Matthew 19:21-26

Money is at the root of all evil. Man is corrupted by his greed and unwillingness to give God credit for everything he is given to use for good. Only by God’s mercy and grace can man be saved.

This verse does not teach salvation by works. Rather Jesus was proving the error of the man’s claim to have fulfilled God’s law. If the young man loved his neighbor to the extent required by the Law of Moses, he would have had no difficulty in giving away his wealth to needy people. 

Jesus’ comment about a rich man’s salvation would have been difficult for some Jewish people in this period to accept because they held to a form of “prosperity theology.” If people prospered, it was evidence of God’s blessing on them. Whereas v. 23 says it is hard for a rich man to become saved, v. 24 implies that it is as impossible as passing a camel through the eye of a needle.

Matthew 19:21-26

²¹ 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 come, follow Me.” 

²² But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. 

²³ 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. ²⁴ And again I say to 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.” 

²⁵ When His disciples heard it, they were greatly astonished, saying, “Who then can be saved?” 

²⁶ But Jesus looked at them and said to them, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”