Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Luke 18:24
And when Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful, he said, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!
24. saw that he was very sorrowful ] Several good uncials read merely ‘when Jesus saw him.’
shall they that have riches ] Rather, do they. The striking reading of some MSS. ( , B, &c.) in Mar 10:24, is that Christ, seeing the pained astonishment of the disciples, said, “Children! how hard it is to enter into the kingdom of God” hard for all; above all, hard for the rich. Other MSS. have “for those that trust in riches’’(comp. Pro 11:28) but that would be a truism; and, indeed, while they trust in riches, it would be not only hard, but impossible. The point that Jesus wished to teach was that riches are always a temptation and a snare. 1Ti 6:9-10. Let us not forget that Judas heard these words only a few days or weeks before he sold his Lord. It was almost a proverb among the ancients that “the very rich are not good.” Stobaeus, xciii. 27.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 24. How hardly shall they that have riches, &c.] See the notes on this discourse of our Lord, on Mt 19:21-30, and Mr 10:30.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
24. when Jesus sawMark says(Mr 3:34), He “lookedround about”as if first following the departing youth withHis eye”and saith unto His disciples.”
How hardly, c.withwhat difficulty. In Mark (Mr10:24) an explanation is added, “How hard is it for themthat trust in riches,” &c.that is, with whatdifficulty is this idolatrous trust conquered, without which theycannot enter and this is introduced by the word “children”sweetdiminutive of affection and pity (Joh21:5).
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
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 comments on Mt 19:23].
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Shall they enter (). Present middle indicative, futuristic present.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
1) “And when Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful, he said,” (idon de auton ho lesous eipen) “Then when Jesus perceived him, (so emotionally disturbed) he said,” to the disciples, regarding this one who had been brought to a challenge to repent, yet willfully turned away, Rom 2:4-5; 2Co 7:10.
2) “How hardly shall they that have riches,” (pos duskolos hoi ta chremata echontes) “How hardly shall those who have property,” large assets; or with what obstruction and difficulty; It is not impossible, Luk 18:27; But riches are so frequently an hindrance, 1Ti 6:9-10; Mark adds, “How hard it is for them that trust in riches,” Mar 10:24; Psa 52:7; Psa 62:10; 1Ti 6:17.
3) “Enter into the kingdom of God!” (eis ten basileian tou theou eisporeuontai) “Go into the kingdom of God!” voluntarily enter. For one must be saved born again, before he can either see or enter into the labors of the Lord, called the kingdom of God,” or as expressed more definitively by Matthew as the “kingdom of heaven,” the church, in this age, Joh 3:3; Joh 3:5; Mat 5:3; Mat 5:10.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
(24-27) When Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful.See Notes on Mat. 19:23-26; Mar. 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.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
‘And Jesus seeing him said, “How hard it will be for those who have riches to enter into the Kingly Rule of God!”
So Jesus pointed out to him how hard it was for someone who had riches to come under the Kingly Rule of God. For to be under the Kingly Rule of God means that God holds the reins, that God determines each moment what we should do, and that we acknowledge that all that we have belongs to Him. To come under His control thus means a man putting his riches under God’s control, for Him to use as He wills. And to maintain such a position in a world where the rich man was king would be very difficult. Furthermore in the case of this man Jesus did not think that he could cope with it. He feared that unless his riches were gone completely it would not be long before Mammon again got the upper hand. His only real hope was therefore to rid himself of the weight that so easily beset him while he was thinking about it. Then he would be truly free. There are moments in every man and woman’s life where they cannot afford to make the wrong choice. This man would theoretically be continually free to make the choice that was put before him. But both Jesus and he knew that the crunch moment was now. If he walked away now he might never be brought to this position again. His very riches might prevent it. How many of us there are that look back and think, ‘if only I had made the right choice then’. But if we do we need not fear for this was not necessarily the ruler’s last chance. If he repented God could ‘make him again’ (Jer 18:4).
Some men can cope with wealth, for it means little to them and they use it for the good of others without it affecting their spiritual lives. To them God is all and their wealth merely a convenience made available to God and usable for Him. But for most it is a continual temptation to sink back into apathy and sin. And Jesus could tell enough about the man to realise that the only way that this rich ruler could succeed in breaking the spell of his riches was by getting rid of them all. (It may be noted that a little child would have had no difficulty in dealing with the question, which was why its coming under the Kingly Rule of God would be so much easier. To a child riches would not have seemed important. But for a man who had begun to know and feel something of his way in the world it was a different matter. He knew the value of riches. He knew that they brought him esteem. After all what was it that had made him a ruler? And now he knew too the stranglehold that they could have on the human heart).
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
The lesson of the incident:
v. 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!
v. 25. For 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.
v. 26. And they that heard it said, Who then can be saved?
v. 27. And He said, The things which are impossible with men are possible with God. The young ruler had gotten more than he bargained for; he went away from Jesus, and it is very doubtful whether he ever returned. Jesus determined to teach His disciples and others that were near a lesson drawn from the incident. He told them in the form of an exclamation: How difficult, how next to impossible, it is for those that have goods, that are rich, to enter into the kingdom of God! See Mat 19:23-30; Mar 10:23-31. A person that is rich, actually calls the goods that are entrusted to him his own, and thus puts his trust in them, instead of in God alone, who has laid this responsibility upon him, is a servant of mammon, and cannot get to heaven. The difficulty is well illustrated by a proverb after the Oriental fashion, according to which it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man of that kind to enter into the kingdom of heaven. “For the rich people commonly become so entangled in the love and in the lust of riches that they cannot seek Jesus; yea, they do not desire to see Him: All their consolation is centered in money and goods; the more they get, the greater their desire, grows to possess still more. ” But the saying of Jesus was too much for the spiritual understanding of the disciples and other hearers. In astonishment and perplexity they ask: And who can be saved? But Jesus gave them the solution by saying: The impossible with men is possible with God. It is true in general that God’s almighty power is not limited. And it is true, with special reference to conversion, that it is by the merciful power of God that sinful people are converted and renewed, that their hearts are torn loose from the love of this world and its riches and turned to His service all alone.
