Luke 18:24
Jesus, seeing that he had become sad, said, “How difficult it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Jesus doesn't just state a fact about the rich; he sees the young man's sadness, revealing that this isn't about wealth itself, but the deceptive grip it has on our hearts, often leading us to trust in it instead of God. This highlights that the real barrier is the difficulty of overcoming that misplaced trust.
This verse follows immediately after a wealthy young ruler asks Jesus how to inherit eternal life, but then sadly walks away when Jesus tells him to sell all he owns and follow Him. Jesus observes the man's sorrow and rejection of His call, then turns to His disciples to reflect on the profound difficulty riches present to entering God's kingdom.
The rich young ruler walked away sad. But Jesus saw more than just disappointment – He saw the real cost of his decision.
Jesus' words weren't just a statement; they were a reaction to a specific moment. The text says, "Jesus, seeing that he had become sad..." (Luke 18:24). This isn't just about a moment of regret; it's about seeing the true sorrow that comes from choosing earthly possessions over eternal life.
The camel and the needle's eye – a vivid image of impossibility. But is it truly impossible to enter God's kingdom with wealth?
Jesus' famous comparison of a camel passing through the eye of a needle is a powerful hyperbole meant to emphasize the extreme difficulty for the rich to enter the kingdom. However, the context reveals it's not an absolute impossibility, but a profound challenge.
Understand the original words
basileia · Greek Noun
The reign, rule, or sovereign authority of God. It represents the sphere where God’s will is obeyed and where those who have placed their faith in Him experience His eternal blessings.
c. 28-30 AD— this verse
Jesus Teaches and Heals in Galilee and Judea
Jesus' ministry is gaining momentum, attracting crowds and disciples as He proclaims the kingdom of God and performs miracles.
c. 28-30 AD
The Rich Young Ruler Encounters Jesus
A wealthy young man, deeply moral and seeking eternal life, asks Jesus how to achieve it. Jesus challenges him to sell all he owns and follow Him.
c. 28-30 AD
The Ruler's Sorrow and Departure
The young man becomes deeply sad at Jesus' requirement, unable to relinquish his wealth, and leaves Jesus' presence.
c. 28-30 AD
Jesus' Teaching on Riches and the Kingdom
Jesus uses the ruler's reaction to teach His disciples about the immense difficulty—even the apparent impossibility—for wealthy individuals, who often trust in their riches, to enter God's kingdom.
c. 28-30 AD
The Disciples' Astonishment and Jesus' Reassurance
This passage recounts the same encounter and Jesus' immediate follow-up statement about the difficulty of the rich entering the kingdom, highlighting the consistent emphasis on this challenging truth.
Mark 10:24Similar to Matthew, Mark's Gospel presents the same teaching, often emphasizing that it is those who 'trust in riches' who face this difficulty, adding a nuance to the core message.
1 Timothy 6:9-10This passage warns about the love of money being a root of all kinds of evil and how the pursuit of wealth can lead people astray, echoing the spiritual danger Jesus points out to the rich man.
Matthew 6:24Jesus directly states that 'no one can serve two masters,' and that one will hate the other, which directly relates to the rich man's struggle to serve both God and his possessions.
Luke 12:15Jesus explicitly warns against greed, stating that 'a person's life does not consist in the abundance of possessions,' reinforcing the idea that true life is found elsewhere, not in material wealth.
calvinLuke 18:24-27: "And when Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful, he said, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!"
- And Jesus said to his disciples, Verily I say to you, A rich man will with difficulty enter into the kingdom of heaven. 24. Again I say to you, It is easier for a camel [630] to pass through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. 25. And his disciples, when they had heard these things, were greatly amazed, [631] sa…
gillLuke 18:24: "And when Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful, he said, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!"
And when Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful,.... As he might, by his looks and gestures; and perceived that he was determined not to part with his possessions, and follow him: he said to his disciples, how hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God! embrace the Gospel, and submit to the ordinances of it; deny themselves, part with th…
Jesus doesn't just state a fact about the rich; he sees the young man's sadness, revealing that this isn't about wealth itself, but the deceptive grip it has on our hearts, often leading us to trust in it instead of God. This highlights that the real barrier is the difficulty of overcoming that misplaced trust.
This verse follows immediately after a wealthy young ruler asks Jesus how to inherit eternal life, but then sadly walks away when Jesus tells him to sell all he owns and follow Him. Jesus observes the man's sorrow and rejection of His call, then turns to His disciples to reflect on the profound difficulty riches present to entering God's kingdom.
This verse follows immediately after a wealthy young ruler asks Jesus how to inherit eternal life, but then sadly walks away when Jesus tells him to sell all he owns and follow Him. Jesus observes the man's sorrow and rejection of His call, then turns to His disciples to reflect on the profound difficulty riches present to entering God's kingdom.
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The disciples are amazed and question who can be saved. Jesus reassures them that while it is impossible for humans alone, with God all things are possible.
"Jesus, seeing that he had become sad, said, “How difficult it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!" — Jesus doesn't just state a fact about the rich; he sees the young man's sadness, revealing that this isn't about wealth itself, but the deceptive grip it has on our hearts, often leading us to trus…
