Luke 18:27
But he said, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Luke 18:27
But he said, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
Jesus reframes the disciples' stunned question, "Who then can be saved?" not as an impossible hurdle, but as a stark contrast that highlights God's power. It's the very impossibility with humans that makes divine intervention not just possible, but the only way salvation can occur.
After Jesus tells the rich young ruler that it's incredibly difficult for the wealthy to enter God's kingdom, comparing it to a camel passing through a needle's eye, the disciples are astonished and ask, "Who then can be saved?" Jesus responds to their bewilderment by stating that while this salvation is impossible by human effort, it is entirely achievable through God's power.
Ever felt like you've tried everything, but still can't measure up? Jesus speaks directly to that feeling.
The rich young ruler had tried to follow all the rules. He was moral, wealthy, and seemingly had it all together. Yet, Jesus points out one thing he lacked: the ability to let go of his riches and fully commit to God. This wasn't a minor detail; Jesus says it's easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God. It highlights a fundamental truth: by our own strength, we can't achieve the righteousness God requires. Our best efforts, when they fall short of complete surrender and love for God above all else, are simply not enough. It’s not about failing to keep a few rules; it’s about the inherent difficulty of prioritizing God over the things we cling to most tightly.
When human ability fails, where do we turn? Jesus points us to an unfailing source.
The latter part of Jesus' statement, '...are possible with God,' is the turning point. It’s not just a disclaimer; it’s a powerful declaration of God’s sovereignty and power. The same ruler who couldn't detach himself from his wealth found salvation later in the story – as the rich tax collector Zacchaeus (Luke 19:1-10). This transformation wasn't because Zacchaeus suddenly became super-humanly detached from his money. It was because God’s grace intervened. When we recognize our own limitations and the impossibility of saving ourselves, we are positioned to receive God's miraculous power. Salvation isn’t earned; it's a gift made possible by God’s limitless ability to redeem, transform, and bring people into His kingdom.
Understand the original words
adunatos · Greek Adjective
Refers to the state of being unable to achieve something through human strength, intellect, or resources; in this context, it highlights the total dependence of humanity on divine intervention for salvation.
This encounter highlights that human wealth and status are ultimately hindrances to entering God's kingdom, a feat only achievable through divine intervention.
Early 1st century AD
Jesus ministers in Judea and Galilee
Jesus travels and teaches, gathering disciples and performing miracles, drawing large crowds and attracting the attention of religious and political authorities.
Early 1st century AD— this verse
Rich Young Ruler encounters Jesus
A wealthy and respected young man, seeking eternal life, asks Jesus what he must do. Jesus reveals the man's deep attachment to his possessions.
Early 1st century AD
Jesus' teaching on riches and the Kingdom
Jesus uses the analogy of a camel passing through a needle's eye to illustrate the extreme difficulty for the rich to enter the Kingdom of God, due to their tendency to trust in wealth.
Early 1st century AD
Disciples' Astonishment and Questioning
The disciples are amazed by Jesus' strong words, questioning who, given such difficulty, could possibly be saved.
This passage directly echoes Jesus' statement, reinforcing the idea that human effort alone is insufficient for salvation, but God's power makes it achievable.
Jeremiah 32:17This Old Testament verse provides a foundational theological principle: 'Ah, Sovereign LORD, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you.' This highlights God's unlimited power, which is the very basis of Jesus' assertion in Luke.
Genesis 18:14The question God asks Sarah, 'Is anything too hard for the LORD?' directly parallels the sentiment in Luke, emphasizing that with God, what seems impossible to humans is entirely within His capabilities.
Luke 1:37This verse, spoken by the angel Gabriel to Mary, states, 'For no word of God will ever fail.' It serves as a beautiful confirmation that God's promises and power, even in seemingly impossible situations like the virgin birth, are always effective.
Philippians 4:13This New Testament passage offers a personal application of God's power, stating 'I can do all this through him who gives me strength.' It connects the divine possibility mentioned by Jesus to the strength God provides believers for their own lives.
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 18:27: "And he said, The things which are impossible with men are possible with God."
And he said,.... That is, Jesus, as the Syriac, Persic, and Ethiopic versions express it: the things which are impossible with men, are possible with God; See Gill on Matthew 19:26.
Jesus reframes the disciples' stunned question, "Who then can be saved?" not as an impossible hurdle, but as a stark contrast that highlights God's power. It's the very impossibility with humans that makes divine intervention not just possible, but the only way salvation can occur.
After Jesus tells the rich young ruler that it's incredibly difficult for the wealthy to enter God's kingdom, comparing it to a camel passing through a needle's eye, the disciples are astonished and ask, "Who then can be saved?" Jesus responds to their bewilderment by stating that while this salvation is impossible by human effort, it is entirely achievable through God's power.
After Jesus tells the rich young ruler that it's incredibly difficult for the wealthy to enter God's kingdom, comparing it to a camel passing through a needle's eye, the disciples are astonished and ask, "Who then can be saved?" Jesus responds to their bewilderment by stating that while this salvation is impossible by human effort, it is entirely achievable through God's power.
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Early 1st century AD
Jesus' Affirmation of God's Power
Jesus reassures his disciples that while salvation is impossible by human effort or status, it is entirely possible through the sovereign power and grace of God.
"But he said, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.”" — Jesus reframes the disciples' stunned question, "Who then can be saved?" not as an impossible hurdle, but as a stark contrast that highlights God's power. It's the very impossibility with humans th…