God’s Word Translation
Matthew 19:16
16Then a man came to Jesus and said, “Teacher, what good deed should I do to gain eternal life?”
Matthew 19:16 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?
- New International Version (NIV)Just then a man came up to Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?”
- English Standard Version (ESV)And behold, a man came up to him, saying, "Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?"
- New King James Version (NKJV)Now behold, one came and said to Him, “Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?”
Context of Matthew 19:16
14Jesus said, “Don’t stop children from coming to me! Children like these are part of God’s kingdom.” 15After Jesus blessed them, he went away from there. Then a man came to Jesus and said, “Teacher, what good deed should I do to gain eternal life?” 17Jesus said to him, “Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. If you want to enter into life, obey the commandments.” 18“Which commandments?” the man asked. Jesus said, “Never murder. Never commit adultery. Never steal. Never give false testimony.
Read all of Matthew 19Matthew 19:16 word by word
Καὶ ἰδοὺ εἷς προσελθὼν αὐτῷ εἶπεν· διδάσκαλε τί ἀγαθὸν ποιήσω ἵνα σχῶ ζωὴν αἰώνιον;Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Andκαίkai · andG2532
- beholdὁράωhoraō · to see: seeG3708
- oneεἷςheis · oneG1520
- cameπροσέρχομαιproserchomai · to come near/agreeG4334
- and saidλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
- unto himαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
- Goodἀγαθόςagathos · goodG18
- Masterδιδάσκαλοςdidaskalos · teacherG1320
- whatτίςtis · which?G5101
- shall I doποιέωpoieō · to do/make: doG4160
- thatἵναhina · in order that/toG2443
- I may haveἔχωechō · to have/beG2192
- eternalαἰώνιοςaiōnios · eternalG166
- lifeζωήzōē · lifeG2222
Cross-references for Matthew 19:16
- Mark 10:17As Jesus was coming out to the road, a man came running to him and knelt in front of him. He asked Jesus, “Good Teacher, what should I do to inherit eternal life?”
- Luke 18:18An official asked Jesus, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
- Luke 10:25Then an expert in Moses’ Teachings stood up to test Jesus. He asked, “Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
- John 6:27Don’t work for food that spoils. Instead, work for the food that lasts into eternal life. This is the food the Son of Man will give you. After all, the Father has placed his seal of approval on him.”
- Acts 16:30Then he took Paul and Silas outside and asked, “Sirs, what do I have to do to be saved?”
- Matthew 25:46“These people will go away into eternal punishment, but those with God’s approval will go into eternal life.”
- Daniel 12:2Many sleeping in the ground will wake up. Some will wake up to live forever, but others will wake up to be ashamed and disgraced forever.
- John 3:15Then everyone who believes in him will have eternal life.”
- John 4:14But those who drink the water that I will give them will never become thirsty again. In fact, the water I will give them will become in them a spring that gushes up to eternal life.”
- John 5:39You study the Scriptures in detail because you think you have the source of eternal life in them. These Scriptures testify on my behalf.
- John 6:47I can guarantee this truth: Every believer has eternal life.
- John 10:28and I give them eternal life. They will never be lost, and no one will tear them away from me.
- John 12:25Those who love their lives will destroy them, and those who hate their lives in this world will guard them for everlasting life.
- John 17:2After all, you’ve given him authority over all humanity so that he can give eternal life to all those you gave to him.
- Romans 2:7He will give everlasting life to those who search for glory, honor, and immortality by persisting in doing what is good. But he will bring
- Romans 5:21As sin ruled by bringing death, God’s kindness would rule by bringing us his approval. This results in our living forever because of Jesus Christ our Lord.
Commentaries on Matthew 19:16
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 16One came - Instead of one, several MSS., the Slavonic version, and Hilary, read , a certain young man. Good, etc. - Much instruction may be had from seriously attending to the conduct, spirit, and question of this person. He came running, ( Mark 10:17;), for he was deeply convinced of the importance of his business, and seriously determined to seek so as to find. He kneeled, or caught him by the knees, thus evidencing his humility, and addressing himself…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 16-30Verses 16-30 This account is found also in Mark 10:17-31; Matthew 19:16 One came - This was a young man, Matthew 19:20. He was a ruler (Luke); probably a ruler in a synagogue, or of the great council of the nation; a place to which he was chosen on account of his unblemished character and promising talents. He came running (Mark); evincing great earnestness and anxiety, He fell upon his knees (Mark); not to worship him, but to pay the customary respectful…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 16-22Verses 16-22 Christ knew that covetousness was the sin which most easily beset this young man; though he had got honestly what he possessed, yet he could not cheerfully part with it, and by this his want of sincerity was shown. Christ's promises make his precepts easy, and his yoke pleasant and very comfortable; yet this promise was as much a trial of the young man's faith, as the precept was of his charity and contempt of the world. It is required of us…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-30Jesus was traveling to Jerusalem (Matthew 19:1; 20:29; 21:1). This was another chance to teach the disciples what it means to be his disciples.Read the comment
Topics related to Matthew 19:16
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Matthew 19
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Catena Aurea
- Illustrated New Testament
- Burkitt’s Expository Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Family Bible Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- John Lightfoot Commentary
- Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- The People’s New Testament
- Robertson’s Word Pictures
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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