Matthew 19:16-30 - A Rich Young Man

¹⁶ Then a rich, young man [See verse 22] came to Him and said, "Teacher, what good deed should I do in order to have never ending life?"

¹⁷ Jesus answered him, "Why do you ask me about what is good? There is [only] One who is good [i.e., God]. But if you want to enter [never ending] life, [then] obey His commandments."

¹⁸ The young man asked Him, "Which [ones]?" Jesus answered, "You must not murder. You must not be sexually unfaithful to your mate. You must not steal. You must not give false testimony. ¹⁹ Show honor to your father and mother. And you must love your neighbor the same as you love yourself."

²⁰ The young man said to Him, "I have [already] been observing all of these commandments. What do I [still] lack?"

²¹ Jesus replied, "If you want to be complete, go and sell your possessions and give [the money] to poor people; then become my follower and you will have treasure in heaven."

²² But when the young man heard these words, he went away saddened, for he had many possessions.

²³ Jesus said to His disciples, "Truly I tell you, it is difficult for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven. ²⁴ And again I tell you, it is [actually] easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle, than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God."

²⁵ When the disciples heard this, they were utterly amazed, saying, "Who then can [possibly] be saved?"

²⁶ Jesus looked at them and said, "This would be impossible with men, but everything is possible with God."

²⁷ Peter then answered Him, "Look, we have left everything [i.e., homes, jobs, family, etc.], to follow you. What will we get for it?"

²⁸ Jesus said to them, "Truly I tell you, [since] you have become my followers, in the time of new beginnings [i.e., the church age], when the Son of man sits on His glorious throne, you apostles will also sit on twelve thrones, judging [i.e., through their writings] the twelve tribes of Israel [i.e., God's people]. ²⁹ And every person who has left his house, or brothers, or sisters, or father, or mother, or children or property, for my name's sake [i.e., to become a servant of the Lord], will receive [back] a hundred times as much [in this life] and will [also] inherit never ending life. ³⁰ But many will be last [i.e., in importance and blessings] who [seem to] be first, and those [who seem to be] first will [end up] being last."

¹⁷ As Jesus was leaving to go on His way, a man ran to Him and kneeled down in front of Him and asked, "Good Teacher, what should I do in order to possess never ending life?"

¹⁸ Jesus answered him, "Why are you calling me good? Nobody is good except One, that is, God.

¹⁸ Jesus answered him, "Why are you calling me good? Nobody is good except One, that is, God. ¹⁹ You know the commandments: Do not murder. Do not be sexually unfaithful to your mate. Do not steal. Do not give false testimony. Do not cheat. Show honor to your father and mother."

²⁰ And he replied, "Teacher, I have [already] been observing all these commandments since I was a young lad."

²¹ And Jesus looked at him, and filled with love, said to him, "There is one thing you [still] lack. Go and sell your possessions and give [the money] to poor people; become my follower, then you will have treasure in heaven." ²² But the man had a sad look on his face when he heard these words, and went away sorrowful, for he had many possessions.

²³ Then Jesus looked around Him and said to His disciples, "How difficult it is for rich people to enter the kingdom of God " ²⁴ And His disciples were amazed at what He said. But Jesus spoke to them again and said, "How difficult it is [for anyone] to enter the kingdom of God ²⁵ It is [actually] easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God."

²⁶ And they were utterly amazed and said to Him, "Then who can [possibly] be saved?"

²⁷ Jesus looked at them and said, "This would be impossible with men, but not with God, for everything is possible with God."

²⁸ Peter began saying to Him, "Look, we have left everything [i.e., homes, jobs, family, etc.] to follow you."

²⁹ Jesus said, "Truly I tell you, no one who has left his house, or brothers, or sisters, or mother, or father, or children or property for my sake and the Gospel's sake [i.e., to become a servant of the Lord], ³⁰ but what he will receive [back] a hundred times as much now in this life --- houses, and brothers, and sisters, and mothers, and children and property --- [yet] with persecutions. And in the coming age [he will receive] never ending life. ³¹ But many that [appear to] be first [i.e., in importance and blessings] will [end up] being last. And [those appearing to] be last will [end up] being first."

¹⁸ Then a certain ruler [Note: This man was young and rich. See Matt. 19:16-22] asked Jesus, "Good Teacher, what should I do in order to inherit never ending life?"

¹⁹ Jesus answered him, "Why do you call me 'good'? No one is good except God only. ²⁰ You know the commandments: Do not be sexually unfaithful to your mate. Do not murder. Do not steal. Do not give false testimony. Show honor to your father and mother."

²¹ And the ruler replied, "I have [already] been observing all of these commandments since I was [very] young."

²² When Jesus heard this He said to him, " [There is] one thing you still lack. Sell all your possessions and distribute [the money] to poor people; become my follower, [then] you will have treasure in heaven."

²³ But when the ruler heard these words, he became very sad for he was extremely rich.

²⁴ Now Jesus looked at him and said, "How difficult [it is] for those who are wealthy to enter the kingdom of God! ²⁵ For it is [actually] easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a wealthy person to enter the kingdom of God."

²⁶ And those who heard this said, "Then who can [possibly] be saved?"

²⁷ Jesus answered, "The things that are impossible with people are [certainly] possible with God."

²⁸ Then Peter said, "Look, we have left our homes to follow you."

²⁹ And Jesus said to the disciples, "Truly I tell you, there is no person who has left his house, or wife, or brothers, or parents, or children for the sake of the kingdom of God [i.e., to become a servant of the Lord], ³⁰ who will not receive [back] many times as much [as he left in this life], and never ending life in the coming age."