The Pulpit Commentary — Matthew — Volume 2 — Section 246

of the first; and "Thou shalt love thy to know what more was required of him, neighbour ns thyself," those of the second and being ready, as be thought, to undergo (Lev. xix. 18). Thou ■halt love thy neigh- any pain, make any, even the most pa.info} bour as thyself. St. Mnrk and St. Luke effort, if by so doing he might win the prize omit this olnuse: the lntter adds, "De- on whioh bis son! was set. fmud not." According to our text, Christ Ver. 21.-lf thou wilt (8b,m) be perfeot. gives four negative and two positive com- I believe wha.t you tell me. You ba.ve led mnnds; the fost being a summary taken from a religious life in the ordinary way; now Lev. xix. 18 (comp. Ilorn. xiii. 9, 10; Gal. you aspire to higher things ; you have a v. 14). It hna been questioned why our noble ambition to serve God more com- Lord omits the tenth commandment (aa we pletely; you have the power, if you hava call it) from the cntalogne. Virtually he the will, to do ao; I will tell you how. To introduces it in ver. 21: but he may have be "perfect" is to be lacking in nothing refrained from formally mentioning it be- that is req nired for life eternal. It is cause eovetousnesa was the ruler's besetting spoken of Noah and Job; it is required of sin, and the marked omission of this precept Christ's disciples (eh. v. 48). Christ is might force the man to reflect upon this here giving a counsel of perfection, as it ia foiling, which would wreck his spiritual called, not of obligation on all men, but ·life. On the other hand, it may be that suited to the idiosyncrasy of this particular Christ is not intending to give an epitome inquirer, and of others who are capable oJ of man's duty: but affording merely an out- such absolute self-surrender and trustful- line of the same, he naturally passes over ness. Oo and sell that thou hast. Go some portion without special mention, back to thy home, nnd sell all thy sul> Ver. 20.-All these things have I kept stance, all thy possessions. This was the [from my youth up]. The bracketed words counsel which Jesus gave, denoting the ere omitted in some good manuscripts, and stumbling-block which lay in the way of by most modern editors; but they have the ruler's endeavours after perfection. He high authority, end are found in most was voluntarily to deprive himself of the versions, and in the parallel passages of Mark earthly thing to which he fondly clung, his end Luke. They accurately express the wealth, and to embrace a. life of povert7 ruler's view of his conduct. He could say and hardship. Give to the poor. The without hesitation or mental reservation money obtained by the sale of his possessions that ho had scrupulously observed. the he was to distribute, not to relations and duties of the Decalogue from the time that friends, who might make some return, but to he kuew right from wrong. Of course, we the poor, from whom he conld expect no re- accuse one who could make such a state- compense. And thou shalt have treasure in ment of self-righteousness, of ignorance of heaven ( eh. v. 12; vi. 20). Thon shalt obto.ia the spirit of the Law which he claimed to that which thou desireRt, eternal life. Not have obeyed : and if one of us spoke thus that stripping one's self of goods o.nd giving ,presumptuously, we should rightly condemn to the poor does necessarily ensure the g-rea.t 'him; we should say that outward service reward, but, in this youth's ease, such a and legal notions of duty were of little sacrifice, such a victory over the besetting worth, and could not secure eternal life. sin, would be the turning-point in his But our Lord treated the young man character, and enable him to conquer all difforontly. He did not blame him es lesser temptations, and win the prize of his boastful and self-deceiving; he had no high oolling. Here was to be proved love reproof for his seemingly presumptuous of man. But there was one more element assertion; he recognized. hie simplicity, in the required. perfection, viz. love of God. honesty, and sincerity, and St. Mark tells Come and follow ms. St Mnrk adds, "take us that "Josue beholding [looking upon, or up the cross." If he would have apostolic into] him, loved him." He read the youth's perfection, he must embrace the apostolic heart, saw how pure and guileleBB it was, life. He must give up wealth, position, reoognized in him the possibility of great earthly ties, earthly occupations, must OBBt things, and that he was worthy of the in hie lot with the despised Jesus, suffer saintly life. The ruler felt that there was with him, and, if necessary, die with him. more to come; hence he asks, What laok I The twelve apostles had accepted Christ'8 yet 1 Ti r.r, ilcrnpiii; In what respect nm call on these terms; from him was demanded. I still deficient ? How do I come short of the same sacrifice, the same test of sincerity. eternal life ? He had still a sense of want. He had wished to be exceptionally good ; All that he had done had not given him exceptional coniLuot was required from him pco.ce of mini. Hence l1ia inquiry. From in order to reach this hlgh standard. Tlie a Christian the question would savour of condition imposed, severe as it undoubtedly ignorance l\Dd unspirituality: but this man was, exactly suited the case, showed the uked it in all sincerity, desiring earnestly weak spot in the ruler's ohs.raoter, and, iJ -  250 THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. l\IATTHEW. [oH, ux. 1-80.