Focused Passage

Luke 18:18-30

Persistent Faith, Humble Mercy, and the King on the Road to Jerusalem

Jesus teaches disciples to persist in prayer, contrasts self-righteousness with humble mercy-seeking, welcomes childlike kingdom receivers, exposes wealth as a rival master, foretells his suffering and resurrection, and gives sight to a blind beggar who recognizes him as Son of David.

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

18 Then a certain ruler asked Him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

19 “Why do you call Me good?” Jesus replied. “No one is good except God alone.

20 You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery, do not murder, do not steal, do not bear false witness, honor your father and mother.’”

21 “All these I have kept from my youth,” he said.

22 On hearing this, Jesus told him, “You still lack one thing: Sell everything you own and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow Me.”

23 But when the ruler heard this, he became very sad, because he was extremely wealthy.

24 Seeing the man’s sadness, Jesus said, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!

25 Indeed, it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”

26 Those who heard this asked, “Who then can be saved?”

27 But Jesus said, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.”

28 “Look,” said Peter, “we have left all we had to follow You.”

29 “Truly I tell you,” Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or wife or brothers or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God

30 will fail to receive many times more in this age—and in the age to come, eternal life.”

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 18

Original words

Then Καὶ G2532 Conjunction a certain τις G5100 Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Singular ruler ἄρχων G758 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular asked ἐπηρώτησέν G1905 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular Him αὐτὸν G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Singular - λέγων G3004 Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular Good ἀγαθέ G18 Adjective - Vocative Masculine Singular Teacher Διδάσκαλε G1320 Noun - Vocative Masculine Singular what τί G5101 Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Singular must I do ποιήσας G4160 Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular to inherit κληρονομήσω G2816 Verb - Future Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular eternal αἰώνιον G166 Adjective - Accusative Feminine Singular life ζωὴν G2222 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Verse 19

Original words

Why Τί G5101 Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Singular do you call λέγεις G3004 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular Me με G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 1st Person Singular good ἀγαθόν G18 Adjective - Accusative Masculine Singular - δὲ G1161 Conjunction - G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular Jesus Ἰησοῦς G2424 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular replied Εἶπεν G2036 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular - αὐτῷ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Singular No one [is] οὐδεὶς G3762 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular good ἀγαθὸς G18 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular except εἰ G1487 Conjunction . . . μὴ G3361 Adverb - G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular God Θεός G2316 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular alone εἷς G1520 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular
Verse 20

Original words

You know οἶδας G1492 Verb - Perfect Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular the τὰς G3588 Article - Accusative Feminine Plural commandments ἐντολὰς G1785 Noun - Accusative Feminine Plural vvv Μὴ G3361 Adverb Do not commit adultery μοιχεύσῃς G3431 Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 2nd Person Singular vvv Μὴ G3361 Adverb do not murder φονεύσῃς G5407 Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 2nd Person Singular vvv Μὴ G3361 Adverb do not steal κλέψῃς G2813 Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 2nd Person Singular vvv Μὴ G3361 Adverb do not bear false witness ψευδομαρτυρήσῃς G5576 Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 2nd Person Singular honor Τίμα G5091 Verb - Present Imperative Active - 2nd Person Singular your σου G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 2nd Person Singular - τὸν G3588 Article - Accusative Masculine Singular father πατέρα G3962 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction - τὴν G3588 Article - Accusative Feminine Singular mother μητέρα G3384 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular

BSB notes

  • Exodus 20:12–16; Deuteronomy 5:16–20
Verse 21

Original words

All πάντα G3956 Adjective - Accusative Neuter Plural these Ταῦτα G3778 Demonstrative Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Plural I have kept ἐφύλαξα G5442 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular from ἐκ G1537 Preposition my μου G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Singular youth νεότητος G3503 Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular - δὲ G1161 Conjunction - G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular he said εἶπεν G2036 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Verse 22

Original words

On δὲ G1161 Conjunction hearing this Ἀκούσας G191 Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular - G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular Jesus Ἰησοῦς G2424 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular told εἶπεν G2036 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular him αὐτῷ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Singular You σοι G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 2nd Person Singular still Ἔτι G2089 Adverb lack λείπει G3007 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular one thing ἕν G1520 Adjective - Nominative Neuter Singular Sell πώλησον G4453 Verb - Aorist Imperative Active - 2nd Person Singular everything πάντα G3956 Adjective - Accusative Neuter Plural . . . ὅσα G3745 Personal / Relative Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Plural you own ἔχεις G2192 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction give διάδος G1239 Verb - Aorist Imperative Active - 2nd Person Singular to [the] poor πτωχοῖς G4434 Adjective - Dative Masculine Plural and καὶ G2532 Conjunction you will have ἕξεις G2192 Verb - Future Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular treasure θησαυρὸν G2344 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular in ἐν G1722 Preposition - τοῖς G3588 Article - Dative Masculine Plural heaven οὐρανοῖς G3772 Noun - Dative Masculine Plural Then καὶ G2532 Conjunction come δεῦρο G1204 Verb - Imperative - 2nd Person Singular follow ἀκολούθει G190 Verb - Present Imperative Active - 2nd Person Singular Me μοι G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 1st Person Singular
Verse 23

Original words

But δὲ G1161 Conjunction - G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular when [the ruler] heard ἀκούσας G191 Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular this ταῦτα G3778 Demonstrative Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Plural he became ἐγενήθη G1096 Verb - Aorist Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Singular very sad περίλυπος G4036 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular because γὰρ G1063 Conjunction he was ἦν G1510 Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular extremely σφόδρα G4970 Adverb wealthy πλούσιος G4145 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular
Verse 24

