so far as any one is conscious of being under the power of wealth and its temptations, so far there is a call to some act asserting his victory over those temptations, in the spirit, if not in the letter, of the command thus given. But it is, we must remember, the spirit, and not the letter, which is binding. Distribution to the poor was then almost the only form of charity. A wider range of action is presented by the organisation of modern Christian societies, and the same sacrifice may be made in ways more productive of true and permanent good; in the foundation, <span class= "ital">e.g.,</span> of schools or hospitals, in the erection of churches, in the maintenance of home or foreign missions.<p><span class= "bld">Treasure in heaven.</span>—The parallelism with the Sermon on the Mount should not be forgotten (5:20). The “treasure” is the “eternal life” which the young ruler was seeking, the memory of good deeds, the character formed and perfected, the vision of the presence of God.<p><span class= "bld">Come and follow me.</span>—Here again St. Mark adds words that are pregnant with meaning, “Take up thy cross, and follow Me.” The seeker could not then understand all their significance. To the Teacher that cross was now coming, day by day, nearer, and He saw that each true disciple must be prepared to follow Him in that path of suffering, which was also the path of glory. “<span class= "ital">Via cruris, via lucis.</span>”<p><a name="mhc" id="mhc"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/mhc/matthew/19.htm">Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary</a></div>19:16-22 Christ knew that covetousness was the sin which most easily beset this young man; though he had got honestly what he possessed, yet he could not cheerfully part with it, and by this his want of sincerity was shown. Christ's promises make his precepts easy, and his yoke pleasant and very comfortable; yet this promise was as much a trial of the young man's faith, as the precept was of his charity and contempt of the world. It is required of us in following Christ, that we duly attend his ordinances, strictly follow his pattern, and cheerfully submit to his disposals; and this from love to him, and in dependence on him. To sell all, and give to the poor, will not serve, but we are to follow Christ. The gospel is the only remedy for lost sinners. Many abstain from gross vices who do not attend to their obligations to God. Thousands of instances of disobedience in thought, word, and deed, are marked against them in the book of God. Thus numbers forsake Christ, loving this present world: they feel convictions and desires, but they depart sorrowful, perhaps trembling. It behoves us to try ourselves in these matters, for the Lord will try us.<a name="bar" id="bar"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/barnes/matthew/19.htm">Barnes' Notes on the Bible</a></div>If thou wilt be perfect - The word "perfect" means complete in all its parts, finished, having no part wanting.<p>Thus a watch is perfect or complete when it has all its proper wheels, and hands, and casements in order. Job was said to be perfect (see the notes at <a href="/job/1-1.htm">Job 1:1</a>), not that he was sinless, for he is afterward reproved by God himself <a href="http://biblehub.com/job/38.htm">Job 38</a>; 39; <a href="/job/40-4.htm">Job 40:4</a>; but because his piety was properly proportioned, or had a completeness of parts. He was a pious father, a pious magistrate, a pious neighbor, a pious citizen. His religion was not confined to one thing, but it extended to all. Perfect means, sometimes, the filling up, or the carrying out, or the expression of a principle of action. Thus, <a href="/1_john/2-5.htm">1 John 2:5</a>; "Whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected." That is, the keeping of the commandments of God is the proper expression, carrying out, or completion of the love of God. This is its meaning here. If thou wilt be perfect, complete, finished - if thou writ show the proper expression of this keeping of the commandments, go, etc. Make the obedience complete. Mark says <a href="http://biblehub.com/mark/10-21.htm">Mark 10:21</a>, Jesus, beholding him, loved him. He was pleased with his amiableness, his correct character, his frankness, his ingenuousness. Jesus, as a man, was capable of all the emotions of most tender friendship. As a man, we may suppose that his disposition was tender and affectionate, mild and calm. Hence, he loved with special affection the disciple John, eminently endowed with these qualities; and hence he was pleased with the same traits in this young man. Still, with all this amiableness, there is reason to think he was not a Christian, and that the love of mere amiable qualities was all the affection that was ever bestowed on him by the Saviour.<p>"One thing," adds Mark, "thou lackest." There is one thing missing. You are not complete. This done, you would show that your obedience lacked no essential part, but was complete, finished, proportionate, perfect.