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Explanation for:
Matthew
19
:
22
And when the young man had heard this word, he went away sad: for he had great possessions.
12
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{"arr":[{"author-name":"John Chrysostom","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88ea76859f9f8e2ffd3ee_John%20Chrysostom.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"Following this, the evangelist, aiming to illustrate the validity of his sorrow, notes, “But those who have riches have many riches.\\" In truth, those who possess only a few items are less obstructed on the path to salvation than those who are engulfed by the overwhelming desire for wealth, as the craving for riches becomes all the more intense. I will continue to assert that the accumulation of wealth ignites passion to an ever-greater extent, ultimately rendering the wealthy poorer than they were before. This insatiable longing continuously stirs up new desires within them and brings their own poverty into sharper focus. Observe the power this desire demonstrated in this instance. The individual who approached Jesus with joy and eagerness was so enveloped by it and burdened by it that when Christ instructed him to sell his belongings, he was rendered speechless and left in silence, his head lowered and filled with sorrow."},{"author-name":"Jerome of Stridon","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88dcd3432c6dd41375498_Jerome%20of%20Stridon.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"This is the grief that brings about death, as noted in 2 Corinthians 7:10. The reason for this sorrow is also identified: it arises from the abundance of worldly possessions, which represent the thorns and thistles that hinder the growth of God's seeds."},{"author-name":"Ephraem the Syrian","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88b589fc3e99eb7bb1839_Ephraem%20the%20Syrian.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"Moreover, the young man’s grief was genuine rather than feigned, as is clear from the Lord’s recognition of his sorrow. Had he been dishonest, he would not have experienced grief, for such a condition would indicate a failure to observe the commandments. Approaching the Lord as one who believed himself to be faultless, he sought to have his commendation openly acknowledged. Upon realizing his shortcomings, he felt deep sorrow at the absence of acknowledgment for his virtues, for he had compared his righteousness to the honor derived from the law and had already been rewarded for it."},{"author-name":"Hilarius of Poitiers","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88cb92f12b3278598f946_Hilarius%20of%20Poitiers.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"The young man left feeling grief-stricken upon hearing the response, as he held a deep attachment to his wealth. This imagery conveys a significant truth: by indicating that he is a young man—remarking that he has adhered to all the commandments of the law since his youth—it suggests that despite his departure, he remained unchanged in his disposition."},{"author-name":"Theophylact of Bulgaria","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c8989296bafed9104677d7_Theophylact%20of%20Bulgaria.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":11,"exegesis-text":"The young man was troubled. Although he was eager and his heart was receptive, the seed of God's word was suffocated by the weeds of wealth, for, as the evangelist noted, he possessed much. A person with fewer possessions may feel less constrained by their attachments, yet greater wealth often creates heavier burdens. Furthermore, when the Lord addressed the wealthy individual, He declared, \\"thou shalt have treasure in heaven,\\" indicating that if one already has an affinity for material things, there is still hope for true riches."},{"author-name":"Euthymios Zigabenos","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":11,"exegesis-text":"The greater his possessions grew, the more he found himself enslaved by them; as wealth multiplied, so too did desire, leading to sorrow and disbelief."},{"author-name":"Nicephoros (Theotokis)","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c8958407451968d9c204fb_Nicephoros%20(Theotokis).png","category":"Christian Authors","century":18,"exegesis-text":"Upon hearing this, the young man remained silent and left with a heavy heart. This reaction is to be expected. The Lord stated, \\"Not all can accept these words\\" (Matthew 19:11-12), referring to the call to perfection: \\"Whoever can accept this should accept it. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak\\" (Matthew 26:41). The young man's spirit longed for completeness; he inquired about what he still needed to accomplish: \\"What do I still lack?