Luke 18:24
What does Luke 18:24 mean?
A plain-English look at Luke 18:24 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Luke 18:24 means
Observing the rich ruler's sorrowful departure, Jesus made a profound statement about the difficulty of the wealthy entering God's Kingdom. This difficulty doesn't suggest that riches are inherently evil, but that the love of them, and the trust placed in them, often create an insurmountable barrier to trusting God completely and obeying His call. It highlights the spiritual dangers that come with material abundance, making selfless devotion challenging.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000And Jesus seeing him said, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!
KJV
King James Version · 1611And when Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful, he said, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901And Jesus seeing him said, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And Jesus, looking at him, said, How hard it is for those who have wealth to get into the kingdom of God!
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862And Jesus having seen him become very sorrowful, said, `How hardly shall those having riches enter into the reign of God!
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And Jesus seeing him become sorrowful, said: How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890But when Jesus saw that he became very sorrowful, he said, How difficultly shall those who have riches enter into the kingdom ofGod;
Context
This verse captures Jesus's observation of the rich ruler's departure, immediately after the ruler's refusal in verse 23. This observation triggers Jesus's lament about the spiritual danger of wealth, setting the stage for the dramatic illustration in the following verse. It broadens the lesson from one individual's struggle to a universal principle about the challenges faced by the rich.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Psalms 10:3
For the wicked boasteth of his heart’s desire, And the covetous renounceth, yea, contemneth Jehovah.
- Proverbs 11:28
He that trusteth in his riches shall fall; But the righteous shall flourish as the green leaf.
- Deuteronomy 8:11
Beware lest thou forget Jehovah thy God, in not keeping his commandments, and his ordinances, and his statutes, which I command thee this day:
- Proverbs 18:11
The rich man’s wealth is his strong city, And as a high wall in his own imagination.
- 1 Corinthians 1:26
For behold your calling, brethren, that not many wise after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:
- James 2:5
Hearken, my beloved brethren; did not God choose them that are poor as to the world to be rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he promised to them that love him?
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