Devine Scripture

Matthew 19:23

What does Matthew 19:23 mean?

A plain-English look at Matthew 19:23 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Matthew 19:23 means

Watching the rich young man depart, Jesus then made a profound statement to His disciples: 'Verily I say unto you, It is hard for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of heaven.' This was a startling declaration, as wealth was often seen as a sign of God's blessing in that culture. Jesus highlighted the inherent difficulty riches pose to spiritual devotion, as they often foster self-reliance and hinder true dependence on God.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

And Jesus said unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, It is hard for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of heaven.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And Jesus said unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, It is hard for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of heaven.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And Jesus said to his disciples, Truly I say to you, It is hard for a man with much money to go into the kingdom of heaven.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

and Jesus said to his disciples, `Verily I say to you, that hardly shall a rich man enter into the reign of the heavens;

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

Then Jesus said to his disciples: Amen, I say to you, that a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And Jesus said to his disciples, Verily I say unto you, A rich man shall with difficulty enter into the kingdom of the heavens;

Context

Immediately following the rich young ruler's sorrowful departure in verse 22, Jesus pivots to a general teaching directed at His disciples. This verse articulates a startling truth about the difficulty of the wealthy entering the Kingdom, directly contrasting with societal expectations and setting up an even more dramatic statement in the following verse.

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

v.23This passage

v.24And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through a needle’s eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Psalms 49:16

    Be not thou afraid when one is made rich, When the glory of his house is increased:

  • Luke 12:15

    And he said unto them, Take heed, and keep yourselves from all covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.

  • Deuteronomy 8:10

    And thou shalt eat and be full, and thou shalt bless Jehovah thy God for the good land which he hath given thee.

  • Deuteronomy 6:10

    And it shall be, when Jehovah thy God shall bring thee into the land which he sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give thee, great and goodly cities, which thou buildest not,

  • John 3:3

    Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except one be born anew, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

  • Job 31:24

    If I have made gold my hope, And have said to the fine gold, Thou artmy confidence;

Related questions readers ask

Keep reading

Want to dig deeper? Explore Matthew 19

Hand-picked devotionals, topical studies, and pastoral answers that draw on Matthew 19.

Keep exploring

Follow this verse across Scripture

Topics, devotionals, original-language word studies, and figures connected to Matthew 19:23.

Browse every hub

BibleTopicsBible answersDevotionalsFamous passagesWord studiesPeoplePlacesVerses for…Reading plansCommentary