The Rich Young Ruler

¹⁷As Jesus was heading out on the road, a man came running up and dropped to his knees before him. "Good Teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?" ¹⁸Jesus said to him, "Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. ¹⁹“You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery,’ ‘Do not kill,’ ‘Do not steal,’ ‘Do not bear false witness,’ ‘Do not defraud,’ ‘Honor your father and mother.’” ²⁰"Teacher," the man replied, "I've kept all of these since I was young." ²¹Jesus looked at him and loved him. "There's one thing you're missing," he said. "Go sell everything you own and give to the poor. You'll have treasure in heaven. Then come, take up the cross, and follow me." ²²The man's face fell when he heard this, and he walked away grieved — because he was very wealthy. ²³Jesus looked around at his disciples and said, "How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!" ²⁴The disciples were stunned by his words. But Jesus said again, "Children, how hard it is for those who trust in riches to enter the kingdom of God! ²⁵It's easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God." ²⁶They were completely astonished and said to each other, "Then who can possibly be saved?" ²⁷Jesus looked at them and said, "For people, it's impossible. But not for God — because all things are possible with God." ²⁸Peter spoke up: "We've left everything behind to follow you." ²⁹Jesus answered, “Truly, I tell you, there is no one who has left a house, brothers, sisters, father, mother, wife, children, or lands for my sake and the gospel’s, ³⁰who will not receive one hundred times as much now in this time—houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and lands, along with persecutions—and in the world to come, eternal life.” ³¹But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first."