Matthew 19:21, commentary and pictures

Jesus spoke these words to a young ruler in Israel who claimed to have kept the commandments from his youth yet asked what he still lacked to inherit eternal life and truly desired to become His disciple. To be perfect meant to remedy his one great defect by giving God the whole heart in love for God and neighbor, to sell and give to the poor meant to put entrusted wealth in its proper place in relieving need, to have treasure in heaven meant to exchange seen earthly treasure for unseen enduring reward, and to follow meant to place will and life under Christ's control. The command touched the plague spot of his life, exposing that his great possessions had become his idol and stood between him and eternal life, making it impossible to love God supremely and neighbor as self. Perfection is fulfilling the law by that supreme love shown in practical self-denial, surrendering whatever nurtures selfishness and giving Christ all one has and is in taking up the cross. Treasure in heaven is the imperishable inheritance secured on condition of such surrender and following, and the terms reach all who would follow Jesus, not only the rich, though not all are asked to sell everything in the same way.

Setting and Wording

Jesus spoke these words as His answer to a young man, a ruler in Israel, who came to learn what he must do to inherit eternal life. The inquirer claimed to have kept the commandments from his youth and asked what he still lacked, with earnest desire to become Jesus' disciple and to have his soul satisfied. He came willing to be taught, drawn by Christ's compassion for the poor and ignorant and by His meekness and lowliness of heart, and the command laid before him a close, searching test of perfection demanding perfect understanding and full surrender. He found the teaching too much, and his sorrow because he had great possessions showed he would not accept the call to sell, give to the poor, store treasure in heaven, and follow. The surrounding exchange connects that demand with entering eternal life and being perfect, and shows that wealth can make entrance into God's kingdom difficult.

The account stands in Matthew 19:16-30 with parallels in Mark 10:17-31 and Luke 18:18-30, and it leads directly into the parable of the laborers in Matthew 20:1-16. The event prompted Jesus to correct a grasping, mercenary view of reward and to show that God's favor is free grace, not something earned by human works. Treasure in heaven was held out as a conditional promise to the young ruler, joined to giving up his possessions for the poor and following Jesus. Peter remembered this promise and asked what reward he and the other disciples would receive for what they had left behind. The disciples had fulfilled the condition of forsaking all by leaving their all, which was only a few fishing boats and nets, and Christ did not reproach them for leaving little but accepted their sacrifice like the widow's mite, because it was all they had and was as dear to them as the riches of the wealthy. With tenderness and compassion He promises that those who have followed Him will in the regeneration sit with the Son of man on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel, and that everyone who has left houses, family, or lands for His name will receive a hundredfold and inherit everlasting life, though many that are first shall be last and the last first.

The ruler was sincere, of pleasing appearance, outward piety, high motives and high capabilities, and truly desired eternal life and a perfect character fitted to live with God. His coming was not pretense, for he fully desired to be as Christ was and realized the importance of gaining future eternal life and being fitted to live eternally with God in the world to come as a wonderful reward. He was not ignorant of the service owed to God and was fully convinced a place of happiness is prepared for all who in this life obey God's commands, and he realized he must work out a perfect character to gain a place in the abodes of bliss, thinking himself an honest seeker, attracted and charmed by Christ's life and teaching. Yet his exalted position and possessions subtly harmed his character and, if cherished, would take God's place in his affections. Holding back anything from God weakened his moral strength and usefulness, for cherished worldly things, however uncertain or unworthy, would absorb his heart, and obeying Christ's words was his only hope of salvation.

To be perfect meant remedying the one great defect that would mar the whole life unless remedied and rob of eternal life, giving God the whole heart rather than allowing possessions to become an idol. It meant putting possessions at God's service and following Christ in love expressed through care for one's neighbor, with perfect understanding and full surrender in love for God and neighbor. To sell what was possessed and give to the poor meant putting wealth in its proper place and using goods entrusted by God as a faithful steward to relieve suffering, lead others to the Saviour, and bless those in need. That call embraced poverty of soul, not only material giving, and using wealth to relieve suffering and win others would have been faithful stewardship and treasure in heaven. Treasure in heaven is the unseen reward offered in exchange for seen earthly treasure, an imperishable, immortal inheritance secure with God, offered on condition of obeying Christ's call. Giving to those in need and using talents to advance God's kingdom stores that imperishable treasure, and giving increases it for rich and poor alike. To come and follow meant placing will, resources, and life under Christ's control and guidance, sharing in Christ's self-denial and becoming a co-worker in restoring God's moral image in humanity. The command did not specify every detail, and the ruler could have sought Christ's counsel about how to carry it out, for placing wealth at Christ's disposal is duty since God owns all earthly goods and gives means and talents, not a special sacrifice beyond what is owed. Christ had given up heaven and become poor, making it possible to keep God's commandments and receive that treasure, while the ruler's refusal showed his heart bound to earthly possessions and prizing the gift above the Giver.

