Matthew 19 · Verse 23

Matthew 19:23

Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 19:23, King James Version

Matthew 19:23 in other translations

BSBThen Jesus said to His disciples, “Truly I tell you, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.
WEBJesus said to his disciples, “Most certainly I say to you, a rich man will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven with difficulty.
ASVAnd Jesus said unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, It is hard for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of heaven.
YLTand Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Verily I say to you, that hardly shall a rich man enter into the reign of the heavens;
DARBYAnd Jesus said to his disciples, Verily I say unto you, A rich man shall with difficulty enter into the kingdom of the heavens;
BBEAnd 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.
WebsterThen said Jesus to his disciples, Verily I say to you, that a rich man shall with difficulty enter into the kingdom of heaven.

What does Matthew 19:23 mean?

Barnes' Notes
Verse 23. Shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven. Shall with difficulty be saved. He has much to struggle with; and it will require the greatest of human efforts to break away from his temptations, and idols, and secure his salvation.

(p) "That a rich man" 1Timm 6:9,10

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 23 A rich man shall hardly enter - That is, into the spirit and privileges of the Gospel in this world, and through them into the kingdom of glory. Earthly riches are a great obstacle to salvation; because it is almost impossible to possess them, and not to set the heart upon them; and they who love the world have not the love of the Father in them. 1Jn 2:15. To be rich, therefore, is in general a great misfortune: but what rich man can be convinced of this? It is only God himself who, by a miracle of mercy, can do this. Christ himself affirms the difficulty of the salvation of a rich man, with an oath, verily; but who of the rich either hears or believes him!

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Matthew 19:23-30
Though Christ spoke so strongly, few that have riches do not trust in them. How few that are poor are not tempted to envy! But men's earnestness in this matter is like their toiling to build a high wall to shut themselves and their children out of heaven. It should be satisfaction to those who are in a low condition, that they are not exposed to the temptations of a high and prosperous condition. If they live more hardly in this world than the rich, yet, if they get more easily to a better world, they have no reason to complain. Christ's words show that it is hard for a rich man to be a good Christian, and to be saved. The way to heaven is a narrow way to all, and the gate that leads into it, a strait gate; particularly so to rich people. More duties are expected from them than from others, and more sins easily beset them. It is hard not to be charmed with a smiling world. Rich people have a great account to make up for their opportunities above others. It is utterly impossible for a man that sets his heart upon his riches, to get to heaven. Christ used an expression, denoting a difficulty altogether unconquerable by the power of man. Nothing less than the almighty grace of God will enable a rich man to get over this difficulty. Who then can be saved? If riches hinder rich people, are not pride and sinful lusts found in those not rich, and as dangerous to them? Who can be saved? say the disciples. None, saith Christ, by any created power. The beginning, progress, and perfecting the work of salvation, depend wholly on the almighty power of God, to which all things are possible. Not that rich people can be saved in their worldliness, but that they should be saved from it. Peter said, We have forsaken all. Alas! it was but a poor all, only a few boats and nets; yet observe how Peter speaks, as if it had been some mighty thing. We are too apt to make the most of our services and sufferings, our expenses and losses, for Christ. However, Christ does not upbraid them; though it was but little that they had forsaken, yet it was their all, and as dear to them as if it had been more. Christ took it kindly that they left it to follow him; he accepts according to what a man hath. Our Lord's promise to the apostles is, that when the Son of man shall sit on the throne of his glory, he will make all things new, and they shall sit with him in judgement on those who will be judged according to their doctrine. This sets forth the honour, dignity, and authority of their office and ministry. Our Lord added, that every one who had forsaken possessions or comforts, for his sake and the gospel, would be recompensed at last. May God give us faith to rest our hope on this his promise; then we shall be ready for every service or sacrifice. Our Saviour, in the last verse, does away a mistake of some. The heavenly inheritance is not given as earthly ones are, but according to God's pleasure. Let us not trust in promising appearances or outward profession. Others may, for aught we know, become eminent in faith and holiness.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Matthew 19:23 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
ἸησοῦςIēsousJesusG2424
εἶπενeipensaidG2036
τοῖςtoisto theG3588
μαθηταῖςmathētaisdisciplesG3101
αὐτοῦ·autouof Him;G846
ἀμὴνamēnAmenG281
λέγωlegōI sayG3004
ὑμῖνhuminto youG4771
ὅτιhotithatG3754
πλούσιοςplousiosa rich manG4145
δυσκόλωςduskolōswith difficultyG1423
εἰσελεύσεταιeiseleusetaiwill enterG1525
εἰςeisintoG1519
τὴνtēntheG3588
βασιλείανbasileiankingdomG932
τῶνtōnof theG3588
οὐρανῶν.¶ouranōnheavens.G3772

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

Cross references for Matthew 19:23

  • 1 Timothy 6:9-10

    But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

  • Matthew 13:22

    He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.

  • Mark 10:23

    And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto his disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!

  • 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!

  • James 5:1-4

    Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you. Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are motheaten. Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days. Behold, the hire of the labourers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth.

  • Proverbs 11:28

    He that trusteth in his riches shall fall: but the righteous shall flourish as a branch.

  • 1 Corinthians 1:26

    For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:

  • Matthew 18:3

    And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.

  • John 3:3

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

  • Proverbs 30:8-9

    Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me: Lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, Who is the Lord? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain.

  • Luke 12:15-21

    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. And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. …

  • Matthew 5:20

    For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
That.
13:22; De 6:10-12; 8:10-18; Job 31:24,25; Ps 49:6,7,16-19; Pr 11:28
Pr 30:8,9; Mr 10:23; Lu 12:15-21; 16:13,14,19-28; 18:24; 1Co 1:26
1Ti 6:9,10; Jas 1:9-11; 2:6; 5:1-4
enter.
5:20; 18:3; 21:31; Joh 3:3,5; Ac 14:22

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

Context

  • Matthew 19:22

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

  • Matthew 19:23

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

  • Matthew 19:24

    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.

Read all of Matthew 19

Matthew 19:23 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Entonces Jesús dijo á sus discípulos: De cierto os digo, que un rico difícilmente entrará en el reino de los cielos.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et Jésus dit à ses disciples: En vérité, je vous dis qu’un riche entrera difficilement dans le royaume des cieux;
German
Elberfelder 1871		Jesus aber sprach zu seinen Jüngern: Wahrlich, ich sage euch: Schwerlich wird ein Reicher in das Reich der Himmel eingehen.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Jesus autem dixit discipulis suis: Amen dico vobis, quia dives difficile intrabit in regnum cælorum.