Luke 18:24
New International Version
Jesus looked at him and said, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!

New Living Translation
When Jesus saw this, he said, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the Kingdom of God!

English Standard Version
Jesus, seeing that he had become sad, said, “How difficult it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!

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

Berean Literal Bible
And having seen him, Jesus became sorrowful, saying, "How difficultly those having riches shall enter into the kingdom of God.

King James Bible
And when Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful, he said, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!

New King James Version
And when Jesus saw that he became very sorrowful, He said, “How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!

New American Standard Bible
And Jesus looked at him and said, “How hard it is for those who are wealthy to enter the kingdom of God!

NASB 1995
And Jesus looked at him and said, “How hard it is for those who are wealthy to enter the kingdom of God!

NASB 1977
And Jesus looked at him and said, “How hard it is for those who are wealthy to enter the kingdom of God!

Legacy Standard Bible
And Jesus looked at him and said, “How hard it is for those who are wealthy to enter the kingdom of God!

Amplified Bible
Jesus looked at him and said, “How difficult it is for those who are wealthy to enter the kingdom of God!

Christian Standard Bible
Seeing that he became sad, Jesus said, “How hard it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Seeing that he became sad, Jesus said, “How hard it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!

American Standard Version
And Jesus seeing him said, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!

Contemporary English Version
Jesus saw how sad the man was. So he said, "It's terribly hard for rich people to get into God's kingdom!

English Revised Version
And Jesus seeing him said, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Jesus watched him and said, "How hard it is for rich people to enter the kingdom of God!

Good News Translation
Jesus saw that he was sad and said, "How hard it is for rich people to enter the Kingdom of God!

International Standard Version
So when Jesus saw how sad he was, he said, "How hard it is for rich people to get into the kingdom of God!

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

NET Bible
When Jesus noticed this, he said, "How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!

New Heart English Bible
And Jesus looked at him and said, "How hard it is for those who have riches to enter into the Kingdom of God.

Webster's Bible Translation
And when Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful, he said, How hardly will they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!

Weymouth New Testament
Jesus saw his sorrow, and said, "With how hard a struggle do the possessors of riches ever enter the Kingdom of God!

World English Bible
Jesus, seeing that he became very sad, said, “How hard it is for those who have riches to enter into God’s Kingdom!
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And Jesus having seen him become very sorrowful, said, “How hardly will those having riches enter into the Kingdom of God!

Berean Literal Bible
And having seen him, Jesus became sorrowful, saying, "How difficultly those having riches shall enter into the kingdom of God.

Young's Literal Translation
And Jesus having seen him become very sorrowful, said, 'How hardly shall those having riches enter into the reign of God!

Smith's Literal Translation
And Jesus having seen him being sorely grieved, said, With how much difficulty shall they having possessions come into the kingdom of God!
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And Jesus seeing him become sorrowful, said: How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Then Jesus, seeing him brought to sorrow, said: “How difficult it is for those who have money to enter into the kingdom of God!

New American Bible
Jesus looked at him [now sad] and said, “How hard it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!

New Revised Standard Version
Jesus looked at him and said, “How hard it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And when Jesus saw that he felt sad, he said, How difficult it is for those who have wealth to enter into the kingdom of God!

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And when Yeshua saw that it grieved him, he said, “How hard it is for those who have wealth to enter the Kingdom of God.”
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
When Jesus saw that he was very sad, he said: How difficult it is for those who have riches to enter into the kingdom of God!

Godbey New Testament
Jesus seeing him said, How hardly will those having riches enter into the kingdom of God!

Haweis New Testament
Then Jesus, observing that he was very sorrowful, said, How difficultly shall they who have riches, enter into the kingdom of God!

Mace New Testament
Jesus perceiving him so very dejected, said, how difficult is it for those, who have riches, to enter into the kingdom of God!

Weymouth New Testament
Jesus saw his sorrow, and said, "With how hard a struggle do the possessors of riches ever enter the Kingdom of God!

Worrell New Testament
And Jesus, seeing him, said, "With what difficulty do those having riches enter into the Kingdom of God!

