Matthew 19:23-24

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Matthew 19:23-30

We have here Christ's discourse with his disciples upon occasion of the rich man's breaking with Christ. I. Christ took occasion from thence to show the difficulty of the salvation of the rich people, Matt. 19:23-26. 1. That it is a very hard thing for a rich man to get to heaven, such a rich man as this here. Note, From the harms and falls of others it is good for us to infer that which will be of caution to us. Now, (1.) This is vehemently asserted by our Saviour, Matt. 19:23, 24. He said... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Matthew 19:23-26

19:23-26 Jesus said to the disciples, "This is the truth I tell you--it is with difficulty that a rich man shall enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. Again I say unto you--it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter into the Kingdom of Heaven." When the disciples heard this, they were exceedingly astonished. "What rich man, then," they said, "can be saved?" Jesus looked at them, "With men," he said, "this is impossible, but with God all things are... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 19:23

Then said Jesus unto his disciples ..... When the young man was gone; taking this opportunity to make some proper observations for the use and instruction of his disciples, after, as Mark observes, he had "looked round about"; with concern, and in order to affect their minds with this incident, and to raise their attention to what he was about to say: verily I say unto you, that a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven : either into the Gospel dispensation, and receive... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 19:24

And again I say unto you ,.... After the apostles had discovered their astonishment at the above expression, about the difficulty of a rich man entering into the kingdom of heaven; when they expected that, in a short time, all the rich and great men of the nation would espouse the interest of the Messiah, and acknowledge him as a temporal king, and add to the grandeur of his state and kingdom; and after he had in a mild and gentle manner, calling them "children", explained himself of such,... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 19:23

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. 1 John 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... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 19:24

A camel - Instead of καμηλον , camel, six MSS. read καμιλον , cable, a mere gloss inserted by some who did not know that the other was a proverb common enough among the people of the east. There is an expression similar to this in the Koran. "The impious, who in his arrogance shall accuse our doctrine of falsity, shall find the gates of heaven shut: nor shall he enter there till a camel shall pass through the eye of a needle. It is thus that we shall recompense the wicked." Al Koran.... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 19:23

Verse 23 Matthew 19:23.A rich man will with difficulty enter. Christ warns them, not only how dangerous and how deadly a plague avarice is, but also how great an obstacle is presented by riches. In Mark, indeed, he mitigates the harshness of his expression, by restricting it to those only who place confidence in riches But these words are, I think, intended to confirm, rather than correct, the former statement, as if he had affirmed that they ought not to think it strange, that he made the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 19:16-30

The young ruler. I. HIS INTERVIEW WITH CHRIST . 1 . His question . Christ was "gone forth into the way" ( Mark 10:17 ); he was leaving Peraea; his ministry there was ended. But there was a young man, a ruler of the synagogue, a man of large possessions and of blameless life, who came running and kneeled to him. Perhaps he had already felt the supreme goodness of Christ, the holiness of his teaching; hut his position, his Jewish prejudices, had hitherto prevented him from... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 19:23

Then said Jesus. He derives an important lesson from the sad result of the above incident. St Luke connects it with what had just preceded: "When Jesus saw that he [the ruler] was very sorrowful, he said." It was a strange and most emphatic assertion, quite alien from general opinion and sentiment. A rich man shall hardly ( δυσκο ì λως , with difficulty ) enter into the kingdom of heaven. Remembering that Christ had just invited the young ruler to range himself on his side and... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 19:23

The hindering power of worldly possessions. "He went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions." "A rich man shall hardly [or, 'with difficulty'] enter into the kingdom of heaven." The figure of the "camel and needle's eye" is a proverbial one, and no precise facts answering to it need be sought for. There are other proverbs very similar. It strikingly expresses that which is almost impossible, but not quite impossible. This sentence is taken from the Koran: "The impious shall find the... read more

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