Matthew 19:22

22 But [when] the young man heard the statement, he went away sorrowful, because he was one who had many possessions.

Matthew 19:22 Meaning and Commentary

Matthew 19:22

But when the young man heard that saying.
&c.] That he must sell his estates, and all his worldly substance, and the money made of them, give away to the poor; and become a follower of Christ, deny himself, and submit to hardships very disagreeable to the flesh:

he went away sorrowful;
not with a godly sorrow for his sin and imperfections, but with the sorrow of the world, which worketh death: he was ashamed and confounded, that he could not perform what he had just now so briskly promised, at least tacitly, that whatever else was proper he would do; as also grieved, that he had not arrived to perfection, which he had hoped he had, but now began to despair of, and of obtaining eternal life; and most of all troubled, that he must part with his worldly substance, his heart was so much set upon, or not enjoy it:

for he had great possessions;
which were very dear to him; and he chose rather to turn his back on Christ, and drop his pursuits of the happiness of the other world, than part with the present enjoyments of this.

Matthew 19:22 In-Context

20 The young man said to him, "All these I have observed. What do I still lack?"

21 Jesus said to him, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give [the proceeds] to the poor--and you will have treasure in heaven--and come, follow me."

22 But [when] the young man heard the statement, he went away sorrowful, because he was one who had many possessions.

23 And Jesus said to his disciples, "Truly I say to you that with difficulty a rich person will enter into the kingdom of heaven!

24 And again I say to you, it is easier [for] a camel to go through the eye of a needle than a rich person into the kingdom of God."

Footnotes

• [a] *Here "[when]" is supplied as a component of the participle ("heard") which is understood as temporal