MAT 19:16-30

The Rich Young Man

16And look, a man came to him and said, "Teacher, what good thing must I do so that I may have life — eternal life?" [19:17] He said to him, "Why do you ask me about what is good? One there is who is good. But if you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments." [19:18] He said to him, "Which ones?" And Jesus said, "You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not bear false witness, [19:19] honor your father and your mother, and you shall love your neighbor as yourself." [19:20] The young man said to him, "All these I have kept. What do I still lack?" [19:21] Jesus said to him, "If you wish to be complete, go, sell your possessions and give to the destitute — and you will have treasure in heaven — and come, follow me." [19:22] When the young man heard this word, he went away grieved, for he had many possessions. [19:23] And Jesus said to his disciples, "Truly I say to you: a rich man will enter the kingdom of heaven only with difficulty. [19:24] 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." [19:25] When the disciples heard this they were greatly astonished, saying, "Who then can be saved?" [19:26] And looking at them, Jesus said, "With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." [19:27] Then Peter answered and said to him, "Look, we have left everything and followed you — what then will there be for us?" [19:28] And Jesus said to them, "Truly I say to you: in the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. [19:29] And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands for the sake of my name will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life. [19:30] But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first."

In the world it was spoken into

In 1st-century Jewish and Greco-Roman contexts, wealth was often seen as a sign of divine favor or moral virtue. The rich young man’s question about inheriting eternal life reflects a common Jewish concern for securing a place in the age to come. His reference to Jesus as 'good teacher' may imply a recognition of Jesus’ authority, but Jesus redirects the focus to God alone, emphasizing divine goodness. The commandments Jesus cites—murder, adultery, theft, false witness, honoring parents, and loving neighbors—are drawn from the Decalogue, central to Jewish ethical practice. The young man’s claim to have kept these suggests a commitment to Torah observance, but Jesus’ demand to sell possessions and give to the poor challenges the cultural assumption that wealth signifies righteousness. In a society where wealth was tied to social status and security, Jesus’ call to renounce it and follow Him would have been radical, redefining '' (complete, mature) as detachment from material security and total reliance on God. The disciples’ astonishment underscores the countercultural nature of this teaching.

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How other translations render this

MAT 19:16

KJV: And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?
BSB: Just then a man came up to Jesus and inquired, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to obtain eternal life?”
Koinōnos: And look, a man came to him and said, "Teacher, what good thing must I do so that I may have life — eternal life?

MAT 19:17

KJV: And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.
BSB: “Why do you ask Me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, keep the commandments.”
Koinōnos: He said to him, "Why do you ask me about what is good? One there is who is good. But if you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments.

MAT 19:18

KJV: He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness,
BSB: “Which ones?” the man asked. Jesus answered, “‘Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not bear false witness,
Koinōnos: He said to him, "Which ones?" And Jesus said, "You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not bear false witness,

MAT 19:19

KJV: Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
BSB: honor your father and mother, and love your neighbor as yourself.’”
Koinōnos: honor your father and your mother, and you shall love your neighbor as yourself.

MAT 19:20

KJV: The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?
BSB: “All these I have kept,” said the young man. “What do I still lack?”
Koinōnos: The young man said to him, "All these I have kept. What do I still lack?

MAT 19:21

KJV: Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.
BSB: Jesus told him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow Me.”
Koinōnos: Jesus said to him, "If you wish to be complete, go, sell your possessions and give to the destitute — and you will have treasure in heaven — and come, follow me.

MAT 19:22

KJV: But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.
BSB: When the young man heard this, he went away in sorrow, because he had great wealth.
Koinōnos: When the young man heard this word, he went away grieved, for he had many possessions.

MAT 19:23

KJV: Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven.
BSB: Then Jesus said to His disciples, “Truly I tell you, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.
Koinōnos: And Jesus said to his disciples, "Truly I say to you: a rich man will enter the kingdom of heaven only with difficulty.

MAT 19:24

KJV: And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.
BSB: Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”
Koinōnos: 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.

MAT 19:25

KJV: When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved?
BSB: When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, “Who then can be saved?”
Koinōnos: When the disciples heard this they were greatly astonished, saying, "Who then can be saved?

MAT 19:26

KJV: But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.
BSB: Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
Koinōnos: And looking at them, Jesus said, "With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.

MAT 19:27

KJV: Then answered Peter and said unto him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore?
BSB: “Look,” Peter replied, “we have left everything to follow You. What then will there be for us?”
Koinōnos: Then Peter answered and said to him, "Look, we have left everything and followed you — what then will there be for us?

MAT 19:28

KJV: And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
BSB: Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, in the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on His glorious throne, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
Koinōnos: And Jesus said to them, "Truly I say to you: in the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

MAT 19:29

KJV: And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name’s sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.
BSB: And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or fields for the sake of My name will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life.
Koinōnos: And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands for the sake of my name will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life.

MAT 19:30

KJV: But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first.
BSB: But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.
Koinōnos: But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.

Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.

Translator's notes

MAT 19:16

I may have:The word translated 'life' here refers to the very essence of existence, vitality, and the state of being alive, rather than merely a period of time.
life:The term 'eternal' describes a quality of existence that transcends time, not merely a very long duration. It speaks to a state of being that is unending and belongs to the age to come.

MAT 19:21

perfect:The word translated 'perfect' here means complete, mature, or fully developed, rather than flawless in a moral sense. It suggests reaching an intended goal or full potential.
to the:The word translated 'poor' here specifically refers to someone who is utterly destitute, dependent on alms, and often homeless, not merely someone of low economic status.