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.”

Luke 18:24

18:24 When Jesus noticed this, ⁹  he said, “How hard ¹⁰  it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God! ¹¹ 

Luke 18:1

Prayer and the Parable of the Persistent Widow

18:1 Then ¹²  Jesus ¹³  told them a parable to show them they should always ¹⁴  pray and not lose heart. ¹⁵ 

Colossians 1:26

1:26 that is, the mystery that has been kept hidden from ages and generations, but has now been revealed to his saints.

James 2:5

2:5 Listen, my dear brothers and sisters! ¹⁶  Did not God choose the poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom that he promised to those who love him?

James 4:4

4:4 Adulterers, do you not know that friendship with the world means hostility toward God? ¹⁷  So whoever decides to be the world’s friend makes himself God’s enemy.

[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.

[18:24]  ⁹ 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]  ¹⁰ 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]  ¹¹ 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.

[18:1]  ¹² tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the narrative.

[18:1]  ¹³ tn Grk “he”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[18:1]  ¹⁴ tn Or “should pray at all times” (L&N 67.88).

[18:1]  ¹⁵ sn This is one of the few parables that comes with an explanation at the start: …they should always pray and not lose heart. It is part of Luke’s goal in encouraging Theophilus (1:4).

[2:5]  ¹⁶ tn Grk “brothers.” See note on the phrase “brothers and sisters” in 1:2.

[4:4]  ¹⁷ tn Grk “is hostility toward God.”