\\" in hopes of fulfilling it and attaining the peak of virtue, yet his flesh resisted. The immense wealth and status he possessed tethered his aspirations, leading to his sorrowful departure, regretting that he did not heed the counsel of the divine Teacher and that he fell short of the grace bestowed upon the perfect and holy."},{"author-name":"Abbot Panteleimon about the Trinity","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"The young man, despite his desire, chose not to follow Christ. He felt sorrow for lacking the resolve to commit, and ultimately turned away: \\"Hearing this word, the young man went away with sorrow.\\" Why was this the case? He could not let go of his riches; he possessed great wealth. By his actions, he revealed his true self, having offered only superficial adherence to the commandment to love his neighbor as himself. In an instant, he experienced a profound upheaval within; it struck him that he would risk losing his property, honor, and influence. Where, then, was his former trust in the good Teacher? Where was his longing for eternal life? Where was the fervor needed for the pursuits that lead to eternal existence? All had vanished; everything had slipped away! The good Teacher, who had aimed to heal the rich man's heart with the words of truth, tried to ease his pain with consolation: \\"and you shall have treasure in heaven.\\" This reassured him that his treasures were not being taken away, but rather being transferred to a safer place, to heaven; He was not condemning him but safeguarding him from destruction. The earthly-minded soul, however, rejected the comfort of heavenly promises: the young man departed sorrowfully. He walked away from the one who is the true consolation of Israel, the joy of both heaven and earth. Despite knowing this outcome, the Lord called him to Himself: \\"Come and follow Me,\\" meaning He offered him the same inheritance He had chosen for Himself. Could this be a bad inheritance? If one cannot find contentment without material possessions, following Christ would teach them through the example of His life, His words, and personal experience. The power of Christ's message and love profoundly impacted the young man's heart; it was difficult for him to part from such a teacher, yet he lacked the determination to overcome his attachment: the young man left, sorrowful. He estranged himself from Christ, potentially missing any chance for return; for being so close to the source of grace, he had not embraced it, leaving uncertainty about whether grace would ever draw him back.\\n\\nSt. Philaret remarks that Christ mentioned chastity as a means towards perfection, beneficial for some but not obligatory for all. God told Abraham, \\"Be blameless\\" (Gen. 17:1), and despite Abraham's considerable wealth (Gen. 13:2), he was not enslaved to it, thereby maintaining a generous spirit through his possessions. Similarly, Joseph of Arimathea, who was also a disciple of Jesus (Matthew 27:57), did not abandon his riches but faithfully served in Christ's burial, risking consequences from His adversaries.\\n\\nPhilaret, Metropolitan of Moscow, advises that those inclined towards voluntary poverty should embrace it faithfully and sincerely. Judas, on the other hand, mistakenly believed that seeking to increase wealth to facilitate giving to the poor was appropriate. He failed to recognize that he had strayed from the apostolic principle of generosity, hiding his selfishness under the guise of charity; \\"he was a thief\\" (John 12:6). Do not find solace in the notion that you have not amassed great wealth; it is not the piles of gold that sink one into the darkness of despair but rather the thirty pieces of silver in the hands of a betrayer. However, if one is not bound by the call to perfect generosity, and utilizes wealth that has been lawfully acquired, let them heed the wisdom of the Psalmist: \\"when riches are multiplied, do not apply your heart to them\\" (Psalm 61:11). Frequently remind yourself that either your wealth will depart or you from it, thus treat it as a temporary guest to be welcomed and seen off with integrity. Yet, if avarice grips your heart and hinders your generosity, despite your desire to cultivate indifference to earthly matters, I draw your attention once again to the rich young man. This is his affliction, and now you can see how perilous it is. Reflect on the remedies offered by the Physician of souls and bodies: \\"Sell your possessions, and give to the poor... and come and follow Me.\\" If you cannot save your soul while possessing wealth, would it not be preferable to relinquish it rather than allow it to lead to your destruction? If you cannot do so all at once, begin to gradually free your soul from its bindings. Challenge yourself to assist the poor, even if your heart is not moved with compassion. God will recognize these sacrifices, albeit imperfectly made, and will provide wisdom and strength to offer them more purely and perfectly. Follow Christ closely and steadfastly; learn from His teachings, find motivation in His example, and seek His strength through prayer. The rich young man left the Lord in silence, his head bowed; the compassionate Lord sorrowed for this troubled soul ensnared by greed."