Matthew 19:16-26

Christian Standard Bible

The Rich Young Ruler

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

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

¹⁸ “Which ones?” he asked him.

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

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

²¹ “If you want to be perfect,”^[e] Jesus said to him, “go, sell your belongings and give to the poor,^(F) 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.^{(G) 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.”^(H)

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.”^(I)