Focused Passage

Matthew 19:16-30

Marriage from Creation, Children Received, Riches Renounced, and the Reward of Following Christ

Matthew moves from Jesus’ geographical transition toward Judea, to healing crowds, to Pharisaic testing about divorce, to Jesus’ creation-grounded teaching on marriage, to the disciples’ question about singleness, to Jesus’ reception of children, to the rich young man’s failure to follow, to Jesus’ warning about riches, to the impossibility of salvation apart from God, and finally to the promise of reward in the renewal of all things.

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

16 Just then a man came up to Jesus and inquired, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to obtain eternal life?”

17 “Why do you ask Me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, keep the commandments.”

18 “Which ones?” the man asked. Jesus answered, “‘Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not bear false witness,

19 honor your father and mother, and love your neighbor as yourself.’”

20 “All these I have kept,” said the young man. “What do I still lack?”

21 Jesus told him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow Me.”

22 When the young man heard this, he went away in sorrow, because he had great wealth.

23 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “Truly I tell you, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.

24 Again I tell you, 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.”

25 When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, “Who then can be saved?”

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

27 “Look,” Peter replied, “we have left everything to follow You. What then will there be for us?”

28 Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, in the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on His glorious throne, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

29 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or fields for the sake of My name will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life.

30 But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 16

Original words

Just then Καὶ G2532 Conjunction . . . ἰδοὺ G2400 Verb - Aorist Imperative Active - 2nd Person Singular a man εἷς G1520 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular came up προσελθὼν G4334 Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular to [Jesus] αὐτῷ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Singular [and] inquired εἶπεν G2036 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular Teacher Διδάσκαλε G1320 Noun - Vocative Masculine Singular what τί G5101 Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Singular good [thing] ἀγαθὸν G18 Adjective - Accusative Neuter Singular must I do ποιήσω G4160 Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 1st Person Singular to ἵνα G2443 Conjunction obtain σχῶ G2192 Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 1st Person Singular eternal αἰώνιον G166 Adjective - Accusative Feminine Singular life ζωὴν G2222 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Verse 17

Original words

Why Τί G5101 Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Singular do you ask ἐρωτᾷς G2065 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular Me με G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 1st Person Singular about περὶ G4012 Preposition what is τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Neuter Singular good ἀγαθοῦ G18 Adjective - Genitive Neuter Singular - δὲ G1161 Conjunction - G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular [Jesus] replied εἶπεν G2036 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular . . . αὐτῷ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Singular There is ἐστιν G1510 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular only One εἷς G1520 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular who is G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular good ἀγαθός G18 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular - δὲ G1161 Conjunction If εἰ G1487 Conjunction you want θέλεις G2309 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular to enter εἰσελθεῖν G1525 Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active . . . εἰς G1519 Preposition - τὴν G3588 Article - Accusative Feminine Singular life ζωὴν G2222 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular keep τήρησον* G5083 Verb - Aorist Imperative Active - 2nd Person Singular the τὰς G3588 Article - Accusative Feminine Plural commandments ἐντολάς G1785 Noun - Accusative Feminine Plural

BSB notes

  • BYZ and TR 16...“Good Teacher, what good thing must I do to obtain eternal life?” 17“Why do you call Me good?” See Mark 10:17–18 and Luke 18:18–19.
Verse 18

Original words

Which [ones] Ποίας G4169 Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Accusative Feminine Plural [the man] asked Λέγει G3004 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular . . . αὐτῷ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Singular - δὲ G1161 Conjunction - G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular Jesus Ἰησοῦς G2424 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular answered εἶπεν* G2036 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular - Τὸ G3588 Article - Accusative Neuter Singular vvv Οὐ G3756 Adverb Do not murder φονεύσεις G5407 Verb - Future Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular vvv Οὐ G3756 Adverb do not commit adultery μοιχεύσεις G3431 Verb - Future Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular vvv Οὐ G3756 Adverb do not steal κλέψεις G2813 Verb - Future Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular vvv Οὐ G3756 Adverb do not bear false witness ψευδομαρτυρήσεις G5576 Verb - Future Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular
Verse 19

Original words

honor Τίμα G5091 Verb - Present Imperative Active - 2nd Person Singular [your] 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 and καὶ G2532 Conjunction love Ἀγαπήσεις G25 Verb - Future Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular your σου G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 2nd Person Singular - τὸν G3588 Article - Accusative Masculine Singular neighbor πλησίον G4139 Adverb as ὡς G5613 Adverb yourself σεαυτόν G4572 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 2nd Person Singular

