Matthew 19:23-26

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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 19:25

When his disciples heard it ..... That is, the difficulty of a rich man's entering into the kingdom of heaven, aggravated by the above proverbial expression, they were exceedingly amazed . They were surprised at his first words; but when he confirmed them by the proverb of a camel's passing through the eye of a needle, they were, as Mark says, "astonished out of measure": they did not imagine there was any difficulty of rich men coming into the kingdom of the Messiah, which they took to... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 19:26

But Jesus beheld them ,.... Looking wishfully and earnestly at them; signifying thereby, that he knew their reasonings among themselves, though they did not speak out so as to be heard by him; and that there was no reason why they should be in so much concern, as their countenances showed, or possess themselves with such fears: and said unto them, with men this is impossible . Mark adds, "but not with God; for with God all things are possible"; to be done by him, if he will, which are... 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

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 19:25

Who can be saved? - The question of the disciples seemed to intimate that most people were rich, and that therefore scarcely any could be saved. They certainly must have attached a different meaning to what constitutes a rich man, to what we in general do. Who is a rich man in our Lord's sense of the word? This is a very important question, and has not, that I know of, been explicitly answered. A rich man, in my opinion, is not one who has so many hundreds or thousands more than some of his... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 19:26

With men this is impossible - God alone can take the love of the world out of the human heart. Therefore the salvation of the rich is represented as possible only to him: and indeed the words seem to intimate, that it requires more than common exertions of Omnipotence to save a rich man. read more

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