Worsley New Testament
And when Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful, He said, How difficultly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God?

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Rich Young Ruler
23But 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! 25Indeed, 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.”…

Cross References
Matthew 19:23-24
Then Jesus said to His disciples, “Truly I tell you, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. / 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.”

Mark 10:23-25
Then Jesus looked around and said to His disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!” / And the disciples were amazed at His words. But Jesus said to them again, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! / 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.”

Proverbs 11:28
He who trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will thrive like foliage.

James 5:1-3
Come now, you who are rich, weep and wail over the misery to come upon you. / Your riches have rotted and moths have eaten your clothes. / Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and consume your flesh like fire. You have hoarded treasure in the last days.

1 Timothy 6:9-10
Those who want to be rich, however, fall into temptation and become ensnared by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction. / For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. By craving it, some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.

Matthew 6:19-21
Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. / But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. / For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Revelation 3:17-18
You say, ‘I am rich; I have grown wealthy and need nothing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked. / I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich, white garments so that you may be clothed and your shameful nakedness not exposed, and salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see.

Proverbs 28:20
A faithful man will abound with blessings, but one eager to be rich will not go unpunished.

Ecclesiastes 5:10-11
He who loves money is never satisfied by money, and he who loves wealth is never satisfied by income. This too is futile. / When good things increase, so do those who consume them; what then is the profit to the owner, except to behold them with his eyes?

Psalm 49:6-7
They trust in their wealth and boast in their great riches. / No man can possibly redeem his brother or pay his ransom to God.

1 John 2:15-17
Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. / For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh, the desires of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not from the Father but from the world. / The world is passing away, along with its desires; but whoever does the will of God remains forever.

Matthew 13:22
The seed sown among the thorns is the one who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.

Mark 4:19
but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth, and the desire for other things come in and choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.

Luke 12:15-21
And He said to them, “Watch out! Guard yourselves against every form of greed, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” / Then He told them a parable: “The ground of a certain rich man produced an abundance. / So he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, since I have nowhere to store my crops?’ ...

Ezekiel 7:19
They will throw their silver into the streets, and their gold will seem unclean. Their silver and gold cannot save them in the day of the wrath of the LORD. They cannot satisfy their appetites or fill their stomachs with wealth, for it became the stumbling block that brought their iniquity.


Treasury of Scripture

And when Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful, he said, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!

he was.

Mark 6:26
And the king was exceeding sorry; yet for his oath's sake, and for their sakes which sat with him, he would not reject her.

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 receive damage by us in nothing…

How.

Deuteronomy 6:10-12
And it shall be, when the LORD thy God shall have brought thee into the land which he sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give thee great and goodly cities, which thou buildedst not, …

Deuteronomy 8:11-17
Beware that thou forget not the LORD thy God, in not keeping his commandments, and his judgments, and his statutes, which I command thee this day: …

Psalm 10:3
For the wicked boasteth of his heart's desire, and blesseth the covetous, whom the LORD abhorreth.

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Luke 18
1. Of the importunate widow.
9. Of the Pharisee and the tax collector.
15. Of Children brought to Jesus.
18. A ruler would follow Jesus, but is hindered by his riches.
28. The reward of those who leave all for his sake.
31. He foretells his death;
35. and restores a blind man to sight.














Seeing the man’s sorrow
This phrase captures the compassionate and perceptive nature of Jesus. The Greek word for "seeing" (ἰδών, idón) implies more than just physical sight; it suggests an understanding or insight into the man's emotional state. Jesus perceives the deep sorrow of the rich young ruler, who is troubled by the challenge of giving up his wealth. This highlights Jesus' empathy and His ability to discern the true condition of the human heart. In a historical context, wealth was often seen as a sign of God's favor, making the man's sorrow even more profound as he grapples with the spiritual implications of his material possessions.