Jesus gave this answer kindly and tenderly, plainly and distinctly showing the ruler where he failed and what stood in the way of gaining eternal life. He made His will clear without compelling, leaving the ruler free to obey or refuse. The command tested him on worldly possessions, which were his idol, and he wanted both heavenly treasure and the temporal advantages his riches brought, desiring eternal life without sacrifice. To give up earthly treasure that was seen for heavenly treasure that was unseen seemed too great a risk, so he failed the test, refused the offer of eternal life, went away sorrowful because he had great possessions, and gave his worship ever after to the world.

Heart Exposed by Command

The command laid its finger on the plague spot of his life, naming the one great defect that stood between him and eternal life. His great possessions had become his idol, holding his heart with supreme love and swallowing up his affections in earthly treasure. To be perfect he was told to sell what he had, give to the poor, gain treasure in heaven, and follow in self-denial, which would remove the obstacle and put wealth in its proper place. His unwillingness to do this proved he was not a true lover of God, for riches that are clung to claim the worship.

That supreme love made it impossible for him to love God with all heart, soul, and mind, and it shut his eyes to the wants of his fellow men. His claim to have kept the commandments from his youth was therefore false and self-deceived, for he failed the first four containing duty to God and failed the last six requiring love of neighbor as self. What he lacked was not outward obedience but the vital principle of God's love in the soul, the self-giving love and essential spirit of the law without which nature becomes corrupted. The test exposed the difference between keeping the letter and having a heart fully in harmony with God, showing that keeping the commandments is necessary for entering life and includes practical duties toward others.

He loved his possessions better than God and better than the heavenly treasure, better than fellow men and better than truth. He prized the honor and power that wealth brings, with its riches, standing, and temporal advantages, above Christ the Giver and above the immortal reward and heavenly inheritance. His besetting sin and fatal lack of character was self-love and selfishness, expressed as covetousness and selfish indulgence that would not obey when obedience required surrendering what he loved. Selling and giving to the poor would have loosened his affections from earthly treasure and shown obedience, following the example of One who left riches and glory and became poor that men might become rich.

He truly wanted eternal life, yet he wanted it without sacrifice, wanting to keep both his great possessions and the heavenly treasure. To exchange the seen for the unseen seemed too great a risk, so the condition chilled his desire when it tested how much higher he prized eternal life than riches. Instead of eagerly laying hold of eternal life and removing the obstacle, he went away sorrowful because he had great possessions, refusing the offer. His refusal left the world receiving his worship ever after, for wealth he would not surrender claimed his service.

That sorrowful going away was saying no to Christ, turning from the Saviour rather than accepting Him as leader. It was rejecting the offer of eternal life and renouncing immortal life for money and power. He wanted heaven but chose to retain his earthly treasure, choosing wealth and the world over heaven and discipleship. The demand reached beyond a single act of selling, calling him to give all he had and all he was and to place resources and life at Christ's disposal as a co-worker, and by turning away on that condition he chose earthly treasure over following.

Perfection Through Obedient Love

Obedience to the commandments is necessary for entering life, and the command to sell, give to the poor, and follow applies the moral law to the heart's defect of attachment to possessions. Strict obedience to the letter is not enough without a heart fully in harmony with God, for the claim to have kept the commandments from youth was self-deception when great possessions stood in the way of loving God with the whole heart. Jesus tested the claim by the law of righteousness requiring love for neighbor as oneself, and unwillingness to follow in self-denial proved the absence of true love for God and others. Valuing entrusted possessions more than heavenly treasure makes it impossible both to keep them selfishly and to follow Christ.

Perfection is fulfilling the law by supreme love to God and love to neighbor put into practical duties toward others. Faithful stewardship uses wealth to relieve suffering and win others to the Saviour, which is treasure in heaven and valuing heavenly treasure above possessions. To be perfect is to give God the whole heart rather than allow possessions to become an idol, transferring affections to God, sharing Christ's self-denial, and becoming a co-worker in restoring God's moral image in humanity. Whatever nurtures selfishness must be surrendered, for exalted position and possessions subtly harm character and if cherished take God's place in the affections, absorb the heart, weaken moral strength and usefulness, and corrupt the whole person. The sorrowful refusal proved self-love supreme, loving possessions above God and His service and more than the souls of fellow men, and showed the claim to have kept the commandments false since they require the whole person.

The law must be respected and loved, not set aside, and the ruler needed to accept Christ as Saviour and receive His righteousness. Faith in Christ's merits does not excuse breaking God's law but clothes believers with Christ's righteousness, and joined with divine power enables obedience. Goodness is to be found in Christ's perfection by the humble, contrite heart with supreme love for God that mere sincere outward keeping lacked.

