Luke 18 · Verse 23

Luke 18:23

And when he heard this, he was very sorrowful: for he was very rich.
Luke 18:23, King James Version

Luke 18:23 in other translations

BSBBut when the ruler heard this, he became very sad, because he was extremely wealthy.
WEBBut when he heard these things, he became very sad, for he was very rich.
ASVBut when he heard these things, he became exceeding sorrowful; for he was very rich.
YLTand he, having heard these things, became very sorrowful, for he was exceeding rich.
DARBYBut when he heard this he became very sorrowful, for he was very rich.
BBEBut at these words he became very sad, for he had great wealth.
WebsterAnd when he heard this, he was very sorrowful: for he was very rich.

What does Luke 18:23 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Luke 18:23-25
23-25. was very sorrowful--Matthew (Mt 19:22) more fully, "went away sorrowful"; Mark still more, "was sad" or "sullen" at that saying, and "went away grieved." Sorry he was, very sorry, to part with Christ; but to part with his riches would have cost him a pang more. When Riches or Heaven, on Christ's terms, were the alternative, the result showed to which side the balance inclined. Thus was he shown to lack the one all-comprehensive requirement of the law--the absolute subjection of the heart to God, and this want vitiated all his other obediences.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Luke 18:18-30

Many have a great deal in them very commendable, yet perish for lack of some one thing; so this ruler could not bear Christ's terms, which would part between him and his estate. Many who are loth to leave Christ, yet do leave him. After a long struggle between their convictions and their corruptions, their corruptions carry the day. They are very sorry that they cannot serve both; but if one must be quitted, it…

Read the full comment on Luke 18:18-30 →

Luke 18:23 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ὉHo<the>G3588
δὲdeAndG1161
ἀκούσαςakousashaving heardG191
ταῦταtautathese thingsG3778
περίλυποςperiluposvery sorrowfulG4036
ἐγενήθη·egenēthēhe became;G1096
ἦνēnhe wasG1510
γὰρgarforG1063
πλούσιοςplousiosrichG4145
σφόδρα.¶sphodraextremely.G4970

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Luke 18:23

  • Ezekiel 33:31

    And they come unto thee as the people cometh, and they sit before thee as my people, and they hear thy words, but they will not do them: for with their mouth they shew much love, but their heart goeth after their covetousness.

  • 1 John 2:15

    Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

  • Mark 10:22

    And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions.

  • Matthew 19:22

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

  • Luke 21:34

    And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.

  • Job 31:24-25

    If I have made gold my hope, or have said to the fine gold, Thou art my confidence; If I rejoiced because my wealth was great, and because mine hand had gotten much;

  • Luke 19:8

    And Zaccheus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold.

  • Luke 8:14

    And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.

  • Colossians 3:5

    Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:

  • Ephesians 5:5

    For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.

  • Luke 12:15

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

  • Philippians 3:8

    Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
he was very sorrowful.
8:14; 12:15; 19:8; 21:34; Jud 18:23,24; Job 31:24,25; Eze 33:31
Mt 19:22; Mr 10:22; Eph 5:5; Php 3:8; Col 3:5; 1Jo 2:15

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Luke 18:22

    Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me.

  • Luke 18:23

    And when he heard this, he was very sorrowful: for he was very rich.

  • Luke 18:24

    And when Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful, he said, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!

Read all of Luke 18

Luke 18:23 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909
Entonces él, oídas estas cosas, se puso muy triste, porque era muy rico.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885
Et lui, ayant entendu ces choses, devint fort triste; car il était extrêmement riche.
German
Elberfelder 1871
Als er aber dies hörte, wurde er sehr betrübt, denn er war sehr reich.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate
His ille auditis, contristatus est: quia dives erat valde.