# Matthew 19.16-19

<!-- type: passage | created: 2026-05-06 | updated: 2026-05-06 -->

**Book:** [Matthew](/codex/matthew-the-apostle/) · ASV / WEB / KJV / YLT

## Immediate context (±2 verses)

**ASV** ([ASV](/codex/asv/))
> 14. But Jesus said, <span class="rl-speech">Suffer the little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for to such belongeth the kingdom of heaven.</span> 15. <span class="rl-speech">And he laid his hands on them, and departed thence.</span>
>
> **16. <span class="rl-speech">And behold, one came to him and said, Teacher, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?</span> 17. And he said unto him, <span class="rl-speech">Why askest thou me concerning that which is good? One there is who is good: but if thou wouldest enter into life, keep the commandments.</span> 18. He saith unto him, <span class="rl-speech">Which?</span> And Jesus said, <span class="rl-speech">Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness,</span> 19. <span class="rl-speech">Honor thy father and mother; and, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.</span>**
>
> 20. The young man saith unto him, All these things have I observed: what lack I yet? 21. Jesus said unto him, <span class="rl-speech">If thou wouldest be perfect, go, sell that which thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me.</span> (Matthew 19:14-21, ASV)

**WEB** ([WEB](/codex/web/))
> 14. But Jesus said, <span class="rl-speech">“Allow the little children, and don’t forbid them to come to me; for the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to ones like these.”</span> 15. He laid his hands on them, and departed from there.
>
> **16. Behold, one came to him and said, “Good teacher, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?” 17. He said to him, <span class="rl-speech">“Why do you call me good? No one is good but one, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.”</span> 18. He said to him, <span class="rl-speech">“Which ones?”</span> Jesus said, <span class="rl-speech">“‘You shall not murder.’ ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ ‘You shall not steal.’ ‘You shall not offer false testimony.’</span> 19. <span class="rl-speech">‘Honor your father and your mother.’ And, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’</span>”**
>
> 20. The young man said to him, “All these things I have observed from my youth. What do I still lack?” 21. Jesus said to him, <span class="rl-speech">“If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have, and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.”</span> (Matthew 19:14-21, WEB)

**KJV** ([KJV](/codex/kjv/))
> 14. But Jesus said, <span class="rl-speech">Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.</span> 15. <span class="rl-speech">And he laid his hands on them, and departed thence.</span>
>
> **16. <span class="rl-speech">And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?</span> 17. And he said unto him, <span class="rl-speech">Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.</span> 18. He saith unto him, <span class="rl-speech">Which?</span> Jesus said, <span class="rl-speech">Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness,</span> 19. <span class="rl-speech">Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.</span>**
>
> 20. The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet? 21. Jesus said unto him, <span class="rl-speech">If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.</span> (Matthew 19:14-21, KJV)

**YLT** ([YLT](/codex/ylt/))
> 14. But Jesus said, <span class="rl-speech">'Suffer the children, and forbid them not, to come unto me, for of such is the reign of the heavens;'</span> 15. and having laid on them [his] hands, he departed thence.
>
> **16. And lo, one having come near, said to him, 'Good teacher, what good thing shall I do, that I may have life age-during?' 17. And he said to him, <span class="rl-speech">'Why me dost thou call good? no one [is] good except One, God; but if thou dost will to enter into the life, keep the commands.'</span> 18. He saith to him, <span class="rl-speech">'What kind?'</span> And Jesus said, <span class="rl-speech">'Thou shalt not kill, thou shalt not commit adultery, thou shalt not steal, thou shalt not bear false witness,</span> 19. <span class="rl-speech">honour thy father and mother, and, thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.'</span>**
>
> 20. The young man saith to him, 'All these did I keep from my youth; what yet do I lack?' 21. Jesus said to him, <span class="rl-speech">'If thou dost will to be perfect, go away, sell what thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven, and come, follow me.'</span> (Matthew 19:14-21, YLT)

