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

21Yeshua said to him, “If you wish to be perfect, go, sell what you own, and give to the poor; and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow Me.” 22But when the young man heard this statement, he went away grieving, for he had much property. Then Yeshua said to His disciples, “Amen, I tell you, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” 25When the disciples heard this, they were utterly 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

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Thenδέde · thenG1161
• saidλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
• JesusἸησοῦςIēsous · JesusG2424
• untoμαθητήςmathētēs · discipleG3101
• hisαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• Verilyἀμήνamēn · amenG281
• I sayλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
• unto youσύsu · youG4771
• Thatὅτιhoti · that/since: thatG3754
• a rich manπλούσιοςplousios · richG4145
• shallεἰσέρχομαιeiserchomai · to enterG1525
• hardlyδυσκόλωςduskolōs · difficultlyG1423
• intoεἰςeis · towardG1519
• the kingdomβασιλείαbasileia · kingdomG932
• of heavenοὐρανόςouranos · heavenG3772

Cross-references for Matthew 19:23

• Matthew 13:22“But the one sown among the thorns, this is the one who hears the word; and the worries of the world and the seduction of wealth choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.
• Deuteronomy 6:10“Now when Adonai your God brings you into the land that He swore to your fathers—to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob—to give you great and good cities that you did not build,
• Deuteronomy 8:10So you will eat and be full, and you will bless Adonai your God for the good land He has given you.
• Job 31:24“If I have put my confidence in gold or said to fine gold, ‘You are my security,’
• Psalms 49:6Why should I fear in evil days? when the iniquity of my deceivers surrounds me?
• Proverbs 11:28Whoever trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will flourish like a green leaf.
• Proverbs 30:8Keep falsehood and lies far from me. Give me neither poverty nor riches, but feed me with my allotted bread,
• Mark 10:23Then looking around, Yeshua says to His disciples, “How hard it will be for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!”
• Luke 12:15Then He said to them, “Watch out! Be on guard against all kinds of greed, because one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the material goods he possesses.”
• Luke 16:13No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will stick by one and look down on the other. You cannot serve God and money.”
• Luke 18:24Gazing at him, Yeshua said, “How hard it is for the rich to enter into the kingdom of God!
• 1 Corinthians 1:26For you see your calling, brothers and sisters, that not many are wise according to human standards, not many are powerful, and not many are born well.
• 1 Timothy 6:9But those who want to be rich fall into temptation and a trap and many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction.
• James 1:9But let the brother in humble circumstances boast in his high position—
• James 2:6But you have dishonored the poor person. Isn’t it the rich who oppress you and drag you into court?
• James 5:1Come now, you rich, weep and wail over the miseries that 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