BSB notes

  • Exodus 20:12–16; Leviticus 19:18; Deuteronomy 5:16–20
Verse 20

Original words

vvv Ταῦτα G3778 Demonstrative Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Plural All these πάντα G3956 Adjective - Accusative Neuter Plural I have kept ἐφύλαξα G5442 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular said Λέγει G3004 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular the G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular young man νεανίσκος G3495 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular . . . αὐτῷ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Singular What τί G5101 Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Singular vvv ἔτι G2089 Adverb do I still lack ὑστερῶ G5302 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular
Verse 21

Original words

- G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular Jesus Ἰησοῦς G2424 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular told Ἔφη G5346 Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular him αὐτῷ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Singular If Εἰ G1487 Conjunction you want θέλεις G2309 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular to be εἶναι G1510 Verb - Present Infinitive Active perfect τέλειος G5046 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular go ὕπαγε G5217 Verb - Present Imperative Active - 2nd Person Singular sell πώλησόν G4453 Verb - Aorist Imperative Active - 2nd Person Singular your σου G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 2nd Person Singular - τὰ G3588 Article - Accusative Neuter Plural possessions ὑπάρχοντα G5225 Verb - Present Participle Active - Accusative Neuter Plural and καὶ G2532 Conjunction give δὸς G1325 Verb - Aorist Imperative Active - 2nd Person Singular to the τοῖς G3588 Article - Dative Masculine Plural 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 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 22

Original words

[When] δὲ G1161 Conjunction the G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular young man νεανίσκος G3495 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular heard Ἀκούσας G191 Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular this (τοῦτον) G3778 Demonstrative Pronoun - Accusative Masculine Singular - τὸν G3588 Article - Accusative Masculine Singular - λόγον G3056 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular he went away ἀπῆλθεν G565 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular in sorrow λυπούμενος G3076 Verb - Present Participle Middle or Passive - Nominative Masculine Singular because γὰρ G1063 Conjunction he ἦν G1510 Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular had ἔχων G2192 Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular great πολλά G4183 Adjective - Accusative Neuter Plural wealth κτήματα G2933 Noun - Accusative Neuter Plural
Verse 23

Original words

Then δὲ G1161 Conjunction - G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular Jesus Ἰησοῦς G2424 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular said εἶπεν G2036 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular to τοῖς G3588 Article - Dative Masculine Plural His αὐτοῦ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular disciples μαθηταῖς G3101 Noun - Dative Masculine Plural 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 - ὅτι G3754 Conjunction it is hard for δυσκόλως G1423 Adverb a rich man πλούσιος G4145 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular to enter εἰσελεύσεται G1525 Verb - Future Indicative Middle - 3rd Person Singular . . . εἰς G1519 Preposition the τὴν G3588 Article - Accusative Feminine Singular kingdom βασιλείαν G932 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular of τῶν G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Plural heaven οὐρανῶν G3772 Noun - Genitive Masculine Plural
Verse 24

Original words

vvv δὲ G1161 Conjunction Again πάλιν G3825 Adverb I tell λέγω G3004 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular you ὑμῖν G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 2nd Person Plural [it] is ἐστιν G1510 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular easier for εὐκοπώτερόν 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 τρυπήματος G5169 Noun - Genitive Neuter Singular of a needle ῥαφίδος G4476 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 of τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Singular God Θεοῦ G2316 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Verse 25

Original words

When δὲ G1161 Conjunction the οἱ G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Plural disciples μαθηταὶ G3101 Noun - Nominative Masculine Plural heard this Ἀκούσαντες G191 Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural {they were} greatly σφόδρα G4970 Adverb astonished ἐξεπλήσσοντο G1605 Verb - Imperfect Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Plural [and] asked λέγοντες G3004 Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural Who Τίς G5101 Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Singular then ἄρα G686 Conjunction can δύναται G1410 Verb - Present Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Singular be saved σωθῆναι G4982 Verb - Aorist Infinitive Passive
Verse 26

Original words

- δὲ G1161 Conjunction - G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular Jesus Ἰησοῦς G2424 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular looked at [them] Ἐμβλέψας G1689 Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular [and] said εἶπεν G2036 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular . . . αὐτοῖς G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Plural With Παρὰ G3844 Preposition man ἀνθρώποις G444 Noun - Dative Masculine Plural this τοῦτο G3778 Demonstrative Pronoun - Nominative Neuter Singular is ἐστιν G1510 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular impossible ἀδύνατόν G102 Adjective - Nominative Neuter Singular but δὲ G1161 Conjunction with παρὰ G3844 Preposition God Θεῷ G2316 Noun - Dative Masculine Singular all things [are] πάντα G3956 Adjective - Nominative Neuter Plural possible δυνατά G1415 Adjective - Nominative Neuter Plural
Verse 27

