The Words of Eternal Life

^60 (A)When many of his disciples heard it, they said, “This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?” ⁶¹ But Jesus, ^(B)knowing in himself that his disciples were grumbling about this, said to them, “Do you take offense at this? ⁶² Then what if you were to see ^(C)the Son of Man ^(D)ascending to ^(E)where he was before? ^63 (F)It is the Spirit who gives life; ^(G)the flesh is no help at all. ^(H)The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. ⁶⁴ But ^(I)there are some of you who do not believe.” (For Jesus ^(J)knew from the beginning who those were who did not believe, and ^(K)who it was who would betray him.) ⁶⁵ And he said, “This is why I told you ^(L)that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father.”

^66 (M)After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him.

The Rich Ruler

^18 (A)And a ruler asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to ^(B)inherit eternal life?” ¹⁹ And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. ²⁰ You know the commandments: ^(C)‘Do not commit adultery, Do not murder, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother.’” ²¹ And he said, ^(D)“All these I have kept from my youth.” ²² When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “One thing you still lack. ^(E)Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have ^(F)treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” ^23 (G)But when he heard these things, he became very sad, for he was extremely rich. ²⁴ Jesus, seeing that he had become sad, said, ^(H)“How difficult it is for those who have wealth to enter ^(I)the kingdom of God! ²⁵ For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter ^(J)the kingdom of God.” ²⁶ Those who heard it said, “Then who can be saved?” ²⁷ But he said, ^(K)“What is impossible with man is possible with God.” ²⁸ And Peter said, “See, ^(L)we have left our homes and followed you.” ²⁹ And he said to them, “Truly, I say to you, ^(M)there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers^[a] or parents or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, ³⁰ who will not receive ^(N)many times more ^(O)in this time, and in ^(P)the age to come eternal life.”