Matthew 19:23

Matthew 19:23 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven.
• New International Version (NIV)Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly I tell you, it is hard for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven.
• English Standard Version (ESV)And Jesus said to his disciples, "Truly, I say to you, only with difficulty will a rich person enter the kingdom of heaven.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Then Jesus said to His disciples, “Assuredly, I say to you that it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.

Context of Matthew 19:23

21Jesus said to him, “If you want to be complete, go and sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” 22But when the young man heard this statement, he went away grieving; for he was one who owned much property. And Jesus said to His disciples, “Truly I say to you, it will be hard for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24And again I say to 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.” 25When the disciples heard this, they were very astonished and said, “Then who can be saved?”

Matthew 19:23 word by word

Ὁ δὲ Ἰησοῦς εἶπεν τοῖς μαθηταῖς αὐτοῦ· ἀμὴν λέγω ὑμῖν ὅτι πλούσιος δυσκόλως εἰσελεύσεται εἰς τὴν βασιλείαν τῶν οὐρανῶν.¶Read the interlinear

• And JesusἸησοῦςIēsous · JesusG2424
• saidλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
• to His disciplesμαθητήςmathētēs · discipleG3101
• “Trulyἀμήνamēn · amenG281
• I sayλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
• it will be hardδυσκόλωςduskolōs · difficultlyG1423
• for a richπλούσιοςplousios · richG4145
• to enterεἰσέρχομαιeiserchomai · to enterG1525
• the kingdomβασιλείαbasileia · kingdomG932
• of heavenοὐρανόςouranos · heavenG3772

Cross-references for Matthew 19:23

• Matthew 13:22And the one sown with seed among the thorns, this is the one who hears the word, and the anxiety of the world and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.
• Deuteronomy 6:10“Then it shall come about when the Lord your God brings you into the land that He swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give you, great and splendid cities which you did not build,
• Deuteronomy 8:10When you have eaten and are satisfied, you shall bless the Lord your God for the good land which He has given you.
• Job 31:24“If I have put my confidence in gold, And called fine gold my trust,
• Psalms 49:6Those who trust in their wealth And boast in the abundance of their riches?
• Proverbs 11:28One who trusts in his riches will fall, But the righteous will flourish like the green leaf.
• Proverbs 30:8Keep deception and lies far from me, Give me neither poverty nor riches; Feed me with the food that is my portion,
• Mark 10:23And Jesus, looking around, said to His disciples, “How hard it will be for those who are wealthy to enter the kingdom of God!”
• Luke 12:15But He said to them, “Beware, and be on your guard against every form of greed; for not even when one is affluent does his life consist of his possessions.”
• Luke 16:13No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.”
• Luke 18:24And Jesus looked at him and said, “How hard it is for those who are wealthy to enter the kingdom of God!
• 1 Corinthians 1:26For consider your calling, brothers and sisters, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble;
• 1 Timothy 6:9But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap, and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge people into ruin and destruction.
• James 1:9Now the brother or sister of humble circumstances is to glory in his high position;
• James 2:6But you have dishonored the poor man. Is it not the rich who oppress you and personally drag you into court?
• James 5:1Come now, you rich people, weep and howl for your miseries which are coming upon you.

Commentaries on Matthew 19:23

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 23A rich man shall hardly enter - That is, into the spirit and privileges of the Gospel in this world, and through them into the kingdom of glory. Earthly riches are a great obstacle to salvation; because it is almost impossible to possess them, and not to set the heart upon them; and they who love the world have not the love of the Father in them. 1 John 2:15. To be rich, therefore, is in general a great misfortune: but what rich man can be convinced of…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. 23-30Verses 23-30 Though Christ spoke so strongly, few that have riches do not trust in them. How few that are poor are not tempted to envy! But men's earnestness in this matter is like their toiling to build a high wall to shut themselves and their children out of heaven. It should be satisfaction to those who are in a low condition, that they are not exposed to the temptations of a high and prosperous condition. If they live more hardly in this world than…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 23Jesus teaches a lesson about discipleship from the rich man's sad refusal. It is difficult for the rich to humble themselves, admit their needs, and trust in God (see Matthew 5:3; Luke 6:24; 1 Timothy 6:9–10). The kingdom of heaven here means eternal life (Matthew 19:16–17, 29) or salvation as a result of God's renewing work (19:25–26).Read the comment

Topics related to Matthew 19:23

• Covetousness
• Kingdom of Heaven
• Rich, the
• Riches

In the dictionaries

• Jesus
• Eternal
• Impossible
• Join
• Marry
• Possession
• Rich
• Divorce in the New Testament
• Hard; Hardiness; Harddiness; Hardly
• Law in the New Testament

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