Luke 18:20Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

The blessed evangelist recounts, “And a certain ruler asked Him, saying, ‘Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?’ And He said unto him, ‘Why dost thou call Me good? No one is good but God alone,’” and the passage continues. We have already clarified the meaning of this Gospel excerpt, highlighting that by nature and truth, the Son holds the same goodness as the One who begets Him. The response, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good, but God alone,” was posed in relation to the inquirer. Let us then proceed to the subsequent verses. What inquiry does this ruler of the synagogue present? “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” His question is not one of curiosity, for such an inquiry would merit high praise; rather, his intention was to challenge that Christ permitted disregard for the Mosaic laws, instead placing His disciples under the new statutes He himself established. Under this guise, they chastised the people, declaring about our common Savior, “He hath the devil, and is mad; why do ye hearken unto him?” They accused Him of being possessed and deranged, asserting that He had instituted His own laws in opposition to those ordained by God. It would be more accurate to declare that they are the ones possessed and deluded, as they oppose the Lord of the law, who did not come merely to abolish the ancient commandments given through Moses, but to fulfill them, as He articulated: He transfigured shadows into reality. Thus, the synagogue ruler anticipated that Christ might say, “Set aside the writings of Moses; abandon the shadows; they are mere types; instead, draw nearer to My commandments given in the Gospel.” However, He did not respond in this manner, for through His divine understanding, He perceived the intent of the one who sought to deceive Him. Instead of suggesting that the commandments given by Moses were the sole guidelines, He directed the man back to them, saying, “Thou knowest the commandments.” And to ensure there was no misunderstanding that He referred to His own teachings, He listed those stated in the law, saying, “Thou shalt not murder; thou shalt not commit adultery; thou shalt not bear false witness.” What reply does this schemer in wickedness, or rather this profoundly ignorant individual, provide? He presumed that even though He who was addressed is God, he could easily coax Him into providing the desired answer. Yet, as Scripture states, “the spoil does not fall to the lot of the crafty.”

To honor one's parents is a profound calling. Reverence towards father and mother is enshrined in the law, which commands, "Honor thy father and mother" (Ex. 20:12; Lk. 18:20). This is foundational to a life of godliness since God ordained them as your creators. Honoring them involves obeying them and refraining from any disrespect, as even a facial expression can convey dishonor. It is insufficient merely to avoid offending your parents; the law stipulates that they should not suffer offense: "Whoever speaks evil against father or mother shall be put to death" (Ex. 21:17; Matt. 15:4). To attain righteousness, you must honor them. Adhering to the law is one thing; fulfilling the duty of filial love is another.

Exemplify the honor due to parents as the Son of God did towards His own. He showed obedience to them (Luke 2:51). If God chose to obey His servants, how much more should you honor your own parents? Christ honored Joseph and Mary not merely out of obligation but from the heart of filial love. He likewise honored God the Father as no one else could, being obedient even unto death (Phil. 2:8). Therefore, you too ought to honor your parents.

Honoring them is not limited to showing reverence, but also includes being generous. Honor widows and those truly bereaved (1 Tim. 5:3), as true honor embodies giving what is justly deserved. Honor your father, honor your mother! Even if you provide sustenance to your mother, you have yet to repay her for the anguish she bore for your sake (Mk. 7:10). You have not compensated her for the love and patience she exhibited while carrying you, nor for the nurturing she offered you while denying herself comfort and sustenance to ensure your well-being. For your sake, she abstained from certain foods and endured hardships; she cried for you, and yet you would leave her in want! Oh, what judgment you bring upon yourself if you neglect to care for her! You owe her everything. Your very existence is a gift from her. What penalty awaits you if you allow the Church to provide for those whom you are unwilling to support?

The apostle exhorts, "If any faithful man or faithful woman has widows, they should support them, and not burden the Church" (1 Tim. 5:16). This is about the care of others, but what of your own parents? It was not simply the utterance of these words that compelled us; rather, it was the outcry of the mother that stirred us. We chose to encourage our son publicly instead of chastising him privately. If our words fail to reach him, may he at least feel internal shame.

