The Life and Teachings
of Jesus
A Restatement of the Gospels

80. The Discussion Concerning Wealth

        23And Jesus said to his disciples, “It is hard for those who have riches to enter into the kingdom of heaven. 24It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a [self-satisfied] rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”a
        25When the disciples heard this they were greatly astonished, saying, “Who then can be saved?”
        26But Jesus looked at them and said to them, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
        27Then Peter said in reply, “Lo, we have left everything and followed you, what then shall we have?”
        29And he said to them, “Truly, I say to you, there is no man who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God 30who shall not receive manifold more in this world, and in the world to come life everlasting. 30But many that are first shall be last, and the last shall be first.”
        (Mt. 19:23–27; Lk. 18:29–30; Mt. 19:30) (continued)



a   “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a [self-satisfied] rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”—Here Jesus makes his point by modifying the Jewish saying: “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for the heathen to inherit eternal life.”

Mt. 19:23  It is hard (ASV) / Truly I say to you, it will be hard (RSV)
Mt. 19:24  It / Again I tell you, it (RSV) • a [self-satisfied] rich / a rich (RSV)
Lk. 18:30  who shall not (KJV) / who will not (RSV) • this world, and / this time, and (RSV) • the world to come life everlasting. (KJV) / the age to come eternal life. (RSV)
Mt. 19:30  first shall be (KJV) / first will be (RSV) • last shall be first." (KJV) / last first." (RSV)   (163:3/1803–4)

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