Matthew 19:23
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)
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Jesus uses "hardly" to highlight that for the wealthy, their riches themselves become a blinding idol, making it incredibly difficult for them to even consider the true needs of their soul. It's not just about difficulty, but about how wealth can create a powerful illusion of self-sufficiency, obscuring their dependence on God.
Just moments before Jesus utters these words, a wealthy young ruler, after asking how to gain eternal life, sadly walked away because he couldn't bear to part with his possessions. This incident immediately precedes Jesus' pronouncement, highlighting how riches can become a massive stumbling block to truly following him. The disciples are so astonished by this that they question who, if anyone, can be saved, prompting Jesus to explain that while it's impossible with human effort, God's power can achieve it.
Jesus states that a rich person will enter the Kingdom of Heaven 'with difficulty.' What makes wealth such a significant obstacle?
Jesus isn't saying riches are inherently evil, but that they carry immense spiritual weight. The temptation is to trust in wealth rather than God, to let it become an idol.
The Danger of Reliance
Many commentators highlight how easily wealth can lead to self-sufficiency. When you have plenty, it's natural to feel secure in your possessions rather than depending on God for your daily needs or your eternal security.
Earthly vs. Heavenly Treasures
Possessions can also tie our hearts to the present world. Jesus constantly reminds us to store up treasures in heaven, and wealth can make that heavenly focus incredibly challenging, entangling us in worldly cares and desires.
When the disciples heard Jesus' words, they were astonished and asked, 'Who then can be saved?' Jesus' answer points to a crucial truth.
Jesus doesn't leave us in despair. The very difficulty He describes reveals the absolute necessity of God's power.
The Limits of Human Effort
When Jesus says it's 'impossible' with men, He's not just talking about rich people. He's speaking to the universal human condition. We cannot save ourselves, regardless of our wealth or status. Our own efforts fall short.
God's Power in Salvation
But the good news is that God's power is not limited. 'All things are possible with God.' This isn't a license for us to be lazy, but a reminder that our salvation isn't dependent on our own strength or the absence of obstacles, but on God's sovereign grace. He can overcome the immense barriers that riches, or anything else, place in our way.
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.
This teaching came directly after Jesus met a rich young ruler who couldn't let go of his wealth to follow Him, highlighting how worldly possessions can become a major obstacle to fully embracing God's kingdom.
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
Jesus uses the encounter with the rich young ruler to teach his disciples about the challenges of wealth and entering God's kingdom.
c. 30-33 AD
Jesus' Ministry in Jerusalem
Jesus continues teaching and ministering in Jerusalem, often challenging the religious and economic status quo.
c. 33 AD
Crucifixion and Resurrection of Jesus
Jesus is crucified and resurrected, a pivotal event that redefines the path to salvation and God's kingdom.
This passage uses the same vivid imagery of a camel and a needle's eye, emphasizing that it is easier for such a thing to happen than for a rich person to enter God's kingdom, reinforcing the extreme difficulty.
Luke 18:24-25Similar to Matthew's account, Luke records Jesus' astonishment at the rich young ruler's departure and reiterates the difficulty for the rich to enter the kingdom, highlighting the core struggle with attachment to wealth.
1 Timothy 6:9-10Paul warns against the love of money, calling it a root of all kinds of evil, and connects this desire directly to straying from the faith, showing how riches can be a spiritual snare that hinders entry into God's kingdom.
1 Timothy 6:17-19This passage instructs the rich not to be arrogant or trust in uncertain riches, but to be rich in good deeds and generous, presenting a way for the wealthy to engage with God's kingdom by using their resources wisely for eternal purposes.
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 uses "hardly" to highlight that for the wealthy, their riches themselves become a blinding idol, making it incredibly difficult for them to even consider the true needs of their soul. It's not just about difficulty, but about how wealth can create a powerful illusion of self-sufficiency, obscuring their dependence on God.
Just moments before Jesus utters these words, a wealthy young ruler, after asking how to gain eternal life, sadly walked away because he couldn't bear to part with his possessions. This incident immediately precedes Jesus' pronouncement, highlighting how riches can become a massive stumbling block to truly following him. The disciples are so astonished by this that they question who, if anyone, can be saved, prompting Jesus to explain that while it's impossible with human effort, God's power can achieve it.
Just moments before Jesus utters these words, a wealthy young ruler, after asking how to gain eternal life, sadly walked away because he couldn't bear to part with his possessions. This incident immediately precedes Jesus' pronouncement, highlighting how riches can become a massive stumbling block to truly following him. The disciples are so astonished by this that they question who, if anyone, can be saved, prompting Jesus to explain that while it's impossible with human effort, God's power can achieve it.
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"And Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly, I say to you, only with difficulty will a rich person enter the kingdom of heaven." — Jesus uses "hardly" to highlight that for the wealthy, their riches themselves become a blinding idol, making it incredibly difficult for them to even consider the true needs of their soul. It's no…
