# Matthew 19.23-24

<!-- 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/))
> 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> 22. <span class="rl-speech">But when the young man heard the saying, he went away sorrowful; for he was one that had great possessions.</span>
>
> **23. And Jesus said unto his disciples, <span class="rl-speech">Verily I say unto you, It is hard for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of heaven.</span> 24. <span class="rl-speech">And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.</span>**
>
> 25. <span class="rl-speech">And when the disciples heard it, they were astonished exceedingly, saying, Who then can be saved?</span> 26. And Jesus looking upon them said to them, <span class="rl-speech">With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.</span> (Matthew 19:21-26, ASV)

**WEB** ([WEB](/codex/web/))
> 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> 22. But when the young man heard the saying, he went away sad, for he was one who had great possessions.
>
> **23. Jesus said to his disciples, <span class="rl-speech">“Most certainly I say to you, a rich man will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven with difficulty.</span> 24. <span class="rl-speech">Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through a needle’s eye, than for a rich man to enter into God’s Kingdom.”</span>**
>
> 25. <span class="rl-speech">When the disciples heard it, they were exceedingly astonished, saying, “Who then can be saved?”</span> 26. Looking at them, Jesus said, <span class="rl-speech">“With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”</span> (Matthew 19:21-26, WEB)

**KJV** ([KJV](/codex/kjv/))
> 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> 22. <span class="rl-speech">But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.</span>
>
> **23. Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven. 24. And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.**
>
> 25. When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved? 26. But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, <span class="rl-speech">With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.</span> (Matthew 19:21-26, KJV)

**YLT** ([YLT](/codex/ylt/))
> 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> 22. And the young man, having heard the word, went away sorrowful, for he had many possessions;
>
> **23. and Jesus said to his disciples, <span class="rl-speech">'Verily I say to you, that hardly shall a rich man enter into the reign of the heavens;</span> 24. <span class="rl-speech">and again I say to you, it is easier for a camel through the eye of a needle to go, than for a rich man to enter into the reign of God.'</span>**
>
> 25. <span class="rl-speech">And his disciples having heard, were amazed exceedingly, saying, 'Who, then, is able to be saved?'</span> 26. <span class="rl-speech">And Jesus having earnestly beheld, said to them, 'With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.'</span> (Matthew 19:21-26, 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

- [G932 - basileia](/codex/g932-basileia/), *basileia* (Strong's G932). Also appears in: [Matthew 4.23](/codex/matthew-4-23/), [Matthew 5.17-20](/codex/matthew-5-17-20/), [Matthew 6.25-34](/codex/matthew-6-25-34/).
- [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/).

## 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:**

- [Argument from the Anomalous Humor Convergence](/codex/argument-from-the-anomalous-humor-convergence/), via [Matthew 19.24](/codex/matthew-19-24/)
- [Mustard Seed Smallest Seed Objection Defeater](/codex/mustard-seed-smallest-seed-objection-defeater/), via [Matthew 19.24](/codex/matthew-19-24/)

**Concepts:**

- [Jesus Said](/codex/jesus-said/), via [Matthew 19](/codex/matthew-19/)
- [Kingdom Business](/codex/kingdom-business/), via [Matthew 19.23](/codex/matthew-19-23/)

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