¹¹ ‘Because they have not followed me wholeheartedly, not one of those who were twenty years old or more^(A) when they came up out of Egypt^(B) will see the land I promised on oath^(C) to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob^(D)— ¹² not one except Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite and Joshua son of Nun, for they followed the Lord wholeheartedly.’^{(E) 13} The Lord’s anger burned against Israel^(F) and he made them wander in the wilderness forty years, until the whole generation of those who had done evil in his sight was gone.^(G)

The Little Children and Jesus^(A)

¹³ People were bringing little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them, but the disciples rebuked them. ¹⁴ When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.^{(B) 15} Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”^{(C) 16} And he took the children in his arms,^(D) placed his hands on them and blessed them.

The Rich and the Kingdom of God^(E)

¹⁷ As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees^(F) before him. “Good teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”^(G)

¹⁸ “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. ¹⁹ You know the commandments: ‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, you shall not defraud, honor your father and mother.’^[a]”^(H)

²⁰ “Teacher,” he declared, “all these I have kept since I was a boy.”

²¹ Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor,^(I) and you will have treasure in heaven.^(J) Then come, follow me.”^(K)

²² At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth.

²³ Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the rich^(L) to enter the kingdom of God!”

²⁴ The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said again, “Children, how hard it is^[b] to enter the kingdom of God!^{(M) 25} It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”^(N)

²⁶ The disciples were even more amazed, and said to each other, “Who then can be saved?”

²⁷ Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.”^(O)