<p>Go and sell that thou hast ... - The young man declared that he had kept the law. That law required, among other things, that he should love his neighbor as himself. It required, also, that he should love the Lord his God supremely; that is, more than all other objects. If he had that true love to God and man - if he loved his Maker and fellow-creatures more than he did his property, he would be willing to give up his wealth to the service of God and of man. Jesus commanded him to do this, therefore, to test his character, and to show him that he had not kept the law as he pretended, and thus to show him that he needed a better righteousness than his own.<p>Treasure in heaven - See the notes at <a href="/matthew/6-20.htm">Matthew 6:20</a>.<p>Follow me - To follow Jesus then meant to be a personal attendant on his ministry; to go about with him from place to place, as well as to imitate and obey him. Now it means:<p>1. to obey his commandments.<p>2. to imitate his example, and to live like him.<a name="jfb" id="jfb"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/jfb/matthew/19.htm">Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary</a></div>Mt 19:16-30. The Rich Young Ruler. ( = Mr 10:17-31; Lu 18:18-30).<p>For the exposition, see on [1330]Lu 18:18-30. <div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/poole/matthew/19.htm">Matthew Poole's Commentary</a></div> Mark repeats it thus, <span class="bld"><a href="/mark/10-21.htm" title="Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said to him, One thing you lack: go your way, sell whatever you have, and give to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.">Mark 10:21</a></span>, <span class="ital">Then Jesus</span> <span class="ital">beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou</span> <span class="ital">lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the</span> <span class="ital">poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up</span> <span class="ital">the cross, and follow me.</span> Luke, <span class="bld"><a href="/luke/18-22.htm" title="Now when Jesus heard these things, he said to him, Yet lack you one thing: sell all that you have, and distribute to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me.">Luke 18:22</a></span>, repeats it as Matthew, only he begins it with, <span class="ital">Yet lackest thou one thing.</span> Mark saith, that Jesus <span class="ital">beholding him loved him:</span> not with a special saving love, for he sent him away sad; upon his going he tells his disciples, that it was a very hard thing for a rich man to come to heaven; he tells him one thing was wanting to him: but he loved him with such a common love as he loveth all his creatures with, and more especially such as are better than others. All that can be concluded from hence is, that acts of moral righteousness are pleasing to God. He saith to him, <span class="ital">If thou wilt be perfect, </span> that is, in keeping the commandments of God. The papists make a great deal of stir to found upon this text their counsels of perfection; as if Christ here were advising only the young man to do something beyond what the law strictly required, in order to a more perfect state than others. But that this cannot be the sense of the words will appear to him who will diligently consider; <span class="p"><br /><br /></span>1. That this had been needless, for our Saviour, in directing the young man to keep the commandments in order to his obtaining everlasting life, had sufficiently declared that the keeping of the commandments was perfection enough. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span>2. He says, One thing is wanting to thee, that is, in order to thy obtaining everlasting life, which had not been true if our Saviour had granted him to have kept all the commandments, for he had before let him know that the keeping them was sufficient. Our Saviour therefore, by this speech, only endeavours to convince him that he had not kept all the commandments. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span> But it may be objected, How could that be, for there was no commandment that obliged him to go sell all that he had, and give to the poor? I answer, there was a commandment that he should love the Lord his God with all his heart, and soul, and strength, which he could not do unless he had a heart ready to obey any command God should lay upon him, which our Saviour puts upon the trial by this special precept: <span class="p"><br /><br /></span>3. There was a commandment of God that he should love his neighbour as himself, and that he should not covet. Now not to be ready at the commandment of God liberally to relieve the poor members of Christ, argued a covetous mind, more in love with his estate than with God; so as though this was not before specially commanded, yet it was commanded generally, and that he would have understood had he rightly understood the law of God; especially having such a promise annexed as <span class="ital">thou shalt have treasure in heaven.