Why does Jesus mention only the second table of the law when the young man asked him which commandments he had to keep?
When the man asks Jesus, Which ones?
(Matthew 19:18), Jesus cites only from the second table of the law, which commands only the duties of man towards his neighbour, with Matthew 19:19’s summary that You shall love your neighbour as yourself
(Leviticus 19:18). The attitude towards one’s neighbour is a test of whether man lives in accordance with God’s law or not (see Romans 13:8–10, which says that loving the neighbour is the fulfillment of the law).
The young man does not yet see his own sinfulness before God. In his question he was not thinking of the ordinary law, for he believed that he had already kept it, so it surprised him (Matthew 19:20) that Jesus cited the ordinary
commandments of the second table of the law. Jesus did so for two reasons. First, in these commandments the distance between principle and practice is less than those of the first table. Secondly, behind the second table of the law is the principle of love for one’s neighbour, which would have had less influence on a Pharisaically minded person than love for God (Matthew 23:14), so Jesus concludes by expressly mentioning this principle (Leviticus 19:18). The young man probably knew more clearly that he fell short in love toward God than that he fell short in his duty toward his neighbour. When it comes to the second table, people tend to be more easily satisfied in their outward observance of the law.
When the man asks Jesus, Which ones?
(Matthew 19:18), Jesus proceeds to cite a number of the ten commandments (the decalogue). It is noteworthy, however, that he here only cites from the second table of the law which pertains only to the duties of man towards his neighbour. This is ratified by the concluding statement in Matthew 19:19 that summarizes the law in the words You shall love your neighbour as yourself,
a quote from Leviticus 19:18. We conclude that the attitude towards one’s neighbour serves as the criteria or test for whether man lives in accordance with God’s law or not (see also Romans 13:8–10 which teaches that loving the neighbour is the fulfillment of the law). The young man was most likely disappointed that Jesus here mentioned nothing other than the old commandments of the decalogue, which he was under the false impression that he had kept.1
The young man does not yet realize his own sinfulness before God. In his question he was not thinking of the ordinary law, for in his own estimation he had already kept it. It therefore greatly surprised him (Matthew 19:20) that Jesus began to mention the ordinary
commandments of the second table of the law in response to his question. That Jesus names these can have more than one reason. First, in these commandments the distance between principle and practice is less than those of the first table. Secondly, behind the commandments of the second table lies the principle of love for one’s neighbour, a principle that at the time had far less influence on a Pharisaically minded person at the time than love for God (Matthew 23:14). Jesus therefore concludes by expressly mentioning this principle (Leviticus 19:18). The young man would probably have admitted more readily that he fell short in love toward God than that he fell short in his duty toward his neighbour. When it comes to the second table, people tend to be even more easily satisfied when it comes to the outward observance of the law.2
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,