Mark 10:17-27

17While Jesus was starting on his journey, a man ran to him. He went down on his knees in front of Jesus. He said to Jesus, ‘Good teacher, what must I do so that I can live with God for ever?’

18Jesus said to him, ‘Why do you say that I am good? Only God is good. Nobody else.

19You know God's rules: “Do not kill anyone. Do not have sex with anyone who is not your wife. Do not rob anyone. Do not say things that are not true about people. Do not take things that are not yours. Love your father and your mother, and obey them.” ’

20‘Teacher,’ the man replied, ‘I have obeyed all these laws since I was a young man.’

21Jesus looked at the man and Jesus loved him. Jesus said to him, ‘There is still just one thing that you must do. Go now. Sell everything that you have. Then give the money to poor people. If you do that, you will have many valuable things in heaven. Then come back and be my disciple.’

22When the man heard that, his face became sad. He was a very rich man. Because of that, he went away and he was very sad.

23Jesus looked round and he said to his disciples, ‘It is very difficult for rich people to let God rule in their lives.’

24They were very surprised about Jesus' words. Jesus spoke again to them: ‘My friends, it is very difficult for anyone to let God rule in their life.

25The hole in a needle is very small. A camel cannot go through it! But it is even more difficult than that for a rich person to let God rule in their life.’

26Then Jesus' disciples were even more surprised. They said to each other, ‘So perhaps God will not save anyone!’

27Jesus looked at them and he replied, ‘For people, it really is impossible. But God can do it. God can do everything.’