John Calvin Commentary Matthew 19:16

"And behold, one came to him and said, Teacher, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?" — Matthew 19:16 (ASV)

And, lo, one. Luke says that he was a ruler (ἄρχων), that is, a man of very high authority, not one of the common people.⁶¹⁶ And though riches procure respect,⁶¹⁷ he appears to be represented here as having been held in high estimation as a good man. For my own part, after weighing all the circumstances, I have no doubt that, though he is called a young man, he belonged to the class of those who upheld the integrity of the Elders by a sober and regular life.

⁶¹⁸ He did not come treacherously, as the scribes were accustomed to do, but from a desire for instruction; and, accordingly, by both words and by kneeling, he testifies his reverence for Christ as a faithful teacher. But, on the other hand, a blind confidence in his works hindered him from profiting under Christ, to whom, in other respects, he wished to be submissive. Thus, in our own day, we find some who are not ill-disposed but who, under the influence of I know not what shadowy holiness,⁶¹⁹ hardly relish the doctrine of the Gospel.

But, to form a more correct judgment of the meaning of the answer, we must pay attention to the form of the question. He does not simply ask how and by what means he will reach life, but what good thing he shall do, in order to obtain it. He therefore dreams of merits, on account of which he may receive eternal life as a due reward; and therefore Christ appropriately sends him to the keeping of the law, which unquestionably is the way of life, as I will explain more fully later.

⁶¹⁶ “Que c’estoit un prince ou seigneur; c’est a dire, un homme d’estat et de grande authorite;” — “that he was a prince or lord; that is to say, a man of rank and of great authority.”;” — “that he was a prince or lord; that is to say, a man of rank and of great authority.”

⁶¹⁷ “Combien que les richesses rendent un homme honorable au monde;” — “though riches render a man honorable in the world.”;” — “though riches render a man honorable in the world.”

⁶¹⁸ “Non point par trahison, et pour surprendre Christ;” — “not by treachery, and to take Christ by surprise.”;” — “not by treachery, and to take Christ by surprise.”

⁶¹⁹ “Pource qu’ils sont enveloppez de ie ne scay quelle ombre de sainctete;” — “because they are covered by I know not what shadow of holiness.”;” — “because they are covered by I know not what shadow of holiness.”