Do not allow your parents to rely on the charity of others; do not permit the needs of your relatives to be met through the meager provisions available to the needy. Does it not bring shame upon you to witness your elderly mother extending hands towards strangers and a forsaken daughter begging for assistance from outsiders while you pass by adorned in finery? If she beseeches you for the basic necessities, what will your response be? Will you serve others first? And if they deny you, remember to provide for your mother!

Consider the rich man who feasted sumptuously and whose indifference led to his torment (Lk. 16:19-31). If failing to give to the needy is a grievous sin, how much more severe is it to turn away from one's own parents? Do not justify your lack of support for your parents by claiming that your offerings to the Church are sufficient; God does not desire gifts given at the expense of honoring one's parents.

The Lord rebuked those who criticized His disciples for eating with unwashed hands, stating, "Everyone who says, 'A gift to God is what you would use from me,' has not honored father and mother" (Matt. 15:5-6).

Thus, we recognize the necessity of maintaining clarity amidst obscurity. The Jews, adhering to human traditions, overlooked God's commands. Conversely, the disciples, valuing God's precepts, neglected traditional customs and did not wash their hands before eating, for they sought purity, not only of the body but also of the soul. The Lord's response was apt: they scrutinized trivial matters while neglecting what is vital.

He asked, "Why do you say to your father or mother, whom the law mandates you honor, 'Give to God what you would use from me'?" (Matt. 15:5). This effectively underscores the practice among some who, in an attempt to excuse their lack of generosity, claim a pious obligation while neglecting the very needs of their parents.

If the sin of dishonoring a parent is punishable by death according to divine command (Ex. 21:17), how much more serious is the offense of neglecting a parent's hunger! The Lord derides empty ostentation; many offer to the Church what they have denied their own family. Charity must begin at home. First, provide for your parents, then assist the poor, and also consider the spiritual leaders in your life who provide for your soul. Those who give will find themselves rewarded. By offering to the less fortunate, you not only provide relief to them but also open the door for your own rest through your generosity.

Scripture teaches to honor parents, yet there are circumstances warranting separation if they hinder your commitment to a pious life.

Abraham, addressing the rich man who lived a life of luxury and ultimately faced eternal separation from God, affirmed the Divine will revealed through Moses and the prophets, urging, “They have Moses and the prophets, let them hear them” (Luke 16:29). The Apostle Paul likewise instructs us, “Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may know what is the will of God, good, acceptable and perfect” (Romans 12:2). The good and righteous will of God is encapsulated in the Ten Commandments; His acceptable will is expressed through the teachings of the Gospel; and the perfect will calls for us to fulfill God's commands on earth as they are perfectly carried out by the angels in heaven.

First, He indicated that by failing to recognize Jesus as the divine figure He is, the man should not have conferred aristocratic titles upon human instructors, which are meant solely for God. Second, the Lord pointed out his deficiency in wholehearted love for others when He instructed him to sell his possessions and give to the poor. This command deeply troubled the young man, causing him to depart from the Lord, filled with sorrow. The Lord’s expectations were no different from those placed upon others; the call for self-denial and relinquishing all for the Gospel is a command directed at all believers.

The young man did not grasp the full scope of God’s commandment (Psalm 118:96) and viewed the law solely from a superficial standpoint; he believed he had fulfilled this requirement already: "Teacher, I have observed all these things from my youth. What do I still lack?" It is clear that this Evangelical youth did not, out of a guilty conscience, profess to have kept the commandments from his early days, although it should be noted that the reflection of his conscience, which had not been purified or enlightened by Christ’s grace, did not accurately portray the true spiritual nature and worth of his actions (St. Philaret of Moscow). Furthermore, he was not caught up in the Pharisaic pride of imagined righteousness; he understood that merely distancing oneself from blatant sins and wrongdoing was not sufficient to draw near to God or to attain His kingdom; he believed that something greater and nobler was required to demonstrate God’s greatness.