Back to Luke 18

Luke 18:22-26

When Jesus heard these things, he said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell all that you have, and distribute it to the poor. Then you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.”

But when he heard these things, he became very sad, for he was very rich.

Jesus, seeing that he became very sad, said, “How hard it is for those who have riches to enter into God’s Kingdom! For it is easier for a camel to enter in through a needle’s eye than for a rich man to enter into God’s Kingdom.”

Those who heard it said, “Then who can be saved?”

World English Bible · Public Domain

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Parallel Translations

  • WEB World English Bible

    When Jesus heard these things, he said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell all that you have, and distribute it to the poor. Then you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.”

    But when he heard these things, he became very sad, for he was very rich.

    Jesus, seeing that he became very sad, said, “How hard it is for those who have riches to enter into God’s Kingdom!

    For it is easier for a camel to enter in through a needle’s eye than for a rich man to enter into God’s Kingdom.”

    Those who heard it said, “Then who can be saved?”

  • TYNDALE Tyndale New Testament (1534)

    When Iesus hearde that he sayde vnto him: Yet lackest thou one thinge. Sell all that thou hast and distribute it vnto the poore and thou shalt have treasure in heven and come and folowe me.

    When he heard that he was hevy: for he was very ryche.

    When Iesus sawe him morne he sayde: with what difficulte shall they that have ryches enter into the kyngdome of God:

    it is easyer for a camell to goo thorow a nedles eye then for a ryche man to enter into the kyngdome of God.

    Then sayde they that hearde that: And who shall then be saved?

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  • GNV Geneva Bible (1599)

    Nowe when Iesus heard that, he saide vnto him, Yet lackest thou one thing. Sell all that euer thou hast, and distribute vnto the poore, and thou shalt haue treasure in heauen, and come follow mee.

    But when he heard those things, he was very heauie: for he was marueilous riche.

    And when Iesus sawe him very sorowfull, he said, With what difficultie shall they that haue riches, enter into the kingdome of God!

    Surely it is easier for a camel to go through a needles eye, then for a riche man to enter into the kingdome of God.

    Then said they that heard it, And who then can be saued?

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Cross-references (46)

