But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus' gaze isn't just a passive observation; it's an active engagement, a profound moment of understanding the disciples' astonishment and fear. He's not just stating a fact about God's power; he's emphasizing that this impossibility with humans is the very reason they must rely entirely on God's grace for salvation.
But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
After Jesus tells his disciples that it's incredibly difficult for a rich person to enter God's kingdom, comparing it to a camel passing through a needle's eye, they are utterly astonished and ask, "Who then can be saved?" Jesus looks at them, acknowledging their shock and the immense challenge they perceive. He then declares that while such salvation is impossible for human effort alone, it is entirely possible with God's power.
Why did Jesus say it's so hard for rich people to enter the Kingdom of God? It's not just about money, but about where our trust lies.
Jesus’s statement about the rich man and the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 19:23-24) highlights a significant spiritual danger. The disciples are shocked, and rightly so, because riches often lead to self-sufficiency and a misplaced trust.
Trust in Wealth
It's not wealth itself that is sinful, but the tendency to rely on it for security and significance. When people have abundant resources, they can easily become independent of God, believing their wealth can solve all problems. This creates a barrier to recognizing their need for God’s grace.
The Greater Danger
While poverty has its own temptations, Jesus emphasizes that for the wealthy, the pride and presumption that often accompany riches make it incredibly difficult to humble themselves and depend on God. It’s a subtle trap that can blind even those who outwardly appear to have it all.
If it's impossible with us, then are we doomed? Absolutely not! Jesus points us to the One who can do the impossible.
When Jesus declares that something is "impossible with men," He’s not leaving us in despair. He immediately pivots to the ultimate power source: God.
God's Omnipotence
The second half of His statement, "but with God all things are possible," is a profound declaration of divine omnipotence. This isn't just about making difficult situations easier; it's about God’s ability to overcome the absolute barriers that human effort cannot breach.
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Transforming Hearts
Specifically, God’s power is what can change a heart that is entangled with riches. He can remove the misplaced trust, create a desire for spiritual wealth over material possessions, and enable anyone, regardless of their financial status, to enter the kingdom. It is His grace that makes salvation possible for all who turn to Him.
Understand the original words
adynatos · Greek Adjective
To be unable to be done, attained, or accomplished by human effort or ability. In Scripture, this often highlights human limitation in the face of salvation or moral perfection.
This verse echoes Jesus' statement by declaring that believers can do all things through Christ who strengthens them, highlighting that divine power makes possible what is humanly impossible.
Jeremiah 32:17The prophet's cry, 'Ah, Sovereign Lord, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by your outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you!', directly parallels the thought that God's omnipotence transcends all human limitations.
Luke 1:37The angel's pronouncement to Mary, 'For no word from God will ever fail,' emphasizes God's absolute ability to accomplish His will, just as Jesus assures his disciples that 'all things are possible' with God.
Genesis 18:14God's question to Abraham, 'Is anything too hard for the Lord?', serves as a foundational reminder of divine omnipotence, setting the stage for Jesus' similar assertion about the possibility of salvation through God.
Ephesians 2:8-9This passage explains that salvation is a gift of God's grace, not by works, reinforcing the idea that human effort alone is insufficient, and divine power is essential for salvation, especially in challenging circumstances like those of the rich.
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 19:26: "But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible."
Matthew 19:26 . Ἑμβλέψας , having looked upon ) in order to fix the thoughts of the terrified disciples. Jesus taught many things even by His look and by the expression of His countenance. This look first moved Matthew, once a publican.— εἶπεν , said ) with the greatest sweetness.— ἀδύνατον , impossible ) more even than morally impossible.— πάντα , all things ) Therefor…
Jesus' gaze isn't just a passive observation; it's an active engagement, a profound moment of understanding the disciples' astonishment and fear. He's not just stating a fact about God's power; he's emphasizing that this impossibility with humans is the very reason they must rely entirely on God's grace for salvation.
After Jesus tells his disciples that it's incredibly difficult for a rich person to enter God's kingdom, comparing it to a camel passing through a needle's eye, they are utterly astonished and ask, "Who then can be saved?" Jesus looks at them, acknowledging their shock and the immense challenge they perceive. He then declares that while such salvation is impossible for human effort alone, it is entirely possible with God's power.
After Jesus tells his disciples that it's incredibly difficult for a rich person to enter God's kingdom, comparing it to a camel passing through a needle's eye, they are utterly astonished and ask, "Who then can be saved?" Jesus looks at them, acknowledging their shock and the immense challenge they perceive. He then declares that while such salvation is impossible for human effort alone, it is entirely possible with God's power.
"But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”" — Jesus' gaze isn't just a passive observation; it's an active engagement, a profound moment of understanding the disciples' astonishment and fear. He's not just stating a fact about God's power; he's…
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Last reviewed October 2026