And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?
All Commentaries on Matthew 19:16 Go To Matthew 19
John Chrysostom
AD 407
And, behold, one came and said to him, “Good Master, what deed must I do to inherit eternal life?” Some criticize this young man as dissembling and wicked, approaching Jesus to put him to the test. I would not hesitate to say that he is avaricious and greedy since Christ also showed him up as such. Yet I would by no means call him a dissembler, because it is not safe to venture on things uncertain and especially in a case of blame. Such is also true because Mark has taken away the suspicion of dissembling. For Mark says, “A man ran up and kneeling before him asked him” and “Jesus looking upon him loved him.” The tyranny of money is a powerful thing, as is clear here. Though we are practiced in the other virtues, avarice brings the others to ruin. The Gospel of Matthew, Homily
