Luke 18:24-30

18:24 When Jesus noticed this, ¹  he said, “How hard ²  it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God! ³  18:25 In fact, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle ⁴  than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” 18:26 Those who heard this said, “Then ⁵  who can be saved?” ⁶  18:27 He replied, “What is impossible ⁷  for mere humans ⁸  is possible for God.” 18:28 And Peter said, “Look, we have left everything we own ⁹  to follow you!” ¹⁰  18:29 Then ¹¹  Jesus ¹²  said to them, “I tell you the truth, ¹³  there is no one who has left home or wife or brothers ¹⁴  or parents or children for the sake of God’s kingdom 18:30 who will not receive many times more ¹⁵  in this age ¹⁶  – and in the age to come, eternal life.” ¹⁷ 

[18:24]  ¹ tc ‡ The phrase περίλυπον γενόμενον (perilupon genomenon, “[When Jesus saw him] becoming sad”) is found in the majority of mss (A [D] W Θ Ψ 078 ˹³ 33^vid Ï latt sy), and it is not unknown in Lukan style to repeat a word or phrase in adjacent passages (TCGNT 143). However, the phrase is lacking in some significant mss (א B L ˹ 579 1241 2542 co). The shorter reading is nevertheless difficult to explain if it is not original: It is possible that these witnesses omitted this phrase out of perceived redundancy from the preceding verse, although intentional omissions, especially by several and varied witnesses, are generally unlikely. NA²⁷ places the words in brackets, indicating doubts as to their authenticity.

[18:24]  ² sn For the rich it is hard for wealth not to be the point of focus, as the contrast in vv. 28-30 will show, and for rich people to trust God. Wealth was not an automatic sign of blessing as far as Jesus was concerned.

[18:24]  ³ sn The kingdom of God is a major theme of Jesus. It is a realm in which Jesus rules and to which those who trust him belong. See Luke 6:20; 11:20; 17:20-21.

[18:25]  ⁴ sn The eye of a needle refers to a sewing needle, one of the smallest items one might deal with on a regular basis, in contrast to the biggest animal of the region. (The gate in Jerusalem known as “The Needle’s Eye” was built during the middle ages and was not in existence in Jesus’ day.) Jesus is saying rhetorically that this is impossible, unless God (v. 27) intervenes.

[18:26]  ⁵ tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of thought.

[18:26]  ⁶ sn The assumption is that the rich are blessed, so if they risk exclusion, who is left to be saved?

[18:27]  ⁷ sn The term impossible is in the emphatic position in the Greek text. God makes the impossible possible.

[18:27]  ⁸ tn The plural Greek term ἄνθρωποις (anqrwpois) is used here in a generic sense, referring to both men and women (cf. NASB 1995 update, “people”). Because of the contrast here between mere mortals and God (“impossible for men…possible for God”) the phrase “mere humans” has been used in the translation.

[18:28]  ⁹ tn Or “left our homes,” “left our possessions”; Grk “left our own things.” The word ἴδιος (idios) can refer to one’s home (including the people and possessions in it) or to one’s property or possessions. Both options are mentioned in BDAG 467 s.v. 4.b. See also I. H. Marshall, Luke (NIGTC), 688; D. L. Bock, Luke (BECNT), 2:1488.

[18:28]  ¹⁰ tn Grk “We have left everything we own and followed you.” Koine Greek often used paratactic structure when hypotactic was implied.

[18:29]  ¹¹ tn Here δέ (de) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the narrative.

[18:29]  ¹² tn Grk “he”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[18:29]  ¹³ tn Grk “Truly (ἀμήν, amhn), I say to you.”

[18:29]  ¹⁴ tn The term “brothers” could be understood as generic here, referring to either male or female siblings. However, it is noteworthy that in the parallel passages in both Matt 19:29 and Mark 10:29, “sisters” are explicitly mentioned in the Greek text.

[18:30]  ¹⁵ sn Jesus reassures his disciples with a promise that (1) much benefit in this life (many times more) and (2) eternal life in the age to come will be given.

[18:30]  ¹⁶ tn Grk “this time” (καιρός, kairos), but for stylistic reasons this has been translated “this age” here.

[18:30]  ¹⁷ sn Note that Luke (see also Matt 19:29; Mark 10:30; Luke 10:25) portrays eternal life as something one receives in the age to come, unlike John, who emphasizes the possibility of receiving eternal life in the present (John 5:24).