Matthew 19:16–26

The Rich Young Ruler

¹⁶Just then someone came up and asked Him, ^o“Teacher, what good must I do to have eternal life?” ^p

¹⁷“Why do you ask Me about what is good?” ^qHe said to him. “There is only One who is good. ^rIf you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.” ^s

¹⁸“Which ones?” he asked Him. Jesus answered:

Do not murder;

do not commit adultery;

do not steal;

do not bear false witness; ^t

¹⁹honor your father and your mother;

and love your neighbor as yourself. ^uv

²⁰“I have kept all these,” ^wthe young man told Him. “What do I still lack?”

²¹“If you want to be perfect,” ^xJesus said to him, “go, sell your belongings and give to the poor, ^yand you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow Me.”

²²When the young man heard that command, he went away grieving, because he had many possessions.

Possessions and the Kingdom

²³Then Jesus said to His disciples, “^•I assure you: It will be hard for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven! ^z24Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” ^a

²⁵When the disciples heard this, they were utterly astonished and asked, “Then who can be saved?”

²⁶But Jesus looked at them and said, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” ^b