The demand reached beyond a single act of selling to giving Christ all he had and all he was. It meant leaving all — home, property, relationships, wealth, comfort, and ease — yielding self, placing will under Christ's control, taking up the cross in self-denial, and walking under His guidance. Obedience must enter the life and shape the character, with resources and life placed at His disposal as co-worker in God's work, growing in His presence and reflecting God's likeness, so that abilities become a power for good when supreme love of self is surrendered for the love of God to fill the heart. All a person has is to be consecrated to God, since possessions are entrusted for service to the needy, and clinging to them selfishly rather than supporting God's work rejects sacrificial love, while turning away on this condition is saying no to Christ. The offer was God's holiness and the privilege of becoming God's son and co-heir with Christ, to be received only by following.

This call expresses the rule for all who would follow Jesus, not merely a special demand for people in high positions or with great wealth, and nothing short of obedience is acceptable because cherished attachments must be cut away. Obeying Christ's words was the ruler's only hope of salvation, and self-surrender and sacrifice are necessary for discipleship and perfection of character. Yet not everyone is asked to sell everything or serve in the same way, for God does not require selling homes that are needed but calls those with abundance to part willingly with some property according to need, accepting different offerings of ministry or means while each person consecrates life and all its interests to His service. Giving is a privilege, and if those who have means refuse, others willing to sacrifice even their homes may be called.

Like Judas, who was also selfish and covetous, the ruler would not obey when obedience required surrendering what he loved, but cherished his faults. The command to sell, give, and follow exposed the heart's failure to live out the commandments, and Judas could have received the same call to keep them yet went on to betrayal. That command presents the great test of love and self-sacrifice by which character is revealed at the final judgment.

Treasure in Heaven Promised

Treasure in heaven is an imperishable, immortal inheritance kept secure with God, the enduring riches of eternal life itself. It is offered on the condition of obeying Christ's call to surrender riches and follow Him, giving God the whole heart rather than letting possessions become an idol. What was entrusted is to be used as a faithful steward for God's service and the blessing of others in both material need and poverty of soul, honoring the Giver rather than prizing the gift above Him. The ruler's claim to have kept the commandments was therefore false, since those commandments require the whole person, and riches can hinder obedience and a clear understanding of truth unless complete surrender replaces acting as one pleases. Peter remembered this conditional promise when he asked what reward he and the other disciples would receive for what they had left behind.

Earthly treasure is transferred to heaven by using entrusted goods to bless the widow and fatherless, relieve physical and spiritual need, become rich in good works, and imitate a self-denying, cross-bearing life. Giving to those in need and using means and talents to advance God's kingdom stores imperishable treasure, and such giving increases that treasure for rich and poor alike, since God owns all earthly goods and placing wealth at Christ's disposal is duty rather than a special sacrifice beyond what is owed. The command did not specify every detail, and the ruler could have sought counsel about how to carry it out, but his sorrowful refusal showed love of riches outweighing love for others and the heavenly inheritance, choosing earthly wealth over heaven. His claim to obey did not remove his failure to love neighbor as self, and those who choose riches over doing good show themselves unprepared for heaven, for possessions are lent for God's glory. Generosity toward the poor would have blessed others, brought him greater happiness, and laid up treasure in heaven.

The promise reflects Christ's own example, for He left glory, honor, and riches to save humanity and became poor so that people through Him might become rich and be enabled to keep God's commandments. Following Him therefore requires surrendering everything one has and is, even accepting humiliation and reproach, which is not more than Christ gave when He took human nature. Selling possessions and giving to the poor would have loosened affection from earthly treasure and shown obedience to God's requirements, yet the man prized the honor and power of wealth more than eternal life, and riches can make generosity harder until people give up the immortal reward rather than part with possessions. Bearing the cross may bring suffering now, but each act of self-denial enriches the giver and increases joy and the immortal reward to come.

No one can keep riches selfishly and have treasure in heaven too, for love of Jesus and love of riches cannot dwell in the same heart. Those who cling to riches rather than help the poor or support God's cause show by their actions that they do not prize the heavenly treasure, loving possessions more than the heavenly inheritance and valuing eternal life less than wealth. A heart set on riches with a miser's grasp cannot love Jesus and have the true riches, and when light given is not cherished it becomes darkness while worldly cares and riches choke the word. Yet with God it is possible for a rich man to enter the kingdom, because truth set home to the heart by the Spirit crowds out love of riches so that love for God and fellow men predominates in keeping both the first four commandments and the last six. When that love surpasses love for riches the possessor breaks away from riches, transfers affection to God, uses wealth to help the needy and advance God's work, and serves as a faithful steward of the Lord's goods.