</span> <span class="p"><br /><br /></span>4. Nor must all the command be taken to be included in those <span class="ital">Go sell</span> <span class="ital">that thou hast, and give to the poor; </span> but the following words must also be taken in, <span class="ital">and come, take up the cross, and follow me.</span> Perfection here is not made to lie in a voluntary poverty only, but in coming after and following of Christ, with a free taking up of the cross. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span>In short, no man can be perfect in keeping the commandments of God, that doth not love God with all his heart, soul, and strength; nor can any man pretend to this, that hath not a heart ready to obey God in all things, whether more generally or more specially commanded. Nor can any man fulfil the duties of the second table, without first fulfil the duties of the first: for if our love to our neighbour flow not from a love to God, it is no act of obedience, and consequently no fulfilling of the law; which is not fulfilled by mere doing the external duty of it, but by doing what is required in it out of an obedience unto God, which cannot be without a first loving God. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="gil" id="gil"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/gill/matthew/19.htm">Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible</a></div>Jesus said unto him, if thou wilt be perfect,.... Wanting nothing, completely righteous, according to the tenor of the covenant of works, having no evil, concupiscence, or worldly lusts: our Lord signifies it was not enough to be possessed of negative holiness, and do no hurt to his neighbour, to his person, property, and estate, but he must love him, and do him good; and therefore, though so far as he had complied with the law, it was right and commendable; wherefore it is said by Mark, "that Jesus beholding him loved him"; had an affectionate regard to him as man, and approved of his intentions, seriousness, and actions, so far as agreeable; yet tells him, <p>one thing thou lackest: not but that he lacked many more, but he was only willing to observe one thing to him, as a trial of his love to his neighbour, which is the fulfilling of the law: <p>go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: not that either the law of God, or Gospel of Christ, require this to be done of all men, and at all times; for though it is a duty binding upon all, and always, to relieve the poor and the needy, yet a man is not obliged to give all that he has to them; see <a href="/2_corinthians/8-11.htm">2 Corinthians 8:11</a> nor does either legal or Christian perfection lie in doing this: a man may give all his goods to the poor and yet be destitute of the grace of God, <a href="/1_corinthians/13-3.htm">1 Corinthians 13:3</a> much less can such an action merit the heavenly treasure of eternal life. Nevertheless of some persons, and in some cases, it has been required, that they part with all their worldly substance, for the sake of Christ and his Gospel; as the apostles were called to leave all and follow Christ, as this man was also; for it is added, <p>and come and follow me: between these two, Mark puts, "take up the cross"; all which to do, was much more than to sell what he had, and give to the poor; and indeed, in this branch lies Gospel perfection, or to be really and truly a Christian: for to "come" to Christ, is to believe in him, lay hold on him, receive and embrace him as a Saviour and Redeemer; and to "follow" him, is to be obedient to his will, to be observant of his commands, to submit to his ordinances, and to imitate him in the exercise of grace, and discharge of duty; neither of which can be done, without "taking up the cross"; bearing reproach and persecution with patience; undergoing hardships and difficulties, of one sort or another, which attend faith in Christ, a profession of his name, and following him the Lamb, whithersoever he goes. The consequence of this now, not by way of merit, but by way of grace, is the enjoyment of the rich treasures of eternal glory: but this man was so far from complying with the latter, with coming to Christ, taking up the cross, and following him, that he could by no means agree to the former, parting with his worldly substance; and which is mentioned, as a test of his love to God and his neighbour, and to discover his sinful love of the world, and the things of it; and consequently, that he was far from being in a state of perfection. Moreover, it should be observed, that Christ is here speaking, not the pure language of the law, or according to the principles of the Gospel, when he seems to place perfection in alms deeds, and as if they were meritorious of eternal life; but according to the doctrine of the Pharisees, and which was of this man; and so upon the plan of his own notions, moves him to seek for perfection, and convicts him of the want of it, in a way he knew would be disagreeable to him; and yet he would not be able to disprove the method, on the foot of his own tenets: for this is their doctrine (e); <p>"It is a tradition, he that says this "sela", or shekel, is for alms, that my son may live, or I may be a son of the world to come, lo! , "this man is a perfect righteous man".'' <p>The gloss adds, <p>"In this thing; and he does not say that he does not do it for the sake of it, but he fulfils the command of his Creator, who has commanded him to do alms; and he also intends profit to himself, that thereby he may be worthy of the world to come, or that his children may live.'' <p>And so in answer to a question much like this, the young man put to Christ (f); <p>"How shall we come at the life of the world to come?'' <p>It is replied, <p>"take thy riches, and give to the fatherless and the poor, and I will give thee a better portion in the law.'' <p>(e) T. Bab. Pesach. fol. 8. 