},{"author-name":"Michail (Lusin)","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c89550c567e172d15b3055_Michail%20(Lusin).png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"'Left in grief,' etc.: it seemed that riches held a place of worship in his heart; he was so enslaved to material wealth that he chose to abandon Christ in order to cling to it, valuing it more than the eternal life he genuinely desired."},{"author-name":"Gladkow B.I.","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88bf0ceef8c96e09a6521_Gladkow%20B.I..png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"All these commandments have I kept since my youth, the young man remarked, but what more do I lack? Christ replied, If you have observed all these commandments, you will enter the kingdom of heaven; however, if you seek to be complete, you still lack one thing: go sell your belongings and give to the needy, and you will have treasures in heaven; then come and follow me. How the affluent young man adhered to the Old Testament commandments remains unclear; it is reasonable to assume he interpreted them through the lens of the scribes and Pharisees of that era. When Jesus called him to relinquish his greed, he became deeply sorrowful as his riches had turned into his idol; he found it impossible to let go. Thus, despite Christ's invitation to become His disciple, he chose to leave. A conflict raged within him: he yearned for the joy of eternal life while also clinging to his idol of wealth. As the two were fundamentally incompatible, he had to make a choice and opted for the latter.\\n\\nThis dialogue between Jesus and the wealthy young man suggests that the pathway to the joy of eternal life is still marked by the commandments of the Old Testament, which reflect the timeless and immutable will of God. To be granted this joy, one must observe them with genuine intent, especially in the aspect of loving one’s neighbor as oneself. However, the Jews misinterpreted these commandments and neglected the essential commandment concerning love for others, viewing only fellow Jews as neighbors. To rectify this, Jesus Christ had to restore their true meaning and provide further clarification. One of His enhancements was the assertion that perfection is achievable for individuals. \\n\\nAbandon all that diverts you from the journey to eternal life, including a companion who leads you astray, even if they feel as essential to you as your own hand or eye. Forsake all passions that ensnare your will; if the grip of greed is strong, it is better to give all that you possess to the needy and not fear the apparent destitution that may follow. In fact, you will be richer than before, as you will store up treasures in heaven. The words of Jesus, Sell your possessions and give to the poor, addressed to the young man whose wealth obstructed his entry into the kingdom of heaven, bear a conditional significance and should not be seen as an absolute command applicable to everyone. A wealthy person can be saved even without giving away all their assets, provided they regard their wealth not as personal property for self-indulgence but as God’s property, entrusted to them for responsible stewardship, and manage it according to the desires of their Master, God."},{"author-name":"Lopuchin A.P.","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c891400ee1341634d2276d_Lopuchin%20A.P..png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"This invitation immediately broke through his pride. He was bound by his riches and felt unable to let go of them. “When the young man heard this word, he departed with sorrow; for, as the evangelist notes, he had great wealth.”"},{"author-name":"Paul Matwejewski","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c8969f5be0d592d5a10576_Paul%20Matwejewski.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"Despite the fact that the Savior guided the young man towards perfection by directing him to the heavenly treasures, and even though He encouraged him to follow the path He Himself had taken by setting a perfect example, the young man's heart, ensnared by the allure of wealth, became troubled and sorrowful. The transformative power of Christ’s word and His love clearly reached the young man's innermost being; however, he struggled to sever ties with such a Master and to heed His guidance, lacking the resolve to conquer his desires, which ultimately overwhelmed him. The sorrowful young man turned away from Jesus, as the holy Evangelist illustrates, because he was exceedingly wealthy—he left, perhaps, with no intention of returning. \\"The great possessions prevented the young man from becoming a disciple of the Lord, and even what he believed to be his greatest strength became of no value\\" (St. Ephraim the Syrian)."}]}
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