  • Luke 12:33 (v22) Sell that which you have, and give gifts to the needy. Make for yourselves purses which don’t grow old, a treasure in the heavens that…
  • 1 Timothy 6:18-19 (v22) that they do good, that they be rich in good works, that they be ready to distribute, willing to share; laying up in store for themselves a…
  • Matthew 19:21 (v22) Jesus said to him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have, and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and…
  • Matthew 6:19-20 (v22) “Don’t lay up treasures for yourselves on the earth, where moth and rust consume, and where thieves break through and steal; but lay up for…
  • Ezekiel 33:31 (v23) They come to you as the people come, and they sit before you as my people, and they hear your words, but don’t do them; for with their…
Show all 46 cross-references
  • Proverbs 11:28 (v24) He who trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous shall flourish as the green leaf.
  • Proverbs 30:9 (v24) lest I be full, deny you, and say, ‘Who is Yahweh?’ or lest I be poor, and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God.
  • Mark 10:23-27 (v24) Jesus looked around, and said to his disciples, “How difficult it is for those who have riches to enter into God’s Kingdom!” The disciples…
  • Luke 9:57-62 (v22) As they went on the way, a certain man said to him, “I want to follow you wherever you go, Lord.” Jesus said to him, “The foxes have holes,…
  • Luke 10:42 (v22) but one thing is needed. Mary has chosen the good part, which will not be taken away from her.”
  • Luke 16:9 (v22) I tell you, make for yourselves friends by means of unrighteous mammon, so that when you fail, they may receive you into the eternal tents.
  • James 2:5-7 (v24) Listen, my beloved brothers. Didn’t God choose those who are poor in this world to be rich in faith, and heirs of the Kingdom which he…
  • 1 John 2:15 (v23) Don’t love the world or the things that are in the world. If anyone loves the world, the Father’s love isn’t in him.
  • Job 31:24-25 (v23) “If I have made gold my hope, and have said to the fine gold, ‘You are my confidence;’ If I have rejoiced because my wealth was great, and…
  • Psalms 10:3 (v24) For the wicked boasts of his heart’s cravings. He blesses the greedy and condemns Yahweh.
  • Psalms 27:4 (v22) One thing I have asked of Yahweh, that I will seek after: that I may dwell in Yahweh’s house all the days of my life, to see Yahweh’s…
  • Matthew 19:22 (v23) But when the young man heard the saying, he went away sad, for he was one who had great possessions.
  • Matthew 19:23-25 (v24) Jesus said to his disciples, “Most certainly I say to you, a rich man will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven with difficulty. Again I tell…
  • Mark 10:22 (v23) But his face fell at that saying, and he went away sorrowful, for he was one who had great possessions.
  • Luke 8:14 (v23) That which fell among the thorns, these are those who have heard, and as they go on their way they are choked with cares, riches, and…
  • Luke 9:23 (v22) He said to all, “If anyone desires to come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.
  • Luke 12:15 (v23) He said to them, “Beware! Keep yourselves from covetousness, for a man’s life doesn’t consist of the abundance of the things which he…
  • Luke 13:23 (v26) One said to him, “Lord, are they few who are saved?” He said to them,
  • Luke 21:34 (v23) “So be careful, or your hearts will be loaded down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that day will come on you…
  • Acts 2:44-45 (v22) All who believed were together, and had all things in common. They sold their possessions and goods, and distributed them to all, according…
  • Acts 4:34-37 (v22) For neither was there among them any who lacked, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of the…
  • Philippians 3:13 (v22) Brothers, I don’t regard myself as yet having taken hold, but one thing I do: forgetting the things which are behind, and stretching…
  • 2 Peter 3:8 (v22) But don’t forget this one thing, beloved, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
  • Deuteronomy 6:10-12 (v24) It shall be, when Yahweh your God brings you into the land which he swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give you,…
  • Deuteronomy 8:11-17 (v24) Beware lest you forget Yahweh your God, in not keeping his commandments, his ordinances, and his statutes, which I command you today; lest,…
  • Judges 18:23-24 (v23) As they called to the children of Dan, they turned their faces, and said to Micah, “What ails you, that you come with such a company?” He…
  • Psalms 73:5-12 (v24) They are free from burdens of men, neither are they plagued like other men. Therefore pride is like a chain around their neck. Violence…
  • Proverbs 18:11 (v24) The rich man’s wealth is his strong city, like an unscalable wall in his own imagination.
  • Jeremiah 2:31 (v24) Generation, consider Yahweh’s word. Have I been a wilderness to Israel? Or a land of thick darkness? Why do my people say, ‘We have broken…
  • Jeremiah 5:5 (v24) I will go to the great men and will speak to them, for they know the way of Yahweh, and the law of their God.” But these with one accord…
  • Matthew 19:27-28 (v22) Then Peter answered, “Behold, we have left everything, and followed you. What then will we have?” Jesus said to them, “Most certainly I…
  • Mark 6:26 (v24) The king was exceedingly sorry, but for the sake of his oaths, and of his dinner guests, he didn’t wish to refuse her.
  • Luke 19:8 (v23) Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, half of my goods I give to the poor. If I have wrongfully exacted anything of anyone,…
  • 1 Corinthians 1:26-27 (v24) For you see your calling, brothers, that not many are wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, and not many noble; but God chose the…
  • 2 Corinthians 7:9-10 (v24) I now rejoice, not that you were grieved, but that you were grieved to repentance. For you were grieved in a godly way, that you might…
  • Ephesians 5:5 (v23) Know this for sure, that no sexually immoral person, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the…
  • Philippians 3:8 (v23) Yes most certainly, and I count all things to be a loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus, my Lord, for whom I suffered…
  • Colossians 3:5 (v23) Put to death therefore your members which are on the earth: sexual immorality, uncleanness, depraved passion, evil desire, and…
  • 1 Timothy 6:9-10 (v24) But those who are determined to be rich fall into a temptation, a snare, and many foolish and harmful lusts, such as drown men in ruin and…
  • James 5:1-6 (v24) Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries that are coming on you. Your riches are corrupted and your garments are moth-eaten.…
  • Matthew 23:24 (v25) You blind guides, who strain out a gnat, and swallow a camel!

Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)

Explain this passage (14 sources)

Historical commentary, presented as a primary source — not an endorsement.

Geneva Bible translators 1599 · Public Domain On v24 To be both rich and godly, is a singular…

To be both rich and godly, is a singular gift of God.

Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain.

John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain On vv22–26 22 Now when Jesus heard these things, he said…
William Burkitt 1703 · Public Domain On vv22–24 Here observe, 1. Our Lord’s admonition, Yet lackest thou…
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain On vv22–26 Now when Jesus heard these things,.... That he had…
John Wesley 1765 · Public Domain On v22 Yet lackest thou one thing - Namely, to love…
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain On vv24–25 Verse 24. How hardly shall they that have riches,…
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown 1871 · Public Domain On vv22–26 lackest . . . one thing--Ah! but that a…
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain On vv22–26 22. when Jesus heard these things] St Mark says…
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain On vv22–26 (22) Yet lackest thou one thing.—It may be noted…
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain On vv22–26 Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto…
C. I. Scofield 1917 · Public Domain On v26 (See Scofield "Rom 1:16").
Paul E. Kretzmann 1924 · Public Domain On v24 The lesson of the incident:
unfoldingWord translationNotes 2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On vv22, 24, 26 When Jesus heard that
Tyndale Open Study Notes 2022 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On vv22, 24 18:22 The man’s love of his riches revealed that…
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