1, 2. & Roshhashanah, fol. 4. 1.((f) Zohar in Gen. fol. 60. 4. <a name="gsb" id="gsb"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/gsb/matthew/19.htm">Geneva Study Bible</a></div><span class="cverse2">Jesus said unto him, If <span class="cverse3">{n}</span> thou wilt be perfect, go <i>and</i> sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come <i>and</i> follow me.</span><p>(n) The young man did not answer truly in saying that he had kept all the commandments: and therefore Christ sets forth an example of true charity before him, to show the disease that lay lurking in his mind.</div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><div class="comtype">EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)</div><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/meyer/matthew/19.htm">Meyer's NT Commentary</a></div><a href="/matthew/19-21.htm" title="Jesus said to him, If you will be perfect, go and sell that you have, and give to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.">Matthew 19:21</a>. <span class="greekheb">Τέλειος</span>] <span class="ital">perfect</span>, one, who for the obtaining of eternal life, <span class="greekheb">οὐδὲν ἔτι ὑστερεῖ</span>. <span class="ital">In accordance with the moral tendencies and disposition which He discerned in the young man</span>, Jesus demands from him that moral perfection to which, from not finding satisfaction in legalism, he was striving to attain. The following requirement, then, is a <span class="ital">special</span> test for a <span class="ital">special</span> case,[3] though it is founded upon the universal duty of absolute self-denial and devotion to Christ; nor is it to be regarded merely in the light of a <span class="ital">recommendation</span>, but as a <span class="ital">command</span>. Observe that the Lord does not prescribe this to him as his sole duty, but only in connection with <span class="greekheb">ἀκολούθει μοι</span>. It was intended, by pressing this requirement upon him, that the young man should be led to realize his own shortcomings, and so be enabled to see the necessity of putting forth far higher efforts than any he had hitherto made. It was meant that he should feel himself weak, with a view to his being made morally strong; accordingly it is precisely upon the weak side of the young man’s character that Jesus imposes so heavy a task, for with all his inward dissatisfaction he was not aware of his actual weakness in that direction.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="greekheb">πτωχοῖς</span>] <span class="ital">the poor</span>.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="greekheb">ἐν οὐρανῷ</span>] thou wilt have (instead of thy <span class="ital">earthly</span> goods) a treasure <span class="ital">in heaven</span>, i.e. <span class="ital">in the hands of God</span>, where it will be securely kept till it comes to be bestowed at the setting up of the Messiah’s kingdom. Comp. <a href="/matthew/5-12.htm" title="Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.">Matthew 5:12</a>, <a href="/matthew/6-20.htm" title="But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust does corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:">Matthew 6:20</a>. For the whole saying, comp. <span class="ital">Avoda Sara</span> f. 64, 1 : “Vendite omnia, quae habetis, et porro oportet, ut fiatis proselyti.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span>[3] The Catholics found upon this passage the <span class="ital">conmlium evangelicum</span> of <span class="ital">poverty</span>, as well as the <span class="ital">opera süpererogativa</span> in general. See, on the other hand, Müller, <span class="ital">von d. Sunde</span>, I. p. 69 ff., ed. 5.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/egt/matthew/19.htm">Expositor's Greek Testament</a></div><a href="/matthew/19-21.htm" title="Jesus said to him, If you will be perfect, go and sell that you have, and give to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.">Matthew 19:21</a>. <span class="greekheb">εἰ θέλες τέλειος εἶναι</span> (on <span class="greekheb">τέλειος</span> <span class="ital">vide</span> <a href="/matthew/5-48.htm" title="Be you therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.">Matthew 5:48</a>): if you wish to reach your end, the true life and the rest it brings.