Original words

- δὲ G1161 Conjunction Seeing Ἰδὼν G3708 Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular [the man’s] αὐτὸν G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Singular vvv γενόμενον G1096 Verb - Aorist Participle Middle - Accusative Masculine Singular sadness περίλυπον G4036 Adjective - Accusative Masculine Singular - G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular Jesus Ἰησοῦς G2424 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular said εἶπεν G2036 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular How Πῶς G4459 Adverb hard [it is] δυσκόλως G1423 Adverb for the οἱ G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Plural - τὰ G3588 Article - Accusative Neuter Plural vvv ἔχοντες G2192 Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural rich χρήματα G5536 Noun - Accusative Neuter Plural to enter εἰσπορεύονται G1531 Verb - Present Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Plural . . . εἰς G1519 Preposition the τὴν G3588 Article - Accusative Feminine Singular kingdom βασιλείαν G932 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular - τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Singular of God Θεοῦ G2316 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular

BSB notes

  • Literally Seeing that he had become sorrowful; SBL, NE, and WH Seeing him
Verse 25

Original words

Indeed γάρ G1063 Conjunction it is ἐστιν G1510 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular easier for εὐκοπώτερον G2123 Adjective - Nominative Neuter Singular - Comparative a camel κάμηλον G2574 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular to pass εἰσελθεῖν G1525 Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active through διὰ G1223 Preposition the eye τρήματος G5169 Noun - Genitive Neuter Singular of a needle βελόνης G956 Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular than for G2228 Conjunction a rich man πλούσιον G4145 Adjective - Accusative Masculine Singular to enter εἰσελθεῖν G1525 Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active . . . εἰς G1519 Preposition the τὴν G3588 Article - Accusative Feminine Singular kingdom βασιλείαν G932 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular - τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Singular of God Θεοῦ G2316 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Verse 26

Original words

- δὲ G1161 Conjunction Those who οἱ G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Plural heard [this] ἀκούσαντες G191 Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural asked Εἶπαν G2036 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural Who τίς G5101 Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Singular then Καὶ G2532 Conjunction can δύναται G1410 Verb - Present Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Singular be saved σωθῆναι G4982 Verb - Aorist Infinitive Passive
Verse 27

Original words

But δὲ G1161 Conjunction - G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular [Jesus] said εἶπεν G2036 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular What [is] Τὰ G3588 Article - Nominative Neuter Plural impossible ἀδύνατα G102 Adjective - Nominative Neuter Plural with παρὰ G3844 Preposition man ἀνθρώποις G444 Noun - Dative Masculine Plural is ἐστιν G1510 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular possible δυνατὰ G1415 Adjective - Nominative Neuter Plural with παρὰ G3844 Preposition - τῷ G3588 Article - Dative Masculine Singular God Θεῷ G2316 Noun - Dative Masculine Singular
Verse 28

Original words

Look Ἰδοὺ G2400 Verb - Aorist Imperative Active - 2nd Person Singular - δὲ G1161 Conjunction - G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular said Εἶπεν G2036 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular Peter Πέτρος G4074 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular we ἡμεῖς G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 1st Person Plural have left ἀφέντες G863 Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural vvv τὰ G3588 Article - Accusative Neuter Plural all we had ἴδια G2398 Adjective - Accusative Neuter Plural to follow ἠκολουθήσαμέν G190 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 1st Person Plural You σοι G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 2nd Person Singular

BSB notes

  • Literally left our own; BYZ and TR left all
Verse 29

Original words

Truly Ἀμὴν G281 Hebrew Word I tell λέγω G3004 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular you ὑμῖν G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 2nd Person Plural - δὲ G1161 Conjunction - G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular [Jesus] replied εἶπεν G2036 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular - αὐτοῖς G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Plural - ὅτι G3754 Conjunction - ἐστιν G1510 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular no one οὐδείς G3762 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular who ὃς G3739 Personal / Relative Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Singular has left ἀφῆκεν G863 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular home οἰκίαν G3614 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular or G2228 Conjunction wife γυναῖκα G1135 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular or G2228 Conjunction brothers ἀδελφοὺς G80 Noun - Accusative Masculine Plural or G2228 Conjunction parents γονεῖς G1118 Noun - Accusative Masculine Plural or G2228 Conjunction children τέκνα G5043 Noun - Accusative Neuter Plural for the sake of ἕνεκεν G1752 Preposition the τῆς G3588 Article - Genitive Feminine Singular kingdom βασιλείας G932 Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular - τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Singular of God Θεοῦ G2316 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Verse 30

Original words

vvv ὃς G3739 Personal / Relative Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Singular vvv οὐχὶ G3780 Adverb vvv μὴ G3361 Adverb will fail to receive ἀπολάβῃ* G618 Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 3rd Person Singular many times more πολλαπλασίονα G4179 Adjective - Accusative Neuter Plural in ἐν G1722 Preposition this τούτῳ G3778 Demonstrative Pronoun - Dative Masculine Singular - τῷ G3588 Article - Dative Masculine Singular age καιρῷ G2540 Noun - Dative Masculine Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction in ἐν G1722 Preposition the τῷ G3588 Article - Dative Masculine Singular age αἰῶνι G165 Noun - Dative Masculine Singular - τῷ G3588 Article - Dative Masculine Singular to come ἐρχομένῳ G2064 Verb - Present Participle Middle or Passive - Dative Masculine Singular eternal αἰώνιον G166 Adjective - Accusative Feminine Singular life ζωὴν G2222 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular

Berean Standard Bible (BSB): CC0 Public Domain Scripture text. Focused passages are drawn from the same reader contract as the full chapter. Reference sources explains external study-link sources.