Matthew 19:25 - Printer Friendly

ESV: When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished, saying, "Who then can be saved?"

NIV: When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, "Who then can be saved?"

NASB: When the disciples heard this, they were very astonished and said, 'Then who can be saved?'

CSB: When the disciples heard this, they were utterly astonished and asked, "Then who can be saved?"

NLT: The disciples were astounded. 'Then who in the world can be saved?' they asked.

KJV: When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved?

NKJV: When His disciples heard it, they were greatly astonished, saying, “Who then can be saved?”

Jesus' statements constantly surprised the disciples. He had just said it would be easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God (Matthew 19:24). The disciples are floored. Like so many others, their culture held a spiritually backwards idea about wealth.

The assumption was that wealthy people were more favored by God than everyone else. Common wisdom of the time claimed that people were rich because God was blessing them in response to their worthiness. From the disciples' point of view, there was no reason for God to bless someone with riches if that person wasn't "worthy."

The truth is that wealthy people are no more or less likely to be good than anyone else. Money is not an indicator of God's favor, necessarily. Success is certainly more likely when we follow godly wisdom (Proverbs 3:1–4). Yet people sometimes become wealthy by refusing to do good. Israel's great prophet Jeremiah understood this and asked God about it: "Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why do all who are treacherous thrive?" (Jeremiah 12:1). Jeremiah's exaggeration aside, not all treacherous people thrive. Still, many seem to. The Jewish people of Jesus' day reached the conclusion that wealthy people were closer to God by taking on ungodly assumptions from the world around them.

Jesus' point has been that the humility of simple faith is required to enter the kingdom of heaven. Rich people—those who find it easy to get what they want and fix earthly problems with money—will find it more difficult to humble themselves. Admitting they need someone else to provide for them is an unnatural experience. This can apply to more than money. Those who rely on their intellect, or looks, or power, can fall into the same trap.

The disciples are essentially asking, "if those we think are blessed by God cannot be saved, then who can be saved? What hope is there for the rest of us?"

They might have expected Jesus to refer to humility or to reemphasize being poor in spirit (Matthew 5:3). Instead, He says something else astounding: that it is, in fact, impossible…at least for mankind.

Matthew 19:16–30 describes Jesus' conversation with a wealthy young man who asks how to attain eternal life. Jesus begins by establishing a standard of goodness, suggesting the man keep all the commandments. When the man says he has done this, Jesus suggests he give up his wealth to follow Him. The man's sad reaction proves he's unwilling to make God the real priority of his life. Using this as an example, Jesus warns that wealth can make it difficult for someone to accept salvation.

Pharisees ask Jesus if it is lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any cause. Jesus reminds them marriage was designed by God at creation. Divorce, then, is lawful only in the case of sexual immorality. A rich young man asks Jesus what good thing he must do to have eternal life. Jesus insists only God is good. He challenges the man's sincerity by asking him to give all his wealth to the poor and follow Him. The man's refusal demonstrates how easy it is to prefer wealth to dependence on God. In response to the disciples' question, Jesus says salvation is impossible with men but not with God.

Matthew 19 follows Jesus' teachings about temptation and forgiveness in chapter 18. This passage begins with Jesus leaving behind Galilee and heading toward Jerusalem the long way around. Jesus tells the Pharisees that divorce is legal only in cases of sexual immorality. Jesus blesses little children and then answers a rich young man who asks how to have eternal life. The man leaves sad after Jesus challenges him to give his money to the poor and follow Him. Jesus says salvation is impossible with men, but not with God. Chapter 20 contains additional parables and examples, and is the last before Jesus arrives in Jerusalem in the days just prior to His crucifixion.

The Gospel of Matthew clearly shows the influence of its writer's background, and his effort to reach a specific audience. Matthew was one of Jesus' twelve disciples, a Jewish man, and a former tax collector. This profession would have required literacy, and Matthew may have transcribed some of Jesus' words as they were spoken. This book is filled with references to the Old Testament, demonstrating to Israel that Jesus is the Promised One. Matthew also includes many references to coins, likely due to his former profession. Matthew records extensive accounts of Jesus' teaching, more than the other three Gospels.