Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

¹⁸ There was a ruler who asked him, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit the life of the age to come?”

¹⁹ “Why call me good?” said Jesus to him. “No one is good except God alone. ²⁰ You know the commandments: Don’t commit adultery, don’t kill, don’t steal, don’t swear falsely, honor your father and mother.”

²¹ “I’ve kept them all,” he said, “since I was a boy.”

²² When Jesus heard that, he said to him, “There’s just one thing you’re short of. Sell everything you own, and distribute it to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come and follow me.”

²³ When he heard that he became very sad. He was extremely wealthy.

²⁴ Jesus saw that he had become sad, and said, “How hard it is for those with possessions to enter God’s kingdom! ²⁵ Yes: it’s easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter God’s kingdom.”

²⁶ The people who heard it said, “So who can be saved?”

²⁷ “What’s impossible for humans,” said Jesus, “is possible for God.”

²⁸ “Look here,” said Peter, “we’ve left everything and followed you.”

²⁹ “I’m telling you the truth,” said Jesus, “everyone who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children, because of God’s kingdom, ³⁰ will receive far more in return in the present time—and in the age to come they will receive the life that belongs to that age.”