Matthew 19:25
When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished, saying, “Who then can be saved?”
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The disciples' shocked question, "Who then can be saved?" reveals a subtle but crucial point: they were not just astonished that rich people might be excluded, but rather that anyone could possibly enter the Kingdom if such a seemingly significant group faced such difficulty. Their reaction implies a fear that if wealth, which they associated with favor and power, was an obstacle, then perhaps salvation was unattainable for the vast majority of humanity.
After Jesus declares that it is incredibly difficult for a rich person to enter God's kingdom, comparing it to a camel passing through a needle's eye, his disciples are utterly astonished. Their immediate reaction reveals their shock and confusion, as they question who, then, could possibly be saved if wealth presents such a monumental barrier. This astonishment sets the stage for Jesus to explain that while humanly impossible, salvation is entirely achievable through God's power.
Jesus drops a bombshell: it's incredibly hard for rich people to enter God's kingdom. How did the disciples react, and what does this say about our own struggles with wealth?
Jesus uses a vivid, almost shocking analogy – easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye than a rich person to enter the kingdom. This isn't just about having money; it's about the danger that riches pose to our hearts.
The Grip of Riches
Many commentators point out that wealth can easily lead to self-sufficiency, pride, and a misplaced trust. When we have abundance, we might feel we don't need God, or we might cling so tightly to our possessions that we can't let go and follow Him.
A Universal Struggle?
Some scholars even suggest that Jesus' warning applies broadly, because the temptation to trust in wealth is a common human weakness, not just limited to the super-rich. It's a powerful reminder that whatever we prioritize above God can become a barrier to Him.
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The disciples' shocked question, 'Who then can be saved?', reveals more than just surprise. It exposes their internal struggle and points us toward a deeper truth.
Jesus' statement about the rich man is so extreme that it throws the disciples into a panic. Their question, "Who then can be saved?", isn't just a casual inquiry. It implies a deep anxiety, perhaps even a dawning realization that if wealth is such a barrier, and wealth seems so common or desirable, then perhaps nobody can make it.
A Valid Fear
Their fear is understandable. If worldly success and possessions are seen as signs of God's favor, then Jesus' words seem to overturn everything they might have assumed about who gets to be part of God's kingdom. They're grappling with the apparent impossibility of salvation under these terms.
The Heart of the Matter
This moment shows us that true discipleship involves facing uncomfortable truths. The disciples, unlike the rich young ruler who walked away, don't give up. They are astonished, they question, they tremble, but they stay. Their astonishment, while rooted in fear, is a crucial step toward understanding that salvation isn't about human effort or status, but something else entirely.
The disciples ask, 'Who can be saved?' Jesus' answer isn't a shrug, but a powerful pivot that redefines the entire challenge.
When the disciples express their despair, Jesus doesn't dismiss their fear. Instead, He offers the ultimate solution: "With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." This is the glorious heart of the Gospel.
Recognizing Human Limits
Jesus confirms the disciples' realization that, by human standards and strength alone, salvation is impossible, especially for those entangled with wealth and its temptations. We cannot earn our way into God's kingdom or overcome deeply ingrained attachments to worldly things by our own willpower.
God's Sovereign Power
But the story doesn't end with impossibility. It explodes with the power of God! This isn't just a 'nice thought'; it's the foundation of our hope. It means that the salvation Jesus spoke of – even for the rich man, even for us – is entirely dependent on God's active, all-powerful grace. It's God who enables us to overcome our attachments, to trust Him fully, and to enter His kingdom.
Understand the original words
sōzō · Greek Verb
The act of being delivered from the penalty, power, and ultimately the presence of sin through faith in Jesus Christ. It is a work of divine grace, not human merit.
This parallel passage also describes the difficulty of rich people entering the kingdom, and it includes the clarification that it's those who 'trust in riches' who face this hurdle, echoing the disciples' astonishment about who can possibly be saved.
Luke 18:24Similar to Matthew, Luke records Jesus' statement about the difficulty for the rich and the disciples' amazed reaction, highlighting this consistent theme across the Gospels.
1 Timothy 6:10This verse directly states that 'the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils,' which helps explain *why* riches can be such an obstacle to salvation, as the disciples are grappling with in Matthew 19:25.
Matthew 19:26This is Jesus' immediate response to the disciples' question, emphasizing that what seems impossible to humans ('Who then can be saved?') is entirely possible with God, providing the solution to their amazement.
Revelation 5:4This passage describes someone weeping because no one was found worthy to open the scroll, a profound sense of inability and despair, which resonates with the disciples' question of 'Who then can be saved?' when faced with seemingly insurmountable barriers.
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 19:25: "When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved?"
Matthew 19:25 . Ἀκούσαντες δὲ οἱ μαθηταὶ αὐτοῦ , κ . τ . λ ., but when His disciples heard it , etc.) Scripture everywhere shows a middle path between excessive confidence and excessive timidity. See Matthew 19:26 ; Matthew 19:28 ; Matthew 19:30 ; 1 Peter 5:7 , compared with 6, 8.— τίς ἄρα , κ . τ . λ ., who then , etc.) The disciples were anxious, either for themselves, lest other obstacl…
The disciples' shocked question, "Who then can be saved?" reveals a subtle but crucial point: they were not just astonished that rich people might be excluded, but rather that anyone could possibly enter the Kingdom if such a seemingly significant group faced such difficulty. Their reaction implies a fear that if wealth, which they associated with favor and power, was an obstacle, then perhaps salvation was unattainable for the vast majority of humanity.
After Jesus declares that it is incredibly difficult for a rich person to enter God's kingdom, comparing it to a camel passing through a needle's eye, his disciples are utterly astonished. Their immediate reaction reveals their shock and confusion, as they question who, then, could possibly be saved if wealth presents such a monumental barrier. This astonishment sets the stage for Jesus to explain that while humanly impossible, salvation is entirely achievable through God's power.
After Jesus declares that it is incredibly difficult for a rich person to enter God's kingdom, comparing it to a camel passing through a needle's eye, his disciples are utterly astonished. Their immediate reaction reveals their shock and confusion, as they question who, then, could possibly be saved if wealth presents such a monumental barrier. This astonishment sets the stage for Jesus to explain that while humanly impossible, salvation is entirely achievable through God's power.
"When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished, saying, “Who then can be saved?”" — The disciples' shocked question, "Who then can be saved?" reveals a subtle but crucial point: they were not just astonished that rich people might be excluded, but rather that anyone could possib…
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