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21 Jesus said to him, “If you wish to be perfect, go sell your possessions and give the money[a] to the poor, and you will have treasure[b] in heaven. Then come, follow me.” 22 But when the young man heard this he went away sorrowful, for he was very rich.[c]

23 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “I tell you the truth,[d] it will be hard for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven!

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Footnotes

  1. Matthew 19:21 tn The words “the money” are not in the Greek text, but are implied. Direct objects were often omitted in Greek when clear from the context.
  2. Matthew 19:21 sn The call for sacrifice comes with a promise of eternal reward: You will have treasure in heaven. Jesus’ call is a test to see how responsive the man is to God’s direction through him. Will he walk the path God’s agent calls him to walk? For a rich person who got it right, see Zacchaeus in Luke 19:1-10.
  3. Matthew 19:22 tn Grk “he had many possessions.” This term (κτῆμα, ktēma) is often used for land as a possession.
  4. Matthew 19:23 tn Grk “Truly (ἀμήν, amēn), I say to you.”