Luke 18:22Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

When the young man declared that he had adhered to all these commandments since his youth, the Lord presented him with the ultimate offering, abundant and limitless. Observe that the Commandments prescribe a genuinely Christian lifestyle. “Sell all that thou hast,” He advises, “for if anything is left, you will then be a servant to that.” Moreover, when He says “give to the poor,” He is not referring to the affluent's relatives but to those in genuine need. In my view, the term “give” suggests that one ought to distribute possessions thoughtfully rather than haphazardly. It is essential for a person to possess other virtues alongside generosity, hence the Lord concluded with, “And follow Me,” meaning to be My disciple in every aspect, consistently following Me and not merely today and neglecting it tomorrow.

Even though He could have proclaimed, ‘Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven; blessed are the meek; blessed are the pure in heart,’ He does not utter these words to him. Instead, because of his love for wealth and his considerable riches, He immediately addresses his concern by saying, ‘Sell all that you possess, and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.’

Listen to the words of the Lord: If you desire to be whole, go, sell all your belongings, and follow me (Matthew 19:21). You have committed to perfection; for when you renounced military duty, you chose a life of celibacy for the sake of the kingdom of heaven—what other path did you pursue but that of a complete life? A true servant of Christ possesses nothing except Christ. If he holds anything outside of Christ, then he is not whole. And if he is not whole when he has pledged to God his desire for perfection, he has deceived himself.

The Lord confronted the tempter who proudly claimed to have adhered to all the commandments since his youth. In response, the Lord challenged his hollow pride, revealing that he still fell short of fulfilling the true essence of the law. Consequently, he was troubled by the commandment of mercy, leading to a natural conclusion: it is indeed easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a wealthy individual to enter the kingdom of God (Luke 18:25).

The topic is explored comprehensively within the specified context.

References: * Matthew 19:20-21.

At last, a man approached the Lord who diligently adhered to God's commandments. Though he held a position of high authority and was blessed with considerable wealth from a young age, he was eager to achieve the ultimate spiritual fulfillment that leads to eternal life. What more could one desire in coming to the Lord? It appeared that he might gain entry into His kingdom through a different path than that typically required—without the need for repentance. Even the disciples were significantly engaged in this discussion, as evidenced by their subsequent inquiries. Yet the Lord exposed to them how this young man's heart was still distant from God's ways through two insightful observations.

Jesus Christ recognized in the young man a passionate and genuine yearning for a greater righteousness than mere adherence to the external requirements of the law, which left him unfulfilled. In response to his inquiry about what he still needed, the Lord gazed at him lovingly (Mk. 10:21) and replied, “One thing you lack: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come and follow me, taking up the cross.” Upon hearing this call, it became evident that the young man did not possess a true understanding of himself, nor did he fully grasp or live out the law of love for God and neighbor as he ought to.

“If you keep all these commandments, you will enter the Kingdom of Heaven,” Christ responded. “However, if you aspire to be perfect, there is one thing you still lack: go and sell your possessions, give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come and follow me” (Matthew 19:21). The specifics of how the rich young man obeyed the commandments of the Old Testament remain unclear; however, it is reasonable to assume he perceived them through the lens of the Pharisees and scribes of his era. When confronted by Christ to relinquish his greed, he felt profound sorrow, as his wealth had become an object of his devotion, an idol he was unwilling to forsake. Despite Christ’s invitation to become His disciple, the young man departed, torn within.

The Redeemer appreciated the young man's aspiration for greatness; however, He also recognized the man's excessive pride. To reveal this to him, Jesus presented a significant challenge. He said to the young man, "If you wish to be complete, go, sell your belongings, and give to the needy; and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me."

The dialogue between the affluent young ruler and the disciples in Luke aligns harmoniously with the narratives found in Hebrews. Additionally, Luke's portrayal of this encounter is consistent with the accounts recorded in Mark and Matthew, the latter providing a somewhat more detailed response to Peter. Reference the passages in Matthew 19:16-30 and Mark 10:17-31. The expression "a certain one of those in authority" in the Greek of Matthew describes an individual (Matthew 19:16), identified as a young man (Matthew 19:20); whereas in Luke, he is referred to as one of the rulers, likely a leader of the synagogue, as seen in Matthew 9:13.

When the Lord gazed upon the young man with compassionate awareness, assessing his spirit, He identified a range of noble qualities, unfortunately stifled by the overwhelming desire for wealth. He did not hesitate to reveal to him his shortcomings: “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions - and all that you have - and give to the poor, and have treasure in heaven - and come, follow Me, taking up your cross.” According to St. John Chrysostom, this was not a command but rather “an invitation and encouragement.” Both humble living and celibacy are included among the evangelical counsels that those seeking the highest spiritual attainment are called to observe.