The Rich Man^(A)

¹⁷ When He set out on His way, a man came running and knelt before Him, and asked Him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

¹⁸ He said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good, except God alone. ¹⁹ You know the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not murder, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.^[a]”

²⁰ He answered Him, “Teacher, all these have I observed from my youth.”

²¹ Then Jesus, looking upon him, loved him and said to him, “You lack one thing: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. And come, take up the cross and follow Me.”

²² He was saddened by that word, and he went away grieving. For he had many possessions.

²³ Jesus looked around and said to His disciples, “How hard it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!”

²⁴ The disciples were astonished at His words. But Jesus answered again, “Children, how hard it is for those who trust in riches to enter the kingdom of God! ²⁵ 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.”

²⁶ They were astonished beyond measure, saying among themselves, “Who then can be saved?”

²⁷ Jesus, looking at them, said, “With men it is impossible, but not with God. For with God all things are possible.”

²⁸ Peter began to say to Him, “Look, we have left everything and have followed You.”

²⁹ Jesus answered, “Truly I say to you, there is no one who has left a house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or fields, for My sake and for the gospel’s sake, ³⁰ who shall not receive a hundred times as much now in this age, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and fields, with persecution, and in the age to come, eternal life. ³¹ But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”

The Rich Ruler^(A)

¹⁸ A certain ruler asked Him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

¹⁹ Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good, except God alone. ²⁰ You know the commandments: Do not commit adultery, Do not murder, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honor your father and your mother.^[a]”

²¹ He said, “All these I have kept since my youth.”

²² When Jesus heard this, He said to him, “Yet you lack one thing. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. And come, follow Me.”

²³ When he heard this he became very sorrowful, for he was very rich. ²⁴ When Jesus saw that he became very sorrowful, He said, “How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God! ²⁵ For 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.”

²⁶ Those who heard this said, “Who then can be saved?”

²⁷ He said, “What is impossible with men is possible with God.”

²⁸ Peter said, “Look, we have left everything and followed You.”

²⁹ He said to them, “Truly, I tell you, there is no man who has left his home or parents or brothers or wife or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, ³⁰ who shall not receive many times more in this age and, in the age to come, eternal life.”