Matthew 19:23-24
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Jesus doesn't just say riches are a hindrance, but that a rich person will enter the kingdom with difficulty. This emphasizes that the obstacle isn't just the money itself, but the intense temptation to rely on it, making it incredibly hard to let go and trust God alone. It’s less about external wealth and more about the internal grip it can have on our hearts.
And Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly, I say to you, only with difficulty will a rich person enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus has just encountered a rich young ruler who, despite claiming to follow God's commands, walks away sorrowfully when Jesus calls him to sell his possessions and follow Him. This stark rejection of eternal life for earthly wealth immediately precedes Jesus's stark pronouncement about the difficulty rich people face in entering the kingdom of heaven. The disciples' astonishment and subsequent question about who can be saved highlight how counterintuitive this teaching is to human understanding.
Jesus says it's 'hard' for a rich person to enter the kingdom. What does 'hard' really mean here, and is it an absolute impossibility?
Jesus uses the word 'hardly' (or 'with difficulty') to describe the rich person's journey into God's kingdom. This isn't a blanket condemnation of wealth, but a stark warning about its inherent dangers.
The Temptation of Trust
The disciples were astonished, asking, 'Who then can be saved?' Jesus' answer points beyond human effort to a divine solution.
When Jesus speaks of the difficulty for the rich, he isn't leaving us in despair. The conversation immediately pivots to God's sovereign power.
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Beyond Human Strength
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 about the rich are not just a general observation but a direct response to the encounter with the rich young ruler, highlighting how clinging to wealth can be a significant barrier to wholeheartedly following God.
c. 27-30 AD— this verse
Jesus Encounters the Rich Young Ruler
A wealthy young man asks Jesus how to gain eternal life. After listing his adherence to the law, Jesus tells him to sell all he has and give to the poor, which the man sadly refuses to do.
c. 27-30 AD
Jesus Teaches about Riches and the Kingdom
In the immediate aftermath of the rich young ruler's departure, Jesus speaks to his disciples about the difficulty even for the wealthy to enter the kingdom of heaven, using the analogy of a camel and a needle's eye.
c. 30 AD
Jesus Appoints the Twelve Apostles
Jesus formally appoints his core group of followers. He later promises them a special reward, stating they will sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
c. 30 AD
Jesus' Ministry Continues
Jesus' teachings and miracles spread throughout Galilee, drawing large crowds but also increasing opposition from religious leaders.
This passage directly warns about the dangers of the love of money, explaining how it can lead people astray and into temptation, reinforcing Jesus' point about the difficulty riches present for spiritual focus.
Luke 18:24-27This parallel account shows Jesus reiterating the difficulty for a rich person to enter the kingdom, highlighting the disciples' astonishment and Jesus' explanation that it is 'impossible with man; but with God all things are possible,' directly addressing the 'how' behind overcoming this obstacle.
Mark 10:23-25Mark's Gospel adds the detail that Jesus said it was easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter God's kingdom, amplifying the extreme difficulty Jesus is describing.
1 John 2:15This verse connects earthly riches with loving the world, explaining that 'if anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him,' which illuminates why riches are such an obstacle—they compete for our ultimate affection.
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 doesn't just say riches are a hindrance, but that a rich person will enter the kingdom with difficulty. This emphasizes that the obstacle isn't just the money itself, but the intense temptation to rely on it, making it incredibly hard to let go and trust God alone. It’s less about external wealth and more about the internal grip it can have on our hearts.
Jesus has just encountered a rich young ruler who, despite claiming to follow God's commands, walks away sorrowfully when Jesus calls him to sell his possessions and follow Him. This stark rejection of eternal life for earthly wealth immediately precedes Jesus's stark pronouncement about the difficulty rich people face in entering the kingdom of heaven. The disciples' astonishment and subsequent question about who can be saved highlight how counterintuitive this teaching is to human understanding.
Jesus has just encountered a rich young ruler who, despite claiming to follow God's commands, walks away sorrowfully when Jesus calls him to sell his possessions and follow Him. This stark rejection of eternal life for earthly wealth immediately precedes Jesus's stark pronouncement about the difficulty rich people face in entering the kingdom of heaven. The disciples' astonishment and subsequent question about who can be saved highlight how counterintuitive this teaching is to human understanding.
"And Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly, I say to you, only with difficulty will a rich person enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the ki…" — Jesus doesn't just say riches are a hindrance, but that a rich person will enter the kingdom with difficulty. This emphasizes that the obstacle isn't just the money itself, but the intense tempta…
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Last reviewed October 2026