Original words

Look Ἰδοὺ G2400 Verb - Aorist Imperative Active - 2nd Person Singular - Τότε G5119 Adverb - G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular Peter Πέτρος G4074 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular replied ἀποκριθεὶς G611 Verb - Aorist Participle Passive - Nominative Masculine Singular . . . εἶπεν G2036 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular . . . αὐτῷ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Singular we ἡμεῖς G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 1st Person Plural have left ἀφήκαμεν G863 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 1st Person Plural everything πάντα G3956 Adjective - Accusative Neuter Plural - καὶ G2532 Conjunction to follow ἠκολουθήσαμέν G190 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 1st Person Plural You σοι G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 2nd Person Singular What τί G5101 Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Nominative Neuter Singular then ἄρα G686 Conjunction will there be ἔσται G1510 Verb - Future Indicative Middle - 3rd Person Singular for us ἡμῖν G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 1st Person Plural
Verse 28

Original words

- δὲ G1161 Conjunction - G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular Jesus Ἰησοῦς G2424 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular said εἶπεν G2036 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular to them αὐτοῖς G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Plural 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 - ὅτι G3754 Conjunction in ἐν G1722 Preposition the τῇ G3588 Article - Dative Feminine Singular renewal of all things παλινγενεσίᾳ G3824 Noun - Dative Feminine Singular when ὅταν G3752 Conjunction the G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular Son Υἱὸς G5207 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular - τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Singular of Man ἀνθρώπου G444 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular sits καθίσῃ G2523 Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 3rd Person Singular on ἐπὶ G1909 Preposition His αὐτοῦ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular glorious δόξης G1391 Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular throne θρόνου G2362 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular you ὑμεῖς G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 2nd Person Plural who οἱ G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Plural have followed ἀκολουθήσαντές G190 Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural Me μοι G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 1st Person Singular - ὑμεῖς* G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 2nd Person Plural vvv καὶ G2532 Conjunction will also sit καθήσεσθε G2521 Verb - Future Indicative Middle - 2nd Person Plural on ἐπὶ G1909 Preposition twelve δώδεκα G1427 Adjective - Accusative Masculine Plural thrones θρόνους G2362 Noun - Accusative Masculine Plural judging κρίνοντες G2919 Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural the τὰς G3588 Article - Accusative Feminine Plural twelve δώδεκα G1427 Adjective - Accusative Feminine Plural tribes φυλὰς G5443 Noun - Accusative Feminine Plural - τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Singular of Israel Ἰσραήλ G2474 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular

BSB notes

  • Or in the regeneration
Verse 29

Original words

And καὶ G2532 Conjunction everyone πᾶς G3956 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular who ὅστις G3748 Personal / Relative Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Singular has left ἀφῆκεν G863 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular houses οἰκίας G3614 Noun - Accusative Feminine Plural or G2228 Conjunction brothers ἀδελφοὺς G80 Noun - Accusative Masculine Plural or G2228 Conjunction sisters ἀδελφὰς G79 Noun - Accusative Feminine Plural or G2228 Conjunction father πατέρα G3962 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular or G2228 Conjunction mother μητέρα G3384 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular or G2228 Conjunction wife γυναῖκα G1135 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular or G2228 Conjunction children τέκνα G5043 Noun - Accusative Neuter Plural or G2228 Conjunction fields ἀγροὺς G68 Noun - Accusative Masculine Plural for the sake of ἕνεκεν G1752 Preposition - τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Neuter Singular My μου* G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Singular name ὀνόματός G3686 Noun - Genitive Neuter Singular will receive λήμψεται G2983 Verb - Future Indicative Middle - 3rd Person Singular a hundredfold ἑκατονταπλασίονα* G1542 Adjective - Accusative Neuter Plural and καὶ G2532 Conjunction will inherit κληρονομήσει G2816 Verb - Future Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular eternal αἰώνιον G166 Adjective - Accusative Feminine Singular life ζωὴν G2222 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular

BSB notes

  • NE, WH, and NA do not include or wife.
Verse 30

Original words

But δὲ G1161 Conjunction many Πολλοὶ G4183 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural [who are] first πρῶτοι G4413 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural will be ἔσονται G1510 Verb - Future Indicative Middle - 3rd Person Plural last ἔσχατοι G2078 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural and καὶ G2532 Conjunction [the] last ἔσχατοι G2078 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural [will be] first πρῶτοι G4413 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural

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.