Matthew 19:16-30 - A Rich Young Man

¹⁶ A man came up to him and said, "Master, what good deed must I do to obtain eternal life?"

¹⁷ But he said to him, "Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. But if you want to enter that life, keep the commandments."

¹⁸ He said to him, "Which ones?" Jesus said, "These: 'You shall not murder, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness, ¹⁹ Honor your father and mother,' and 'You shall love your neighbor as you do yourself.' "

²⁰ The young man said to him, "I have obeyed all these commandments. What do I still lack?"

²¹ Jesus said to him, "If you want to be perfect, go! Sell your property and give the money to the poor, and you will have riches in heaven. Then come back and be a follower of mine."

²² But when the young man heard that, he went away much cast down, for he had a great deal of property.

²³ Jesus said to his disciples, "I tell you, it will be hard for a rich man to get into the Kingdom of Heaven! ²⁴ And again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to get through a needle's eye than for a rich man to get into the Kingdom of God!"

²⁵ But when the disciples heard this, they were completely astounded and said, "Then who can be saved?"

²⁶ But Jesus looked at them and said, "For men it is impossible, but anything is possible for God!"

²⁷ Then Peter spoke and said to him, "Here we have left all we had and followed you. What are we to have?"

²⁸ Jesus said to them, "In the new world, I tell you, when the Son of Man takes his seat on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit upon twelve thrones, and judge the twelve tribes of Israel! ²⁹ And anyone who has given up houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or land for my sake will receive many times as much, and share eternal life. ³⁰ But many who are first now will be last then, and many who are now last will be first.

¹⁷ As he was starting again on his journey, a man came running up to him, and knelt at his feet and asked him, "Good master, what must I do to make sure of eternal life?"

¹⁸ But Jesus said to him, "Why do you call me good? No one is good but God himself. ¹⁹ You know the commandments??Do not murder, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.'

²⁰ But he said to him, "Master, I have obeyed all these commandments ever since I was a child."

²¹ And Jesus looked at him and loved him, and he said to him, "There is one thing that you lack. Go, sell all you have, and give the money to the poor, and then you will have riches in heaven; and come back and be a follower of mine." ²² But his face fell at Jesus' words, and he went away much cast down, for he had a great deal of property.

²³ And Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, "How hard it will be for those who have money to enter the Kingdom of God!" ²⁴ But the disciples were amazed at what he said. And Jesus said to them again, "My children, how hard it is to enter the Kingdom of God! ²⁵ It is easier for a camel to get through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to get into the Kingdom of God!"

²⁶ They were perfectly astounded and said to him, "Then who can be saved?"

²⁷ Jesus looked at them and said, "For men it is impossible, but not for God, for anything is possible for God."

²⁸ Peter started to say to him, "Well, we have left all we had, and have followed you."

²⁹ Jesus said, "I tell you, there is no one who has given up home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or land for me and for the good news, ³⁰ but will receive now in this life a hundred times as much in homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and lands, though not without persecution??nd in the coming age eternal life. ³¹ But many who are first now will be last then, and the last will be first."

¹⁸ A member of the council asked him, "Good master, what must I do to make sure of eternal life?"

¹⁹ Jesus said to him, "Why do you call me good? No one is good but God himself. ²⁰ You know the commandments, 'Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother.' "

²¹ And he said, "I have obeyed all these commandments ever since I was a child."

²² When Jesus heard this, he said to him, "There is one thing that you still lack. Sell all that you have, and divide the money among the poor, and then you will have riches in heaven; and come back and be a follower of mine."

²³ But when he heard that, he was much cast down, for he was very rich.

²⁴ And when Jesus saw it, he said, "How hard it will be for those who have money to get into the Kingdom of God! ²⁵ It is easier for a camel to get through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to get into the Kingdom of God!"

²⁶ And those who heard it said, "Then who can be saved?"

²⁷ And he said, "The things that are impossible for men are possible for God!"

²⁸ Peter said, "Here we have left home and followed you."

²⁹ And he said to them, "I tell you, there is no one who has given up home or wife or brothers or parents or children for the Kingdom of God ³⁰ who will not receive many times more in this time, and in the coming age eternal life."