## Setting

- **Speaker:** Matthew (traditionally) the tax-collector-apostle / narrator + Jesus's direct teaching
- **Audience:** Jewish-Christian audience (heavy OT-fulfillment emphasis)
- **Location:** first-century Palestine (events); possibly Antioch (composition)
- **Time period:** events c. 4 BC, AD 30/33; composed c. AD 60-80

## Theological reading

## Key words

- [G0166 - aionios](/codex/g0166-aionios/), *aionios* (Strong's G166). Also appears in: [Matthew 19](/codex/matthew-19/), [Matthew 25.46](/codex/matthew-25-46/), [Mark 3.20-30](/codex/mark-3-20-30/).
- [G1520 - heis](/codex/g1520-heis/), *heis* (Strong's G1520). Also appears in: [Matthew 5.17-18](/codex/matthew-5-17-18/), [Matthew 6.24](/codex/matthew-6-24/), [Matthew 6.25-34](/codex/matthew-6-25-34/).
- [G2222 - zoe](/codex/g2222-zoe/), *zoe* (Strong's G2222). Also appears in: [Matthew 7.13-14](/codex/matthew-7-13-14/), [Matthew 19](/codex/matthew-19/), [Matthew 25.46](/codex/matthew-25-46/).
- [G2316 - theos](/codex/g2316-theos/), *theos* (Strong's G2316). Also appears in: [Matthew 1.23](/codex/matthew-1-23/), [Matthew 3.16](/codex/matthew-3-16/), [Matthew 5.9](/codex/matthew-5-9/).
- [G2424 - Iesous](/codex/g2424-iesous/), *Iesous* (Strong's G2424). Also appears in: [Matthew 1.1](/codex/matthew-1-1/), [Matthew 1.16](/codex/matthew-1-16/), [Matthew 1.18](/codex/matthew-1-18/).
- [G3962 - pater](/codex/g3962-pater/), *pater* (Strong's G3962). Also appears in: [Matthew 5.48](/codex/matthew-5-48/), [Matthew 6.25-26](/codex/matthew-6-25-26/), [Matthew 6.25-34](/codex/matthew-6-25-34/).

## Why these four translations

ris3n chose ASV, WEB, KJV, and YLT for two reasons together. They are the **most literal English translations available** (formal-equivalence: word-for-word renderings that preserve the Hebrew and Greek grammar rather than smoothing it into modern dynamic-equivalence idiom). And they are in the **public domain in the United States**, which means fair-use quotation at any length requires no publisher license. Modern licensed translations (NASB95, ESV, NIV) restrict volume of quotation under their copyright terms, so they are not used at stub-level coverage here. NASB95 appears only on hand-curated rich passage hubs under Lockman Foundation's fair-use allowance.

The four:

- **[ASV](/codex/asv/)** (American Standard Version, 1901). The basis of the modern critical-text English tradition.
- **[WEB](/codex/web/)** (World English Bible, contemporary). Public-domain revision in the ASV line, in current English.
- **[KJV](/codex/kjv/)** (King James Version, 1611). Reformation-era, Textus Receptus base.
- **[YLT](/codex/ylt/)** (Young's Literal Translation, Robert Young, 1862). Hyper-literal preservation of Hebrew and Greek grammar; useful for word-study work even where English reads stiff.

See [Bibles](/codex/bibles/) for the full per-translation history, translators, textual basis, strengths, and weaknesses.

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## Quoted in

**Arguments and defeaters:**

- [Jesus Said Only God Is Good Objection Defeater](/codex/jesus-said-only-god-is-good-objection-defeater/), via [Matthew 19.16-17](/codex/matthew-19-16-17/), [Matthew 19.17](/codex/matthew-19-17/)
- [Paul Invented Christianity Objection Defeater](/codex/paul-invented-christianity-objection-defeater/), via [Matthew 19.17](/codex/matthew-19-17/)

**Concepts:**

- [Jesus Said](/codex/jesus-said/), via [Matthew 19](/codex/matthew-19/)
- [Young's Literal Translation](/codex/ylt/), via [Matthew 19.16-17](/codex/matthew-19-16-17/)

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