The young man answered without hesitation, "All these things have I kept from my youth up; what lack I yet?" His conception of the law was external and superficial. Judged by a human standard, he had preserved an unblemished character. To a great degree his outward life had been free from guilt; he verily thought that his obedience had been without a flaw. Yet he had a secret fear that all was not right between his soul and God. This prompted the question, "What lack I yet?"

Den unge mand svarede uden at tøve: "Det har jeg holdt alt sammen fra min ungdom af; hvad mangler jeg endnu?" Hans forståelse af loven var overfladisk, men set fra et menneskeligt synspunkt havde han bevaret en uplettet karakter Hans liv havde til en vis grad været ulasteligt, han troede i sandhed, at hans lydighed havde været uden lyde. Men alligevel nærede han en hemmelig frygt for at alt ikke stod rigtigt til mellem ham og Gud. Det fik ham til at stille spørgsmålet: "Hvad mangler jeg endnu?"