—<span class="greekheb">ὕπαγε</span>, etc.: go, sell off, distribute to the poor, and then come, follow me—such is the advice Christ gives: His final lesson for this inquirer. It is a subjective counsel relative to the individual. Jesus sees he is well-to-do, and divines where the evil lies. It is doubtful if he cares passionately, supremely for the true life; doubtful if he be <span class="greekheb">τέλειος</span> in the sense of <span class="ital">single-mindedness</span>. It is not a question of one more thing to do, but of the state of the heart, which the suggestion to sell off will test. The invitation to become a disciple is seriously meant. Jesus, who repelled some offering themselves, thinks so well of this man as to desire him for a disciple. He makes the proposal <span class="ital">hopefully</span>. Why should so noble a man not be equal to the sacrifice? He makes it with the firm belief that in no other way can this man become happy. <span class="ital">noblesse oblige</span>. The nobler the man, the more imperative that the heroic element in him have full scope. A potential apostle, a possible Paul even, cannot be happy as a mere wealthy merchant or landowner. It is “a counsel of perfection,” but not in the ascetic sense, as if poverty were the sure way to the higher Christian life; rather in the sense of the adage: of him to whom much is given shall much be required.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/cambridge/matthew/19.htm">Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges</a></div><span class="bld">21</span>. <span class="ital">If thou wilt be perfect</span>] i. e. “if thou desirest to be perfect.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="ital">go and sell that thou hast</span>] Jesus does indeed bid him do something, but to <span class="ital">do</span> that would be a proof of <span class="ital">being</span> perfect, it is <span class="ital">the</span> 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. <a href="/context/matthew/13-45.htm" title="Again, the kingdom of heaven is like to a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls:...">Matthew 13:45-46</a>). Here is a seeker after good, the pearl is found: will he not sell all that he hath and buy it?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/bengel/matthew/19.htm">Bengel's Gnomen</a></div><a href="/matthew/19-21.htm" title="Jesus said to him, If you will be perfect, go and sell that you have, and give to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.">Matthew 19:21</a>. <span class="greekheb">Ἔφη αὐτῷ ὁ Ἰησοῦς</span>, <span class="greekheb">κ</span>.<span class="greekheb">τ</span>.<span class="greekheb">λ</span>., <span class="ital">Jesus said unto him</span>, etc.) As the young man asks more, and binds himself to more, more is proposed to him.—<span class="greekheb">τέλειος</span>, <span class="ital">perfect</span>) He <span class="ital">is perfect</span> to whom nothing is <span class="ital">wanting</span> that he may enter into life eternal. As he urgently asks it, our Lord proposes to him the most glorious condition, the nearest to that of an apostle.—<span class="greekheb">ὕπαγε</span>—<span class="greekheb">καὶ δεῦρο</span>, <span class="greekheb">ἀκολούθει Μοι</span>, <span class="ital">go—and come, follow Me</span>) sc. immediately. It is a command, not a counsel;[870] necessary, not optional (cf. <a href="/context/matthew/19-24.htm" title="And again I say to you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God....">Matthew 19:24-25</a>); but particular, not universal, accommodated to the idiosyncrasy of his soul, to whom it was addressed. For many followed Jesus, to whom He did not give this command. He may be perfect, who still possesses wealth; he may give all to the poor, who is very far from perfection.[871] Our Lord’s words laid an obligation on the man who offered himself ultroneously, and that so unreservedly; although to him, being as yet somewhat of a stranger, it was not expressly enjoined, but rather given in the form of advice to one seeking advice. In the case of others, who are not yet able to receive peculiar commands, a compensation is made by the leading of divine Providence.—<span class="greekheb">πώλησον</span>, <span class="greekheb">κ</span>.<span class="greekheb">τ</span>.<span class="greekheb">λ</span>., <span class="ital">sell</span>, etc.) If the Lord had said, Thou art rich, and art too fond of thy riches, the young man would have denied it: wherefore, instead of so doing, He demands immediately a direct proof[872] [of the contrary].—<span class="greekheb">ἕξεις</span>, <span class="greekheb">κ</span>.<span class="greekheb">τ</span>.<span class="greekheb">λ</span>., <span class="ital">thou shalt have</span>, etc.) A promise inserted in the command, and at once surely guaranteed: <span class="ital">q.d.</span> Thou shalt have, and thou shalt know that thou hast.[873]—<span class="greekheb">θησαυρὸν</span>, <span class="ital">treasure</span>) The inheritance is called treasure, in opposition to worldly goods. Dost thou wish to be rich? Seek this treasure.—<span class="greekheb">ἀκολούθει Μοι</span>, <span class="ital">follow Me</span>) Instruction in faith would not then be wanting.