Matthew 19:26 - Printer Friendly

ESV: But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

NIV: Jesus looked at them and said, 'With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.'

NASB: And looking at them, Jesus said to them, 'With people this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.'

CSB: Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."

NLT: Jesus looked at them intently and said, 'Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But with God everything is possible.'

KJV: But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.

NKJV: But Jesus looked at them and said to them, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

The disciples' jaws may have dropped when Jesus said it was easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to get into the kingdom of God. Their culture thought of rich people as favored by God and able to accomplish anything. When Jesus says the rich can't attain heaven, it would have left them wondering how anyone, at all, could hope to attain salvation.

Christ responds with another shocking remark, one that might have been confusing at first. The disciples likely expected Jesus to say that only those who are truly humble or poor in spirit can be saved (Matthew 5:3). Or, that only those with childlike faith and dependence on God can be saved (Matthew 19:13–15). He says none of that. Instead, Jesus agrees with the disciples that it is impossible— "with man"—for anyone to be saved.

This expands on Jesus' earlier statements about how difficult it is for the wealthy to be saved (Matthew 19:23–24). In human terms, no one can achieve salvation (Titus 3:5). This goes back to Jesus' conversation with the rich young ruler who discovered his own goodness was not so good, after all (Matthew 19:16–22). Jesus had said that only God is good with the implication that only the good can be saved. So not just the rich, but the poor and the middle class and the religious and sinners are all in the same boat. It is impossible for human beings to do any good thing to secure eternal life with God in heaven.

That's not the end of Jesus' statement, though. He says that with God all things are possible. He does not close the door on human salvation, but He does declare that God must bring it about. He does not, at this time, explain how God will bring it about: through His death on the cross for the sins of humanity.

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.