Those who fulfill the condition of forsaking all to follow Christ are accepted even when, like the disciples, it is only a few fishing boats and nets. Christ did not reproach them for leaving little, but accepted their sacrifice like the widow's mite, because it was all they had and was as dear to them as the riches of the wealthy. With tenderness and compassion He promises that those who have followed Him will in the regeneration sit with the Son of man on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel. Everyone who has left houses, family, or lands for His name will receive a hundredfold and inherit everlasting life, though many that are first shall be last and the last first.

Following Christ Today

Many Sabbath-keepers stand in the same condition as the young man, facing the same requirement for eternal life. When told their duty to keep the Sabbath and lift the cross, many go away sorrowful because unwilling to practice self-denial. Strict obedience to the letter brings life, yet the claim to have kept the commandments from youth can deceive, for unwillingness to sell, give to the poor, gain treasure in heaven, and follow Christ in self-denial proves lack of true love to God.

The command applies to all who possess this world's goods and to all who seek the enduring possession of a home in God's kingdom. Rich people enter by surrendering what stands in the way of following Jesus, with grace making the difficult course easier. They are to loosen the heart's hold, take up the cross, turn from earthly interests to heavenly ones, and use entrusted means to relieve physical and spiritual need and advance truth rather than glorify self or cling to cherished plans. Choosing present worldly closeness over heaven is refusing its terms, for whatever nurtures selfishness must be surrendered to perfect character.

Possessions and people themselves belong to God and are lent for His glory, so placing wealth at Christ's disposal is duty and not more than is owed. The command did not specify every detail, and the ruler could have sought Christ's counsel on how to carry it out. True love for Christ is revealed by action, not admiration or profession, and obedience to the call in using money for His work and saving souls glorifies God.

Following Jesus requires willingness to give up earthly possessions for the good of others and the work of God. It means cutting loose from property and distributing it to speed messengers carrying saving truth to hungry sheep dying for want of it, supporting those who carry spiritual food, and presenting sacred truths and talents openly as a channel of light. Withholding resources repeats the ruler's refusal, and excessive ungenerous economy becomes meanness rather than faithful stewardship. Keeping the commandments without removing attachment leaves the one thing lacking, for earthly treasure held fast keeps people from obeying when duty calls.

In vision this surrender was shown as taking everything owned and following the guide up a steep and apparently frail stairway with eyes fixed upward lest dizziness cause a fall, while many climbing fall before gaining the top. Upon reaching the last step before the door, all things brought, every little possession and treasured trinket, must be cheerfully laid down, and only then can one enter to stand before Jesus, whose benevolent and majestic countenance knows every circumstance and inner thought, removing fear with touch and smile and filling the heart with happiness, holy reverence, inexpressible love, and the safety and peace of heaven.

Delaying sacrifice until earthly possessions are swept away by coming destruction and the overflowing scourge leaves it forever too late to sacrifice them and lay up treasure in heaven. Those who withhold means when God's cause calls for them resemble the sorrowful young man, clinging to earthly goods instead of helping carry the message to people in need. They risk perishing with their treasure and losing both earthly and eternal riches.

A person may appear faithful, think himself perfect, and give to religious causes, yet still lack supreme love for God and cherish something that shuts him out of heaven. Generosity to the needy and following Christ matter more than keeping wealth as security, for giving to religious causes alone does not satisfy every claim of duty. The gift of making such sacrifices is connected with receiving Christ's life as the bread of life within the soul.

Those who have treasure in this world with a miser's grasp cannot love Jesus and have the true riches. When light given is not cherished it becomes darkness, and worldly cares and riches choke the word, leaving unwillingness to understand truth. Clinging to riches rather than helping the poor or supporting God's cause shows heavenly treasure is not prized, and choosing earthly interests over obedience leaves one unprepared for heaven.

Heavenly treasure is also laid up by perfecting Christian character, searching the Scriptures, waiting to learn what the Lord says, and imparting true light to others who desire it. Letting the law bring sin home to the conscience, dying to self, distinguishing truth from error, and letting truth change the heart to new character and spiritual holiness forms an example standing on the Lord's side. Outwardly proper conduct and professed belief do not prove a changed heart without this work.

The call exposes whether a person loves riches more than God, truth, and fellow people. No one who loves riches better than God, better than fellow men, and better than truth, with heart set on riches, can have eternal life, and no one can keep riches selfishly and have treasure in heaven too. When God's truth set home to the heart by the Spirit crowds out love of riches, the wealthy can transfer affection to God, treat possessions as entrusted goods, serve as faithful stewards in blessing the needy and advancing God's work, and find it possible to enter the kingdom.

The young man's willingness to keep the commandments did not remove his attachment, and his goods held his heart so he would not make the sacrifice to become a disciple. Receiving everlasting life calls for more than wanting it, requiring willingness to give up earthly wealth, share with the poor, and follow Jesus. Those who cling to wealth and refuse to relieve the poor or support God's cause show they do not value the heavenly inheritance enough to make sacrifice for it.