And Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly, I say to you, only with difficulty will a rich person enter the kingdom of heaven.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus' statement isn't just about difficulty; it's a stark warning that riches often become idols, trapping a person with worldly comforts and pride, making it almost impossible for them to surrender fully to God. The text emphasizes that for those who trust in their wealth, entering the kingdom is not merely hard, but practically impossible apart from God's direct intervention.
And Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly, I say to you, only with difficulty will a rich person enter the kingdom of heaven.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Just before this, a rich young ruler came asking Jesus how to gain eternal life, but when Jesus told him to sell all his possessions and follow Him, the man went away sorrowful. This interaction and the disciples' astonishment lead Jesus to utter this strong statement about the difficulty rich people face in entering God's kingdom.
Jesus drops a bombshell: it's incredibly hard for rich people to enter God's kingdom. Why is wealth such a barrier?
Jesus isn't saying wealth is inherently evil, but that it carries huge spiritual dangers. Think about it:
It's not about having wealth, but about what wealth can do to us and our hearts.
The disciples hear Jesus and are stunned: 'Who then can be saved?' Their question isn't just fear, it's a recognition of a deep problem.
When Jesus points out how difficult it is for the rich to enter the kingdom, the disciples' shock is understandable. They're grappling with a reality that seems impossible for humans to overcome on their own.
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This isn't an excuse for inaction, but a call to rely entirely on God's enabling power, both for the rich and for all people.
Understand the original words
basileia tōn ouranōn · Greek Noun phrase
The rule, reign, and authority of God over His creation and His people. It is both a present spiritual reality in the hearts of believers and a future reality to be fully established at the return of Christ.
Jesus' words directly respond to a specific encounter, highlighting how wealth can create immense personal barriers to following God, barriers that only divine power can overcome.
c. 27-30 AD— this verse
Jesus encounters the Rich Young Ruler
A wealthy young man asks Jesus how to gain eternal life, but recoils when Jesus tells him to sell all he owns and follow Him.
c. 27-30 AD
Jesus teaches about the Kingdom of Heaven
Following the encounter with the rich young ruler, Jesus uses the event to teach His disciples about the difficulties wealth can present for entering God's kingdom.
c. 30 AD
Jesus is crucified and resurrected
Jesus' atoning death and triumphant resurrection provide the divine power needed to overcome the obstacles to salvation, including those posed by wealth.
c. 30-33 AD
Early Church established
The nascent Christian community included both poor and wealthy believers, who learned to navigate the challenges of faith and riches within the fellowship.
c. 50 AD
Apostle Paul writes to Timothy
Paul warns Timothy about the dangers of loving money and instructs leaders to be free from the love of money, showing the ongoing relevance of Jesus' teaching.
This passage echoes Jesus' statement, emphasizing that riches themselves aren't the issue, but rather the tendency for wealthy people to place their trust in them, which becomes a significant barrier to entering God's kingdom.
Luke 18:24Similar to Matthew, Luke records Jesus' strong declaration about the difficulty of a rich person entering God's kingdom, highlighting the challenge of detaching oneself from worldly wealth for spiritual gain.
1 Timothy 6:10This verse directly addresses the root problem: the love of money is a source of evil, showing how the desire for riches can lead people astray from faith and ultimately hinder their spiritual journey.
Matthew 6:24Jesus here teaches that a person cannot serve both God and money, illustrating the inherent conflict and the difficulty rich people face in prioritizing spiritual devotion over material possessions.
1 John 2:15This passage warns against loving the world and its desires, which is closely linked to the spirit of materialism and the dangers of wealth that Jesus speaks of in Matthew 19:23.
calvinMatthew 19:23-26: "Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven."
- 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] say…
bengelMatthew 19:23: "Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven."
Matthew 19:23 . Δυσκόλως , with difficulty ) This young man, when he had his foot already on the threshold, withdrew it on account of his riches. It is difficult for a rich man to relinquish all things.[874] [874] Nay, it is not even readily that he thinks of the subject of obtaining eternal life at all.—V. g.
Jesus' statement isn't just about difficulty; it's a stark warning that riches often become idols, trapping a person with worldly comforts and pride, making it almost impossible for them to surrender fully to God. The text emphasizes that for those who trust in their wealth, entering the kingdom is not merely hard, but practically impossible apart from God's direct intervention.
Just before this, a rich young ruler came asking Jesus how to gain eternal life, but when Jesus told him to sell all his possessions and follow Him, the man went away sorrowful. This interaction and the disciples' astonishment lead Jesus to utter this strong statement about the difficulty rich people face in entering God's kingdom.
Just before this, a rich young ruler came asking Jesus how to gain eternal life, but when Jesus told him to sell all his possessions and follow Him, the man went away sorrowful. This interaction and the disciples' astonishment lead Jesus to utter this strong statement about the difficulty rich people face in entering God's kingdom.
"And Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly, I say to you, only with difficulty will a rich person enter the kingdom of heaven." — Jesus' statement isn't just about difficulty; it's a stark warning that riches often become idols, trapping a person with worldly comforts and pride, making it almost impossible for them to surrender…
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Last reviewed October 2026