The Rich Young Ruler

^17 (A)As He was setting out on a journey, a man ran up to Him and ^(B)knelt before Him, and asked Him, “Good Teacher, what shall I do to ^(C)inherit eternal life?” ¹⁸ And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone. ¹⁹ You know the commandments, ‘^(D)Do not murder, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.’” ²⁰ And he said to Him, “Teacher, I have kept ^(E)all these things from my youth up.” ²¹ Looking at him, Jesus felt a love for him and said to him, “One thing you lack: go and sell all you possess and give to the poor, and you will have ^(F)treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” ²² But at these words ^[a]he was saddened, and he went away grieving, for he was one who owned much property.

²³ And Jesus, looking around, *said to His disciples, “^(G)How hard it will be for those who are wealthy to enter the kingdom of God!” ²⁴ The disciples ^(H)were amazed at His words. But Jesus *answered again and *said to them, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! ^25 (I)It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” ²⁶ They were even more astonished and said to Him, “^[b]Then who can be saved?” ²⁷ Looking at them, Jesus *said, “^(J)With people it is impossible, but not with God; for all things are possible with God.”

^28 (K)Peter began to say to Him, “Behold, we have left everything and followed You.” ²⁹ Jesus said, “Truly I say to you, ^(L)there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or farms, for My sake and for the gospel’s sake, ^30 [c]but that he will receive a hundred times as much now in ^[d]the present age, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and farms, along with persecutions; and in ^(M)the age to come, eternal life. ³¹ But ^(N)many who are first will be last, and the last, first.”

¹² For ^(A)the word of God is ^(B)living and ^(C)active and sharper than any two-edged ^(D)sword, and piercing as far as the division of ^(E)soul and ^(F)spirit, of both joints and marrow, and ^(G)able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. ¹³ And ^(H)there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are ^(I)open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.

¹⁴ Therefore, since we have a great ^(J)high priest who has ^(K)passed through the heavens, Jesus ^(L)the Son of God, let us hold fast our ^(M)confession. ¹⁵ For we do not have ^(N)a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been ^(O)tempted in all things as we are, yet ^(P)without sin. ¹⁶ Therefore let us ^(Q)draw near with ^(R)confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.