The Beginning:
A wealthy man of social standing approaches Jesus and asks what good deed he must do to inherit eternal life. Jesus directs him to God as the standard of goodness and points him to the commandments. The man claims he has kept these commands and asks what he still lacks.
The Middle:
Jesus tells him that if he wants to be complete, he should sell his possessions, give to the poor, and follow Him. The man becomes sorrowful and leaves, because he has great wealth. Jesus then teaches His disciples that riches can become a spiritual obstacle, using vivid imagery to show how difficult it is for the wealthy to enter the kingdom of God. The disciples are astonished and ask who can be saved.
The End:
Jesus answers that what is impossible with humans is possible with God. Peter speaks for the disciples about leaving everything to follow Jesus, and Jesus promises that those who sacrifice for His sake will receive far more and inherit eternal life. He concludes with a reversal theme: “many who are first will be last, and the last first.”
This encounter shows that eternal life is not earned by a checklist of deeds but is received through wholehearted allegiance to God, expressed in following Jesus. Jesus exposes how wealth can function as a rival trust, revealing the deeper demand of the law: love of God above all and love of neighbor in concrete mercy. The story also emphasizes divine grace—salvation is ultimately God’s work—while affirming that true discipleship may require costly surrender. Jesus’ call to “follow Me” places Him at the center of the kingdom’s invitation and exposes the heart’s true loyalty.
In Second Temple Jewish society, wealth often signaled honor and was sometimes viewed as evidence of divine favor. Jesus’ warning that riches can hinder entry into God’s kingdom would therefore have sounded shocking, helping explain the disciples’ astonishment and their urgent question, “Who then can be saved?”
“With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” — Matthew 19:26
Answer the questions below. When you choose an option, you will see the result and an explanation.
1. What did the wealthy man ask Jesus when he approached Him?
2. How did the man respond after Jesus told him to sell his possessions, give to the poor, and follow Him?