Luke 18:15-30

The Voice

Jesus: Let the little children come to Me. Never hinder them! Don’t you realize—the kingdom of God belongs to those who are like children? ¹⁷ You can depend on this: if you don’t receive the Kingdom as a child would, you won’t enter it at all.

Public Official: ¹⁸ Good Teacher, what do I need to do to inherit the life of the age to come?

Jesus: ¹⁹ Why did you just call Me good? No one is good but God—only God. ²⁰ You know what the Hebrew Scriptures command: “Do not commit adultery; do not murder; do not steal; do not bear false witness; honor your father and mother.”^[a]

Public Official: ²¹ I’ve already been doing these things—since I came of age.

Jesus: ²² One thing you still lack—one thing; sell all your possessions and distribute the proceeds to the poor. Then you will have treasure in heaven. Then you can come and follow Me.

Jesus: ²⁴ What a hard thing it is for those with much wealth to enter the kingdom of God! ²⁵ In fact, it would be easier for a camel to squeeze through the eye of a needle than it would be for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God!

Listeners: ²⁶ Then who can be liberated?

Jesus: ²⁷ Remember, what is humanly impossible is possible with God.

Peter: ²⁸ We have left our homes and followed You.

Jesus: ²⁹ I’m telling you the truth: there is nobody who leaves his house or wife or siblings or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God ³⁰ who will not receive more than he has given up—much more—in this age and in the age to come. He will receive eternal life.