Matthew 19:14-27

Christian Standard Bible

¹⁴ Jesus said, “Leave the little children alone, and don’t try to keep them from coming to me, because the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”^{[a](A) 15} After placing his hands on them, he went on from there.

The Rich Young Ruler

¹⁶ Just then someone came up and asked him,^(B) “Teacher, what good must I do to have eternal life?” ^(C)

¹⁷ “Why do you ask me about what is good?”^[b] he said to him. “There is only one who is good.^[c] If you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.”^(D)

¹⁸ “Which ones?” he asked him.

Jesus answered: Do not murder; do not commit adultery; do not steal; do not bear false witness;^{(E) 19} honor your father and your mother; and love your neighbor as yourself.^[d](F)

²⁰ “I have kept all these,”^[e] the young man told him. “What do I still lack?”

²¹ “If you want to be perfect,”^[f] Jesus said to him, “go, sell your belongings and give to the poor,^(G) and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

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

Possessions and the Kingdom

²³ Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly I tell you, it will be hard for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven.^{(H) 24} Again 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.”^(I)

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

²⁶ Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”^(J)

²⁷ Then Peter responded to him, “See, we have left everything and followed you. So what will there be for us?”