Matthew 19:16-30 - A Rich Young Man

¹⁶ "Teacher," said one man, coming up to Him, "what that is good shall I do in order to win the Life of the Ages?"

¹⁷ "Why do you ask me," He replied, "about what is good? There is only One who is truly good. But if you desire to enter into Life, keep the Commandments."

¹⁸ "Which Commandments?" he asked. Jesus answered, "'Thou shalt not kill;' 'Thou shalt not commit adultery;' 'Thou shalt not steal;' 'Thou shalt not lie in giving evidence;' ¹⁹ Honour thy father and thy mother'; and 'Thou shalt love thy fellow man as much as thyself.'"

²⁰ "All of these," said the young man, "I have carefully kept. What do I still lack?"

²¹ "If you desire to be perfect," replied Jesus, "go and sell all that you have, and give to the poor, and you shall have wealth in Heaven; and come, follow me."

²² On hearing those words the young man went away much cast down; for he had much property.

²³ So Jesus said to His disciples, "I solemnly tell you that it is with difficulty that a rich man will enter the Kingdom of the Heavens. ²⁴ Yes, I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God."

²⁵ These words utterly amazed the disciples, and they asked, "Who then can be saved?"

²⁶ Jesus looked at them and said, "With men this is impossible, but with God everything is possible."

²⁷ Then Peter said to Jesus, "See, *we* have forsaken everything and followed you; what then will be *our* reward?"

²⁸ "I solemnly tell you," replied Jesus, "that in the New Creation, when the Son of Man has taken His seat on His glorious throne, all of you who have followed me shall also sit on twelve thrones and judge the twelve tribes of Israel. ²⁹ And whoever has forsaken houses, or brothers or sisters, or father or mother, or children or lands, for my sake, shall receive many times as much and shall have as his inheritance the Life of the Ages. ³⁰ "But many who are now first will be last, and many who are now last will be first.

¹⁷ As He went out to resume His journey, there came a man running up to Him, who knelt at His feet and asked, "Good Rabbi, what am I to do in order to inherit the Life of the Ages?"

¹⁸ "Why do you call me good?" asked Jesus in reply; "there is no one truly good except One--that is, God. ¹⁹ You know the Commandments--'Do not murder;' 'Do not commit adultery;' 'Do not steal;' 'Do not lie in giving evidence;' 'Do not defraud;' 'Honour thy father and thy mother.'"

²⁰ "Rabbi," he replied, "all these Commandments I have carefully obeyed from my youth."

²¹ Then Jesus looked at him and loved him, and said, "One thing is lacking in you: go, sell all you possess and give the proceeds to the poor, and you shall have riches in Heaven; and come and be a follower of mine." ²² At these words his brow darkened, and he went away sad; for he was possessed of great wealth.

²³ Then looking round on His disciples Jesus said, "With how hard a struggle will the possessors of riches enter the Kingdom of God!" ²⁴ The disciples were amazed at His words. Jesus, however, said again, "Children, how hard a struggle is it for those who trust in riches to enter the Kingdom of God! ²⁵ It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God."

²⁶ They were astonished beyond measure, and said to one another, "Who then *can* be saved?"

²⁷ Jesus looking on them said, "With men it is impossible, but not with God; for everything is possible with God."

²⁸ "Remember," said Peter to Him, "that we forsook everything and have become your followers."

²⁹ "In solemn truth I tell you," replied Jesus, "that there is no one who has forsaken house or brothers or sisters, or mother or father, or children or lands, for my sake and for the sake of the Good News, ³⁰ but will receive a hundred times as much now in this present life--houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, lands--and persecution with them--and in the coming age the Life of the Ages. ³¹ But many who are now first will be last, and the last, first."

¹⁸ The question was put to Him by a Ruler: "Good Rabbi, what shall I do to inherit the Life of the Ages?"

¹⁹ "Why do you call me good?" replied Jesus; "there is no one good but One, namely God. ²⁰ You know the Commandments: 'Do not commit adultery;' 'Do not murder;' 'Do not steal;' 'Do not lie in giving evidence;' 'Honour thy father and thy mother.'"

²¹ "All of those," he replied, "I have kept from my youth."

²² On receiving this answer Jesus said to him, "There is still one thing wanting in you. Sell everything you possess and give the money to the poor, and you shall have wealth in Heaven; and then come, follow me."

²³ But on hearing these words he was deeply sorrowful, for he was exceedingly rich.

²⁴ Jesus saw his sorrow, and said, "With how hard a struggle do the possessors of riches ever enter the Kingdom of God! ²⁵ Why, it is easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God."

²⁶ "Who then can be saved?" exclaimed the hearers.

²⁷ "Things impossible with man," He replied, "are possible with God."

²⁸ Then Peter said, "See, we have given up our homes and have followed you."

²⁹ "I solemnly tell you," replied Jesus, "that there is no one who has left house or wife, or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of God's Kingdom, ³⁰ who shall not certainly receive many times as much in this life, and in the age that is coming the Life of the Ages."