The Pulpit Commentary — Luke — Volume 2 — Section 108

Teaoher." 'fhe great Heart-reader was all to the poor, and come, take up the cross reading the young man's thoughts, thoughts (Mark I. 21), and follow me, the home- whioh soon crystallized, as we shall see, less, land less Teacher whom you call by the into the refusal to do what he, whom he Divine title 'good.'" The "cross" of St. ohose to style "good," directed him to carry Mark only Jesus understood then in all its out. dread significance. It was coming then Ver. 20.-Thou knowest the oommand- very near; and the great Teacher saw that ments. The report in St. Matthew is some- !,is true servants, if they would indee<I what fuller. There the ruler, when directed follow him, mnst follow him along tbat to the commandments, replies by asking lonely road of suffering be was then tread- "which?" expecting most likely to be re- ing. "Via crucis, via lucis." The young ferred to some of the elaborate traditional ruler, with his great wealth, thought he had laws of the rabbinic schools, which were from his youth done bis whole duty to his difficult to keep even by men in the position neighbour. The Galilrean Master, whom he of a wealthy Pharisee; but to his surprise so reverenced and admired, reminc.led him Jesus mentions the most general and best- that out of those wide domains, those stored- kuown of the ancient ten. up riches, out of the mammon of unright- Ver. 21.-And he said, All these have I eousness, he had forgotten to make to him- kept from my youth up. He listens to the self friends who, when he diec.1, should Master with something like impatient sur- receive him into the etemal tents of heaven. prise. There is a ring of concealed indig- This is what be lacked. He had probably nation in his " All these have I ever kept. heard the Lord's teaching in the parables What do you take me for? I am a religious, of the unjust steward and of Lazarus. God-fearing Jew; from my child-days have Ver. 23.-And when he heard this, he I kept these." Kept . these I How little we.a very sorrowful : for he was very rich. the poor questioner knew the secrets of his St. Mark a.dds (a memory of Peter's) tl,at own heart! Yet he had answered Jesus when he heard this the ruler went away in the true spirit of a Pharisee trained care- frowning, with a lowering look. This waa fully in the rabbinic schools. We read, too much. He could not, even at the bid- for instance, in the Talmud how "when ding of that loved Teacher, give np the Rabbi Chaninah was dying, he said to the pleasant life he loved so well, the things he angel of death, • Go and fetch me the book prized so highly; so silently and sadly he of the Law, and see whether there is any- turned away. '!'he 'Gospel of the Hebrews,' thing in it which I have not kept.'" a very ancient document, dating from the Ver. 22.-Now when Jesus heard these first days of the faith, a few fragments only things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou of which have come down to us in qnota- one thing. St. Mark (x. 21), who had St. tions in the Fathers, thus describes the Peter's memories to draw from, adds here a scene: "Then the rich man begnn to very touching detail. "Jesus beholding scratch his head, for that was not to his him [looking earnestly at him] loved him." mind. And the Lord .aid to him, How There was something noble and true in that then canst thou say, I have kept the Law; life, struggling in the imperfect light of the for it is written in the Law, Thou ahe.lt love rabbinio teaching after eteruity a::id heaven, thy neighbour as thyself; and, lo I many of and feeling that in all its struggles some thy brethren, children of Abraham, live in element was surely wanting; and Jesus, as the gutter, and die of hunger, while thy he gazed on the young earnest face, loved table is loaded with good things, and nothing him, and proceeded to show him how far i3 sent out to them?" (quoted by Origen, in removed his life was as yet from the perfect l\1e.tt. xix.). Do.nte calls this "The Great life he dreamed of attaining to. He would Refusal," and represents the shade of the show him in e. moment how selfish, how young ruler among the throng of the use- earthly, we1·e his thoughts and aims; how less, of thoije who faced both ways (' Inferno,' firmly chained to earth that heart of his, x. 27). It is worthy of notice that them which he thought only longed for heaven. we.a no angry retort from the wealthy ruler, Sell all tha.t thou hast, and distribute unto no scornful, oynice.l smile of derision, as we the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in read of among the covetous, wealthy Phari- heaven: and come, follow me; " ,vell," the sees (eh. xvi. H). Still, in the heart of tllis Master said, "I will test you. You ~ay you soeker after the true wisdom there was 11, have from your ohild-days kept your whole sore confliot. Grieving, sorrow-stricken, duty to your neighbour; you say the.t you with gloomy looks,he turned away in silence. hunger after the higher righteousness. Do Ver. 24.-And when Jesus saw that he yon really? Will you indeed be perfect was very sorrowful, he said, How hardly (Me.tt. xix. 21)? Then I will tell you what shall they that he.ve riohes enter into the you le.ck. Go, sell those great possessions kingdom of God! The temptations which whloh I know you love so dearly, and give be~et a rich me.n are so many and so various.  112 THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. LUKE. [en. xvm. 1-43.