A Rich Man’s Question

¹⁸ A Jewish leader asked Jesus, “Good Teacher, what must I do to get the life that continues forever?”

¹⁹ Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? Only God is good. ²⁰ You know the commands: ‘You must not be guilty of adultery. You must not murder anyone. You must not steal. You must not tell lies about your neighbor in court. Honor your father and mother.’”^[a]

²¹ But the leader said, “I have obeyed all these commands since I was a boy!”

²² When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “But there is still one more thing you need to do. Sell everything you have and give the money to the poor. You will have a reward in heaven. Then come and follow me!” ²³ But when the man heard this, he became very sad because he was very rich.

²⁴ When Jesus saw that the man was sad, he said, “It will be very hard for rich people to enter the kingdom of God! ²⁵ It would be easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God!”

Who Can Be Saved?

²⁶ When the people heard this, they asked, “Then who can be saved?”

²⁷ Jesus answered, “The things impossible for men are possible for God.”

²⁸ Peter said, “Look, we left everything we had and followed you!”

²⁹ Jesus said, “I tell you the truth. Everyone who has left his house, wife, brothers, parents, or children for God’s kingdom ³⁰ will get much more than he left. He will receive many times more in this life. And after he dies, he will live with God forever.”