Matthew 19:20

From my youth. Important textual evidence may be cited (cf. p. 146) for the omission of this phrase. The young man sincerely felt that he had “kept” the commandments, all of them, and was not conscious of any imperfection (see DA 519).

What lack I yet? Apparently the young man was confident that there was but a step between him and perfection. But though he had diligently obeyed the letter of the law, he still felt that that was not enough. He felt that he lacked something, but what it was he honestly did not know. His life had been one of purity, honesty, and truthfulness. But his attitude toward his fellow men had been essentially a negative one — he had not stolen their goods, he had not borne false witness against them, he had not taken their wives or their lives. True, the letter of the law is negative in form, but its spirit calls for positive action. It is not enough to avoid hating or hurting our fellow men; the gospel calls upon us to love and help them as we love ourselves. This young man lacked the love of God in his heart (see DA 519), without which his observance of “all these things” was of no real value in the sight of Heaven.