All these I have kept,The young man refers to the commandments Jesus listed in the previous verses, which include prohibitions against murder, adultery, theft, false testimony, and the command to honor one's parents. This claim reflects a common Jewish understanding of righteousness based on adherence to the Law. The young man's assertion suggests a belief in his own moral integrity and adherence to the Mosaic Law, which was central to Jewish life and identity. His confidence may also reflect the Pharisaic emphasis on external observance of the Law, which Jesus often critiqued for neglecting the heart's condition (
Matthew 23:23-28).
said the young man.
The term "young man" indicates someone likely in his late teens to early thirties, a period in life associated with vigor and ambition. In the cultural context of first-century Judea, youth was often linked with potential and the pursuit of status and wealth. This young man is also described as wealthy in the broader passage, which would have afforded him a certain level of respect and influence in society. His approach to Jesus shows a desire for spiritual fulfillment beyond his material success.
What do I still lack?
This question reveals an awareness of an unfulfilled spiritual need despite his outward compliance with the Law. It suggests a recognition that legalistic righteousness is insufficient for true spiritual satisfaction. The young man's inquiry points to a deeper longing for eternal life, which he senses is not fully addressed by his current religious practices. This moment highlights the limitations of the Law in providing complete spiritual fulfillment, a theme echoed in Paul's writings, such as inRomans 3:20, where he explains that the Law makes us conscious of sin but cannot justify us. The question also sets the stage for Jesus to address the heart of discipleship, which involves total surrender and following Him, as seen in the subsequent verses.
Persons / Places / Events
1.
The Rich Young ManA young man who approaches Jesus with a question about eternal life. He is wealthy and has kept the commandments since his youth.
2.
JesusThe central figure in the passage, who provides guidance and instruction to the young man.
3.
DisciplesAlthough not directly mentioned in this verse, they are present during this interaction and later ask Jesus questions about it.
4.
CommandmentsThe laws given by God, which the young man claims to have kept.
Teaching Points
Understanding True RighteousnessThe young man's claim, "All these I have kept," highlights a common misunderstanding of righteousness as mere rule-following. True righteousness involves a heart aligned with God's will.
The Limitations of LegalismAdhering to commandments is important, but it is not the sole path to eternal life. Jesus points to a deeper need for transformation and surrender.
The Call to Self-ExaminationLike the young man, we must examine our lives to see if we are truly following Christ or merely adhering to rules. Are we willing to give up what holds us back?
The Role of Wealth in Spiritual LifeWealth can be a barrier to spiritual growth if it becomes an idol. Jesus challenges us to consider what we value most.
The Importance of Following JesusBeyond keeping commandments, Jesus invites us to follow Him, which requires a personal relationship and commitment.
Bible Study Questions and Answers
1.What is the meaning of Matthew 19:20?
2.How does Matthew 19:20 challenge us to examine our spiritual completeness?
3.What does "all these I have kept" reveal about self-assessment in faith?
4.How can we ensure our obedience aligns with God's expectations in Matthew 19:20?
5.Which other scriptures emphasize the importance of genuine obedience over mere rule-following?
6.How can we apply the lesson of Matthew 19:20 to our daily lives?
7.What does Matthew 19:20 reveal about the young man's understanding of eternal life?
8.How does Matthew 19:20 challenge the concept of self-righteousness?
9.Why does the young man claim to have kept all commandments in Matthew 19:20?
10.What are the top 10 Lessons from Matthew 19?
11.What did Jesus mean by 'first will be last'?
12.Why do resurrection accounts in the Gospels differ?
13.Were the women informed about Jesus' body's fate? Yes, by a young man/angels (Mark 16:5; Luke 24:4; Matthew 28:7). No, Mary found the tomb empty and was confused (John 20:2).
14.What signifies the wide gate leading to destruction?What Does Matthew 19:20 Mean
All these I have keptJesus had just listed several of the commandments (Matthew 19:18-19: “ ‘Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not bear false witness, honor your father and mother, and love your neighbor as yourself.’ ”).
The young man’s reply shows sincere moral effort, yet also a blind spot:
• A commendable record – much like Paul’s pre-conversion claim that he was “faultless” as to legal righteousness (Philippians 3:6).
• Still insufficient – “Whoever keeps the whole law yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it” (James 2:10); “no one will be justified in His sight by works of the law” (Romans 3:20).
• The law’s purpose – to point out sin and lead the honest heart to recognize its need (Galatians 3:24).
said the young manMatthew calls him “a young man,” Mark notes that he “ran up and knelt” (Mark 10:17). Youthful zeal meets sincere reverence, yet with an overconfidence God must lovingly expose.
• Self-assessment often differs from God’s assessment: “All a man’s ways are pure in his own eyes, but his motives are weighed out by the LORD” (Proverbs 16:2).