Jesus said
The authority of Jesus' words is underscored here. In the Gospels, when Jesus speaks, it is with divine authority and wisdom. The Greek verb "said" (εἶπεν, eipen) is often used to introduce significant teachings or revelations. This moment is pivotal, as Jesus addresses a common misconception about wealth and spiritual status. His words are not just for the rich young ruler but for all who hear, challenging societal norms and inviting listeners to reconsider their values in light of the kingdom of God.

How hard it is
This phrase emphasizes the difficulty and challenge associated with the task at hand. The Greek word for "hard" (δυσκόλως, dyskolōs) conveys a sense of struggle or near impossibility. Jesus is not merely stating a fact but is highlighting a spiritual truth that would have been countercultural at the time. In a society where wealth was equated with divine blessing, Jesus' statement serves as a radical redefinition of what it means to be blessed and to enter God's kingdom.

for the rich
The term "rich" (πλούσιοι, plousioi) refers to those who possess an abundance of material wealth. In the historical and cultural context of first-century Judea, wealth was often seen as a sign of God's favor. However, Jesus challenges this notion by suggesting that wealth can be a hindrance to spiritual growth and entry into the kingdom of God. This teaching invites believers to reflect on the potential spiritual dangers of material wealth and the importance of prioritizing spiritual riches over earthly possessions.

to enter the kingdom of God
The "kingdom of God" (βασιλείαν τοῦ Θεοῦ, basileian tou Theou) is a central theme in Jesus' teachings, representing God's sovereign rule and the realm of eternal life. Entering this kingdom is the ultimate goal for believers, and Jesus' statement underscores the spiritual obstacles that wealth can present. The historical context reveals that many Jews of the time expected a messianic kingdom characterized by earthly prosperity. Jesus, however, redefines the kingdom as a spiritual reality that requires humility, dependence on God, and a willingness to forsake worldly attachments. This teaching calls believers to examine their own lives and priorities, ensuring that their pursuit of God's kingdom takes precedence over material wealth.

(24-27) When Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful.--See Notes on Matthew 19:23-26; Mark 10:23-27. The better MSS. give simply, "When Jesus saw him, He said . . ."

How hardly shall they that have riches . . .--Another verbal agreement with St. Mark.

Verse 24. - And when Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful, he said, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God! The temptations which beset a rich man are so many and so various. The poor, indeed, with all their trials, stand fairer for the kingdom than do their envied richer brothers and sisters.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
Seeing
Ἰδὼν (Idōn)
Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3708: Properly, to stare at, i.e. to discern clearly; by extension, to attend to; by Hebraism, to experience; passively, to appear.

[the man’s]
αὐτὸν (auton)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.

sorrow,
περίλυπον (perilypon)
Adjective - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 4036: Very sorrowful, greatly grieved. From peri and lupe; grieved all around, i.e. Intensely sad.

Jesus
Ἰησοῦς (Iēsous)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2424: Of Hebrew origin; Jesus, the name of our Lord and two other Israelites.

said,
εἶπεν (eipen)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 2036: Answer, bid, bring word, command. A primary verb; to speak or say.

“How
Πῶς (Pōs)
Adverb
Strong's 4459: Adverb from the base of pou; an interrogative particle of manner; in what way?; also as exclamation, how much!

hard [it is]
δυσκόλως (dyskolōs)
Adverb
Strong's 1423: With difficulty, hardly. Adverb from duskolos; impracticably.

for the
οἱ (hoi)
Article - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

rich
χρήματα (chrēmata)
Noun - Accusative Neuter Plural
Strong's 5536: Money, riches, possessions. Something useful or needed, i.e. Wealth, price.

to enter
εἰσπορεύονται (eisporeuontai)
Verb - Present Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 1531: To journey in(to), I go in(to), enter, intervene. From eis and poreuomai; to enter.

the
τὴν (tēn)
Article - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

kingdom
βασιλείαν (basileian)
Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 932: From basileus; properly, royalty, i.e. rule, or a realm.

of God.
Θεοῦ (Theou)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 2316: A deity, especially the supreme Divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; by Hebraism, very.


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NT Gospels: Luke 18:24 Jesus seeing that he became very sad (Luke Lu Lk)
Luke 18:23
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