Matthew 19:16

16 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 Meaning and Commentary

Matthew 19:16

And behold, one came
The Persic version reads, "a rich man"; and so he was, as appears from what follows: Luke calls him, "a certain ruler"; not of a synagogue, an ecclesiastical ruler, but a civil magistrate: perhaps he might be one of the sanhedrim, which consisted of "twenty one" persons; or of that which consisted only of "three", as in some small towns and villages Mark represents him as "running"; for Christ was departed out of the house, and was gone into the way, the high road, and was on his journey to some other place, when this man ran after him with great eagerness; and, as the same evangelist adds, "kneeled to him"; thereby paying him civil respect, and honour; believing him to be a worthy good man, and deserving of esteem and veneration:

and said unto him, good master:
some say, that this was a title which the Jewish doctors were fond of, and gave to each other, but I have not observed it; he seems by this to intimate, that he thought him not only to be a good man, but a good teacher; that he was one that came from God, and taught good doctrine, which induced him to run after him, and put the following question to him:

what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?
Or, as in the other evangelists, "inherit eternal life"; a phrase much in use with the Jewish Rabbins ^F1:

``Judah confessed, and was not ashamed, and what is his end? (abh Mlweh yyx lxn) , "he inherits the life of the world to come" (i.e. eternal life); Reuben confessed, and was not ashamed, and what is his end? "he inherits the life of the world to come".''

This man was no Sadducee, he believed a future state; was a serious man, thoughtful about another world, and concerned how he should enjoy everlasting life; but was entirely upon a legal bottom, and under a covenant of works; and speaks in the language and strain of the nation of Israel, who were seeking for righteousness and life by the works of the law: he expected eternal life by doing some good thing, or things; and hoped, as the sequel shows, that he had done every good thing necessary to the obtaining it.

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FOOTNOTES:

F1 T. Bab. Sota, fol. 7. 2.

Matthew 19:16 In-Context

14 But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not to come to me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.

15 And he laid [his] hands on them, and departed thence.

16 And behold, one came and said to him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?

17 And he said to him, Why callest thou me good? [there is] none good but one, [that is], God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.

18 He saith to him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness,