Matthew 19:23-26

19:23 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “I tell you the truth, ¹  it will be hard for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven! 19:24 Again I say, ²  it is easier for a camel ³  to go through the eye of a needle ⁴  than for a rich person to enter into the kingdom of God.” 19:25 The ⁵  disciples were greatly astonished when they heard this and said, “Then who can be saved?” ⁶  19:26 Jesus ⁷  looked at them and replied, “This is impossible for mere humans, ⁸  but for God all things are possible.”

[19:23]  ¹ tn Grk “Truly (ἀμήν, amhn), I say to you.”

[19:24]  ² tn Grk “I say to you.”

[19:24]  ³ tc A few late witnesses (579 1424 pc) read κάμιλον (kamilon, “rope”) for κάμηλον (kamhlon, “camel”), either through accidental misreading of the text or intentionally so as to soften Jesus’ words.

[19:24]  ⁴ sn The eye of a needle refers to a sewing needle. (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 was saying rhetorically that it is impossible for a rich person to enter God’s kingdom, unless God (v. 26) intervenes.

[19:25]  ⁵ tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.

[19:25]  ⁶ sn The assumption is that the rich are blessed, so if they risk exclusion, who is left to be saved?

[19:26]  ⁷ tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.

[19:26]  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, but for God all things are possible”) the phrase “mere humans” has been used in the translation. There may also be a slight wordplay with “the Son of Man” in v. 28.