Matthew 19:16-30 - A Rich Young Man

¹⁶ Up came a man and said to him, "Teacher, what good deed must I do to gain life eternal?"

¹⁷ He said to him, "Why do you ask me about what is good? One alone is good. But if you want to get into Life, keep the commands."

¹⁸ "Which?" he said. Jesus answered, "The commands, you shall not kill, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not bear false witness, ¹⁹ honour your father and mother, and you must love your neighbour as yourself."

²⁰ The young man said, "I have observed all these. What more is wanting?"

²¹ Jesus said to him, "If you want to be perfect, go and sell your property, give the money to the poor and you shall have treasure in heaven; then come and follow me."

²² When the young man heard that, he went sadly away, for he had great possessions.

²³ And Jesus said to his disciples, "I tell you truly, it will be difficult for a rich man to get into the Realm of heaven. ²⁴ I tell you again, it is easier for a camel to get through a needle's eye than for a rich man to get into the Realm of God."

²⁵ When the disciples heard this they were utterly astounded; they said, "Who then can possibly be saved?"

²⁶ Jesus looked at them and said, "This is impossible for men, but anything is possible for God."

²⁷ Then Peter replied, "Well, we have left our all and followed you. Now what are we to get?"

²⁸ Jesus said to them, "I tell you truly, in the new world, when the Son of man shall sit on the throne of his glory, you who have followed me shall also sit on twelve thrones to govern the twelve tribes of Israel. ²⁹ Everyone who has left brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands or houses for my name's sake will get a hundred times as much and inherit life eternal. ³⁰ Many who are first shall be last, and many who are last shall be first.

¹⁷ As he went out on the road a man ran up and knelt down before him. "Good teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit life eternal?"

¹⁸ Jesus said to him, "Why call me 'good'? No one is good, no one but God. ¹⁹ You know the commands: do not kill, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not bear false witness, do not defraud, honour your father and mother."

²⁰ "Teacher," he said, "I have observed all these commands from my youth."

²¹ Jesus looked at him and loved him. "There is one thing you want," he said; "go and sell all you have; give the money to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, take up the cross, and follow me." ²² But his face fell at that, and he went sadly away, for he had great possessions.

²³ Jesus looked round and said to his disciples, "How difficult it is for those who have money to get into the Realm of God!" ²⁴ The disciples were amazed at what he said; so he repeated, "My sons, how difficult it is [for those who rely on money] to get into the Realm of God! ²⁵ It is easier for a camel to get through a needle's eye than for a rich man to get into the Realm of God."

²⁶ They were more astounded than ever; they said to themselves, "Then who ever can be saved?"

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

²⁸ Peter began, "Well, we have left our all and followed you."

²⁹ Jesus said, "I tell you truly, no one has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands for my sake and for the sake of the gospel, ³⁰ who does not get a hundred times as much ??in this present world homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and lands, together with persecutions, and in the world to come life eternal. ³¹ Many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first."

¹⁸ Then a ruler asked him, "Good teacher, what am I to do to inherit life eternal?"

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

²¹ He said, "I have observed all these commands from my youth."

²² When Jesus heard this he said to him, "You lack one thing more; sell all you have, distribute the money among the poor and you will have treasure in heaven; then come and follow me."

²³ But when he heard that, he was vexed, for he was extremely rich.

²⁴ So Jesus looked at him and said, "How difficult it is for those who have money to enter the Realm of God! ²⁵ Why, it is easier for a camel to get through a needle's eye than for a rich man to get into the Realm of God."

²⁶ His hearers said, "Then whoever can be saved?"

²⁷ He said, "What is impossible for men is possible for God."

²⁸ Peter said, "Well, we have left our homes and followed you!"

²⁹ He said to them, "I tell you truly, no one has left home or wife or brothers or parents or children for the sake of the Realm of God, ³⁰ who does not receive ever so much more in this present world, and in the world to come life eternal."