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.

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Footnotes

  1. 19:17 Other mss read “Why do you call me good?”
  2. 19:17 Other mss read “No one is good but one—God
  3. 19:18–19 Ex 20:12–16; Lv 19:18; Dt 5:16–20
  4. 19:20 Other mss add from my youth
  5. 19:21 Or complete

A rich man’s question

16 A man approached him and said, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to have eternal life?”

17 Jesus said, “Why do you ask me about what is good? There’s only one who is good. If you want to enter eternal life, keep the commandments.”

18 The man said, “Which ones?”

Then Jesus said, “Don’t commit murder. Don’t commit adultery. Don’t steal. Don’t give false testimony. 19 Honor your father and mother,[a] and love your neighbor as you love yourself.”[b]

20 The young man replied, “I’ve kept all these. What am I still missing?”

21 Jesus said, “If you want to be complete, go, sell what you own, and give the money to the poor. Then you will have treasure in heaven. And come follow me.”

22 But when the young man heard this, he went away saddened, because he had many possessions.

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