ALPHA MAAMA (A.M.)

Sapate ‘Epeleli 25, 2021

Ko e Talavou Koloa‘ia

The rich young man 

Matiu 19 (Matthew 19)

(v. 16-22) 16 And behold, a man came up to him, saying, “Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?” 17 And he said to him, “Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. If you would enter life, keep the commandments.” 18 He said to him, “Which ones?” And Jesus said, “You shall not murder, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness, 19 Honor your father and mother, and, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 20 The young man said to him, “All these I have kept. What do I still lack?” 21 Jesus said to him, “If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” 22 When the young man heard this he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.

(v. 16-22) 16 Pea ‘iloange na‘e ha‘u kiate ia ha toko taha, ‘o ne pehē, Tangata‘eiki, ko e hā ha ngāue lelei ke u fai, ka u ma‘u ai ‘a e mo‘ui ta‘engata? 17 Pea tali ‘e ia, ko e hā ‘oku ke ‘eke ai kiate au ‘i he lelei? ‘Oku Toko Taha pē ‘a e lelei: ka ‘o kapau ko ho loto ke ke hū ki he mo‘ui, pea ke ke tauhi ‘a e ngaahi fekau. 18 Pea pehē ‘e ia, ‘a e fē fua?. Pea pehē ‘e Sīsū, ‘A ‘eni, ‘E ‘ikai te ke fakapō, ‘E ‘ikai te ke fe‘auaki, ‘E ‘ikai te ke kaiha‘a, ‘E ‘ikai te ke tukuaki. 19 Faka‘apa‘apa ki ho‘o tamai mo ho‘o fa‘ē: pea, Te ke ‘ofa ki ho kaungā‘api ‘o hangē pē ko ho‘o ‘ofa kiate koe. 20 Pea lea ‘e he talavou kiate ia, Kuo u tauhi kotoa ‘a e ngaahi lao ko ia: ko e hā ‘aku ‘oku kei toe ke fai? 21 Pea lea ‘a Sīsū ki ai, Kapau ko ho loto ke ke haohaoa, mole pē ‘o fakatau atu ho‘o nga‘oto‘ota, pea foaki hono pa‘anga ki he masiva, pea ‘e ai ha koloa ‘e fa‘oaki ma‘au ‘i Hēvani: pea ke ha‘u ‘o kau ‘i hoku lahi. 22 Pea ‘i he fanongo ‘a e talavou ki he lea ko ia na‘a ne foki kuo mamahi: he ko e toko taha ia na‘e ma‘u me‘a lahi.

 

*Commentary: The NIV Study Bible*

19:16 a man came up to him. Verses 16–22 have been called the story of the "rich young ruler" since he is rich (v. 22), young v. 20), and a ruler (cf. Luke 18:18). He may have been a religious lay leader, quite possibly a Pharisee (because of the diligence he displays in following the law). After addressing Jesus as Teacher, a title of respect, he asks what good deed he must do to have eternal life. "Eternal life" is virtually synonymous with expressions such as "entering the kingdom of heaven” (Matt. 5:20) and being "saved" (19:25-26); it is the first occurrence of this expression in Matthew (cf. v. 29; 25:46). In the parallel accounts (Mark 10:17-22; Luke

18:18-23), the wording of the question and answer differs some what, but there is no contradiction, and it seems to be a case of different Gospels reporting different parts of the same conversation.

 

*Commentary: The Reformation Bible Study*

19:17 only one who is good. Jesus does not deny that He Himself is good

(see Mark 10:17, 18; Luke 18:18, 19), nor that He can speak authoritatively about what is good. Rather, He challenges the superficial assumption behind the young man's question - that he is quite capable of performing a good deed worthy of access into God's Kingdom. God's law defines righteous behavior, so Jesus directs him first to a number of the Ten Commandments and the obligation to love one's neighbor as oneself (Lev. 19:18; Matt 22:39).

 

*Commentary: The NIV Study Bible*

19:21 If you would be perfect. Jesus knows the man's wealth has become his means to personal identity, power, and a sense of meaning in life —that it has become the idolatrous god of his life. Jesus' strategy is to turn this man from focusing on external conformity to the law to examining his heart, revealing his ruling god. give to the poor. The man had no doubt given some money to the poor, as the giving of alms was considered a pious duty, especially among the Pharisees. But Jesus calls him to give everything away, exchanging the god of wealth for the eternal treasure found in following Jesus as the one true God. Jesus' ultimate answer to the question posed in v. 16 ("What do to have eternal life?") is to follow him.