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Mat_19:21. Τέλειος ] perfect, one, who for the obtaining of eternal life, οὐδὲν ἔτι ὑστερεῖ . In accordance with the moral tendencies and disposition which He discerned in the young man, Jesus demands from him that moral perfection to which, from not finding satisfaction in legalism, he was striving to attain. The following requirement, then, is a special test for a special case,[3] though it is founded upon the universal duty of absolute self-denial and devotion to Christ; nor is it to be regarded merely in the light of a recommendation, but as a command. Observe that the Lord does not prescribe this to him as his sole duty, but only in connection with ἀκολούθει μοι . It was intended, by pressing this requirement upon him, that the young man should be led to realize his own shortcomings, and so be enabled to see the necessity of putting forth far higher efforts than any he had hitherto made. It was meant that he should feel himself weak, with a view to his being made morally strong; accordingly it is precisely upon the weak side of the young man’s character that Jesus imposes so heavy a task, for with all his inward dissatisfaction he was not aware of his actual weakness in that direction.
πτωχοῖς ] the poor.
ἐν οὐρανῷ ] thou wilt have (instead of thy earthly goods) a treasure in heaven, i.e. in the hands of God, where it will be securely kept till it comes to be bestowed at the setting up of the Messiah’s kingdom. Comp. Mat_5:12, Mat_6:20. For the whole saying, comp. Avoda Sara f. 64, 1 : “Vendite omnia, quae habetis, et porro oportet, ut fiatis proselyti.”
[3] The Catholics found upon this passage the conmlium evangelicum of poverty, as well as the opera süpererogativa in general. See, on the other hand, Müller, von d. Sunde, I. p. 69 ff., ed. 5.