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span>[870] As opposed to the Romish doctrine of “counsels of perfection,” on which they build the notion of works of ‘supererogation’: quoting this instance in support of their theory.—ED.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span>[871] Zaccheus, as recorded <a href="/luke/19-8.htm" title="And Zacchaeus stood, and said to the Lord: Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold.">Luke 19:8</a>, when distributing one half of his goods to the poor, obtained the Lord’s commendation. [He was not required to give <span class="ital">all</span> that he had to the poor: nay, what he did give was voluntarily, not by command.—ED.]—V. g.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span>[872] In the original the words are, “ipsum statim documentum postulat:” lit. “he demands <span class="ital">the very</span> proof.”—(I. B.)<span class="p"><br /><br /></span>[873] For already now, in this life, those things which are needful are freely held out to believers from this treasure, <a href="/matthew/19-29.htm" title="And every one that has forsaken houses, or brothers, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundred times, and shall inherit everlasting life.">Matthew 19:29</a>.—V. g.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="pul" id="pul"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/matthew/19.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 21.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">If thou wilt</span> (<span class="greek">θέλεις</span>) <span class="cmt_word">be perfect.</span> I believe what you tell me. You have led a religious life in the ordinary way; now yon aspire to higher things; you have a noble ambition to serve God more completely; yon have the power, if you have the will, to do so; I will tell you how. To be "perfect" is to be lacking in nothing that is required for life eternal. It is spoken of Noah and Job; it is required of Christ's disciples (<a href="/matthew/5-48.htm">Matthew 5:48</a>). Christ is here giving a counsel of perfection, as it is called, not of obligation on all men, but suited to the idiosyncrasy of this particular inquirer, and of others who are capable of such absolute self-surrender and trustfulness. <span class="cmt_word">Go</span> and <span class="cmt_word">sell that thou hast.</span> Go back to thy home, and sell all thy substance, all thy possessions. This was the counsel which Jesus gave, denoting the stumbling block which lay in the way of the ruler's endeavours after perfection. He was voluntarily to deprive himself of the earthly thing to which he fondly clung, his wealth, and to embrace a life of poverty and hardship. <span class="cmt_word">Give to the poor.</span> The money obtained by the sale of his possessions he was to distribute, not to relations and friends, who might make some return, but to the poor, from whom he could expect no recompense. <span class="cmt_word">And thou shalt have treasure in heaven</span> (<a href="/matthew/5-12.htm">Matthew 5:12</a>; <a href="/matthew/6-20.htm">Matthew 6:20</a>). Thou shalt obtain that which thou desirest, eternal life. Not that stripping one's self of goods and giving to the poor does necessarily ensure the great reward, but, in this youth's case, such a sacrifice, such a victory over the besetting sin, would be the turning point in his character, and enable him to conquer all lesser temptations, and win the prize of his high calling. Here was to be proved love of man. But there was one more element in the required perfection, viz. love of God. <span class="cmt_word">Come</span> and <span class="cmt_word">follow me</span>. St Mark adds, "take up the cross." If he would have apostolic perfection, he must embrace the apostolic life. He must give up wealth, position, earthly ties, earthly occupations, must cast in his lot with the despised Jesus, suffer with him, and, if necessary, die with him. The twelve apostles had accepted Christ's call on these terms; from him was demanded the same sacrifice the same test of sincerity. He had wished to be exceptionally good; exceptional conduct was required from him in order to reach this high standard. The condition imposed, severe as it undoubtedly was, exactly suited the case, showed the weak spot in the ruler's character, and, if accepted fully and heartily, would have led him to perfection. Reading these words of our Lord, St. Anthony was so stricken in heart and conscience that he obeyed them literally, stripped himself of everything that he had, distributed to the needy, and went forth poor and naked, trusting to God to provide for him. Many in all ages, inspired by ardent love of life eternal, have done the same. We shall do well to recognize that there are two ways of serving God acceptably - there is the good life required from all religious Christians, and there is the life of perfection to which some, by God's special grace, are called, and which they embrace and fulfil. It was the latter life that Christ put before this young man. 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