• Even the diligent Pharisee could pray, “I fast twice a week and pay tithes” (Luke 18:11-12), but Jesus warned that such self-reliance leaves one unjustified (Luke 18:14).
• Only Christ sees the heart accurately. “Jesus, looking at him, loved him” (Mark 10:21) — love that tells the truth.
What do I still lack?In spite of outward obedience, something inside whispers, “There must be more.”
• Restlessness of an unregenerated heart: Solomon confessed that even after every achievement, “everything was meaningless” (Ecclesiastes 2:11).
• Poverty of spirit Jesus commends: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:3). The rich young ruler senses the poverty but doesn’t yet grasp its cure.
• Jesus soon pinpoints the lack: “You still lack one thing. Sell all you own… then come, follow Me” (Luke 18:22). Eternal life is found not in further doing but in wholehearted attachment to Christ (1 John 5:11-12).
summaryMatthew 19:20 captures the tension between diligent morality and true salvation. The young man’s claim, “All these I have kept,” shows impressive outward conformity, yet his honest question, “What do I still lack?” reveals an inner void only Jesus can fill. Scripture consistently affirms that law-keeping cannot justify; instead it drives the seeker to recognize need and embrace the Savior.
(20)
All these things have I kept.--There is obviously a tone of impatient surprise in the questioner's reply. He had come seeking some great thing to satisfy his lofty aspirations after eternal life. He finds himself re-taught the lessons of childhood, sent back, as it were, to a lower form in the school of holiness. He had not learnt that to keep any one of those commandments in its completeness is the task of a life, that to keep one perfectly implies keeping all. In marked contrast with this half-contemptuous treatment of the simpler elements of religion we may recall our Lord's use, in the Temptation, of the three passages connected, directly or indirectly, with those which were written on the phylacteries that men wore, and which would naturally be taught to children as their first lesson in the Law. (See Notes on
Matthew 4:1-11.)
What lack I yet?--Ignorant as the young ruler was of his own spiritual state, his condition was not that of the self-satisfied Pharisee. The question implied a dissatisfaction with himself, a sense of incompleteness, as hungering and thirsting after a higher righteousness. And this accounts for the way in which our Lord dealt with him.
Verse 20. -
All these things have I kept [
frommy youthup]. The bracketed words are omitted in some good manuscripts, and by most modern editors; but they have high authority, and are found in most versions, and in the parallel passages of Mark and Luke. They accurately express the ruler's view of his conduct. He could say without hesitation or mental reservation that he had scrupulously observed the duties of the Decalogue from the time that he knew right from wrong. Of course, we accuse one who could make such a statement of self-righteousness, of ignorance of the spirit of the Law which he claimed to have obeyed; and if one of us spoke thus presumptuously, we should rightly condemn him; we should say that outward service and legal notions of duty were of little worth, and could not secure eternal life. But our Lord treated the young man differently. He did not blame him as boastful and self-deceiving; he had no reproof for his seemingly presumptuous assertion; he recognized his simplicity, honesty, and sincerity, and St. Mark tells us that "Jesus beholding [looking upon, or into] him, loved him." He read the youth's heart, saw how pure and guileless it was, recognized in him the possibility of great things, and that he was worthy of the saintly life. The ruler felt that there was more to come; hence he asks,
What lack I yet?Τί ἔτι ὑστερῶ; In what respect am I still deficient? How do I come short of eternal life? He had still a sense of want. All that he had done had not given him peace of mind. Hence his inquiry. From a Christian the question would savour of ignorance and unspirituality; but this man asked it in all sincerity, desiring earnestly to know what more was required of him, and being ready, as he thought, to undergo any pain, make any, even the most painful effort, if by so doing he might win the prize on which his soul was set.
Parallel Commentaries ...
Greek
“All theseπάντα(panta)Adjective - Accusative Neuter Plural
Strong's 3956:All, the whole, every kind of. Including all the forms of declension; apparently a primary word; all, any, every, the whole.I have kept,”ἐφύλαξα(ephylaxa)Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular
Strong's 5442:Probably from phule through the idea of isolation; to watch, i.e. Be on guard; by implication, to preserve, obey, avoid.saidΛέγει(Legei)Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 3004:(a) I say, speak; I mean, mention, tell, (b) I call, name, especially in the pass., (c) I tell, command.theὁ(ho)Article - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588:The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.young man.νεανίσκος(neaniskos)Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3495:A young man, youth, an attendant. From the same as neanias; a youth.“Whatτί(ti)Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 5101:Who, which, what, why. Probably emphatic of tis; an interrogative pronoun, who, which or what.do I still lack?”ὑστερῶ(hysterō)Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular
Strong's 5302:From husteros; to be later, i.e. to be inferior; generally, to fall short.
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NT Gospels: Matthew 19:20 The young man said to him All (Matt. Mat Mt) 
