Jesus (i.e. Jehoshua) · noun — nominative singular masculine, a proper name
that
ἸδὼνIdōn
G1492
used only in certain past tenses · verb — second aorist active participle, nominative singular masculine
he
αὐτὸνauton
G846
the reflexive pronoun self · personal pronoun — accusative singular masculine
was
γενόμενονgenomenon
G1096
to cause to be ("gen"-erate) · verb — second aorist middle deponent participle, accusative singular masculine
sorrowful
περίλυπονperilupon
G4036
grieved all around · adjective — accusative singular masculine
said
εἶπεν·eipen
G2036
to speak or say (by word or writing) · verb — second aorist active indicative, 3rd person singular
How
πῶςpōs
G4459
an interrogative particle of manner · particle — interrogative
hardly
δυσκόλωςduskolōs
G1423
impracticably · adverb
shall
εἰσέρχομαιeisérchomai
G1525
to enter (literally or figuratively)
they that
ὁho
G3588
the (sometimes to be supplied · article — nominative singular masculine
have
ἔχοντεςechontes
G2192
to hold (used in very various applications · verb — present active participle, nominative plural masculine
riches
χρήματαchrēmata
G5536
something useful or needed · noun — accusative plural neuter
enter
εἰσέρχομαιeisérchomai
G1525
to enter (literally or figuratively)
into
εἰςeis
G1519
to or into (indicating the point reached or entered) · preposition
the kingdom
βασιλείανbasileian
G932
properly · noun — accusative singular feminine
of God
θεοῦtheou
G2316
figuratively · noun — genitive singular masculine, a title
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (James Strong, 1890/1894), public domain; digitized by Open Scriptures (CC BY-SA). KJV word tagging: eBible.org (public domain). Original-language text, parsing and brief lexicon: STEPBible.org data from Tyndale House, Cambridge (CC BY 4.0).
Cross-references
Proverbs 11:28 He that trusteth in his riches shall fall: but the righteous shall flourish as a branch.
Proverbs 30:9 Lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, Who is the LORD? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain.
Mark 10:23-27 And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto his disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!
James 2:5-7 Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to t…
Psalms 10:3 For the wicked boasteth of his heart’s desire, and blesseth the covetous, whom the LORD abhorreth.
Matthew 19:23-25 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven.
2 Corinthians 7:9-10 Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might r…
1 Timothy 6:9-10 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and per…
Cross-references from OpenBible.info (CC BY), in the lineage of the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (public domain).
Commentary
Matthew Henry on Luke 18:18-30
In these verses we have,
I. Christ's discourse with a ruler, that had a good mind to be directed by him in the way to heaven. In which we may observe,
1. It is a blessed sight to see persons of distinction in the world distinguish themselves from others of their rank by their concern about their souls and another life. Luke takes notice of it that he was a ruler. Few of the rulers had any esteem for Christ, but here was one that had; whether a church or state ruler does not appear, but he was one in authority.
2. The great thing we are every one of us concerned to enquire after is what we shall do to get to heaven, what we shall do to inherit eternal life. This implies such a belief of an et…
when Jesus saw--Mark says (Mar 3:34), He "looked round about"--as if first following the departing youth with His eye--"and saith unto His disciples."
How hardly, &c.--with what difficulty. In Mark (Mar 10:24) an explanation is added, "How hard is it for them that trust in riches," &c.--that is, with what difficulty is this idolatrous trust conquered, without which they cannot enter; and this is introduced by the word "children"--sweet diminutive of affection and pity (Joh 21:5).
Adam Clarke on Luke 18:24
How hardly shall they that have riches, etc. - See the notes on this discourse of our Lord, on Mat 19:21-30 (note), and Mar 10:30 (note).
John Gill on Luke 18:24
And when Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful,.... As he might, by his looks and gestures; and perceived that he was determined not to part with his possessions, and follow him:
he said to his disciples, how hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God! embrace the Gospel, and submit to the ordinances of it; deny themselves, part with their worldly substance for the cause of Christ, and interest of religion. Riches, which should be a reason for, are often a bar unto a profession of Christ, and his Gospel. This is delivered as an affirmation, or by way of assertion; see Gill on Matthew 19:23.
The Church Fathers
What am I to fasten on as the cause of this madness, except the weakness of faith, ever prone, to the concupiscences of worldly joys?-which, indeed, is chiefly found among the wealthier; for the more any is rich, and inflated with the name of "matron," the more capacious house does she require for her burdens, as it were a field wherein ambition may run its course. To such the churches look paltry. A rich man is a difficult thing (to find) in the house of God; and if such an one is (found there), difficult (is it to find such) unmarried.
"How hard it is for those who have riches to enter into the kingdom of God! 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!" When all the saints heard this command, they thought they should withdraw from this hardness of riches. They parted with all their goods. By this distribution of their riches to the poor, they laid up for themselves eternal riches. They took up the cross and followed Christ. Some followed, being made perfect by martyrdom, even as I have already told you, while others by the practice of self-denial did not fall short of them in the life of the true philosophy. Know that this is a command of Christ our King and God that leads us from corruptible things and makes us partakers of everlasting things.
As the ruler therefore was too infirm of purpose, and could not be prevailed upon even to listen to the advice of selling his possessions, although it would have been good for him, and full of reward, our Lord lays bare the malady which has its lair in the rich, thus saying, "How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God! And I say unto you, that it is easier for a camel to enter in through the eye of a needle, than a rich man into the kingdom of God." Now by a camel He means not the animal of that name, but a thick cable rather: for it is the custom of those well versed in navigation to call the thicker cables "camels." Observe however, that He does not altogether cut away the hope of the rich, but reserves for them a place and way of salvation. For He did not say that it is impossible for a rich man to enter in, but that he does so with difficulty.
The Church Fathers: public-domain translations (Ante-Nicene and Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers), verse-indexed by SermonIndex (CC BY 4.0).
Rich, The · General scriptures concerning — General scriptures concerning
Riches · General scriptures concerning — General scriptures concerning
Dictionary: Easton's (1897) and Smith's (1863), public domain. Topics: Nave's Topical Bible (1896) and Torrey's Topical Textbook (1897), public domain. Both as parsed by NEUU (CC BY 4.0).
John Calvin on Luke 18:24-27
Luke 18:24-27
Matthew 19:23-26
Mark 10:23-27
Luke 18:24-27
23. And Jesus said to his disciples, Verily I say to you, A rich man will with difficulty enter into the kingdom of heaven. 24. Again I say to you, It is easier for a camel [630] to pass through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. 25. And his disciples, when they had heard these things, were greatly amazed, [631] saying, Who then can be saved? 26. And Jesus, beholding them, said to them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.
23. And when Jesus had looked around, he said to his disciples, With what difficulty shall they who have riches enter into the kingdom of G…
How hard it is for the rich to enter the Kingdom of God! Though Scripture sometimes speaks of riches as a blessing from God (2 Chr 1:11-12; Pss 112:3; 128:2; Prov 8:18; Isa 61:6), many passages warn against the danger of trusting riches instead of God (Ps 62:10; Prov 11:28; Jer 9:23-24; 49:4-5). • the eye of a needle: See study note on Mark 10:25. This is not merely difficult, but impossible. No one can be saved while trusting in riches. Salvation comes only by dependence on God (Luke 18:27).
