Matthew 19:21

19:21 Jesus said to him, “If you wish to be perfect, go sell your possessions and give the money ¹  to the poor, and you will have treasure ²  in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

Matthew 19:27

19:27 Then Peter said ³  to him, “Look, ⁴  we have left everything to follow you! ⁵  What then will there be for us?”

Matthew 19:29

19:29 And whoever has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much ⁶  and will inherit eternal life.

¹ tn The words “the money” are not in the Greek text, but are implied. Direct objects were often omitted in Greek when clear from the context.

² sn The call for sacrifice comes with a promise of eternal reward: You will have treasure in heaven. Jesus’ call is a test to see how responsive the man is to God’s direction through him. Will he walk the path God’s agent calls him to walk? For a rich person who got it right, see Zacchaeus in Luke 19:1-10.

³ tn Grk “Then answering, Peter said.” This construction is somewhat redundant in contemporary English and has been simplified in the translation.

⁴ sn Peter wants reassurance that the disciples’ response and sacrifice have been noticed.

⁵ tn Grk “We have left everything and followed you.” Koine Greek often used paratactic structure when hypotactic was implied.

⁶ sn Jesus reassures his disciples with a promise that (1) much benefit in this life (a hundred times as much) and (2) eternal life will be given.