Fuente: The Popular Commentary on the Bible by Kretzmann
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!
Ver. 24. See Mat 19:23 .
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Luk 18:24-30 . Ensuing conversation (Mat 19:23-30 , Mar 10:23-31 ).
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
Luk 18:24 . : present, not future, as in parallels, indicating not what will happen but what is apt to happen from the nature of riches.
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
when Jesus saw that he was = Jesus seeing (App-133.) him becoming.
hardly = with difficulty.
shall they = do they.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
he was: Mar 6:26, 2Co 7:9, 2Co 7:10
How: Deu 6:10-12, Deu 8:11-17, Psa 10:3, Psa 73:5-12, Pro 11:28, Pro 18:11, Pro 30:9, Jer 2:31, Jer 5:5, Mat 19:23-25, Mar 10:23-27, 1Co 1:26, 1Co 1:27, 1Ti 6:9, 1Ti 6:10, Jam 2:5-7, Jam 5:1-6
Reciprocal: Mat 5:20 – ye Mat 6:19 – General Mat 13:22 – seed Mat 13:44 – for joy Luk 1:53 – and Luk 8:14 – and are Luk 14:18 – I have Luk 16:19 – rich Luk 19:2 – and he
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Our holy Lord takes occasion from the rich man’s departure from him, to discourse concerning the danger of riches, and the difficulties that attend rich men in their way to heaven.
From whence we may collect and gather,
1. That rich men do certainly meet with more difficulties in their way to heaven than other men; it is difficult to withdraw their affections from riches, to place their supreme love upon God in the midst of their riches, and to depend entirely upon God in a rich condition; for the rich man’s wealth is his strong tower.
2. That yet the fault lies not in riches, but in rich men, who by placing their trust and reposing their confidence in riches, do render their salvation difficult, if not impossible.
3. Our Saviour’s proverbial speech of a camels going through the eye of a needle implies thus much, that it is not only a great difficulty, but an utter impossibility, for such as abound in worldly wealth, and place their confidence therein, to be saved, without an extraordinary grace and assistance from God. It is hard for God to make a rich man happy, because he thinks himself happy without God.
4. That as difficult and impossible as this may seem to men, yet nothing is impossible with God; he can change the heart of the rich, by the rich and powerful influences of his Holy Spirit: That which is impossible with men is possible with God.
Fuente: Expository Notes with Practical Observations on the New Testament
2 d. Luk 18:24-27. The Conversation regarding the Rich Man.
It is not the fact of proprietorship which hinders the soul from taking its flight to spiritual blessings; it is the feeling of security which it inspires. So, in Mark, Jesus says, in explanation of His first declaration: How hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter…! The Shemites denote the impossibility of a thing by the image of a heavily-laden camel arriving at a city gate which is low and narrow, and through which it cannot pass. Then, to give this image the piquant form which the Oriental proverb loves, this gate is transformed into the eye of a needle. Some commentators and copyists, not understanding this figure, have changed , camel, into (the was pronounced ), a very unusual word, which does not occur even in the ancient lexicographers, and which, it is alleged, sometimes denotes a ship’s cable. In the received text ( ), is a correction borrowed from Mark and Matthew; the true reading in Luke is , which also signifies needle. Instead of the word , the Alex. read (or ). The first form might come from Mark; but it is more probable that it is the second which is taken from Matthew, the Gospel most generally used. We must therefore read in Luke, .
To exclude the rich from salvation was, it seemed, to exclude all; for if the most blessed among men can only be saved with difficulty, what will become of the rest? Such appears to be the connection between Luk 18:25-26. De Wette joins them in a somewhat different way: As every one more or less seeks riches, none therefore can be saved. This connection is less natural.
Jesus, according to Matthew and Mark, at this point turns on His disciples a look full of earnestness ( , looking upon them): It is but too true; but there is a sphere in which the impossible is possible, that of the divine operation ( , with God). Thus Jesus in the twinkling of an eye lifts the mind of His hearers from human works, of which alone the young man was thinking, to that divine work of radical regeneration which proceeds from the One only good, and of which Jesus is alone the instrument. Comp. a similar and equally rapid gradation of ideas, Joh 3:2; Joh 3:5.
Which would have been better for this young manto leave his goods to become the companion in labour of the St. Peters and St. Johns, or to keep those possessions so soon to be laid waste by the Roman legions?
Fuente: Godet Commentary (Luke, John, Romans and 1 Corinthians)
18:24 {8} And when Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful, he said, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!
(8) To be both rich and godly is a singular gift of God.
Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes
Jesus’ teaching about riches 18:24-30 (cf. Matthew 19:23-30; Mark 10:23-31)
Jesus continued talking with His disciples about the preceding conversation. However, Luke did not identify the disciples as those to whom Jesus spoke. This gives the impression that what Jesus said has relevance to all people including the readers, as it does.
Fuente: Expository Notes of Dr. Constable (Old and New Testaments)
Luke alone mentioned that Jesus looked at the young man and then spoke. He probably did this to make the connection between Jesus’ comments that followed and the young man’s attitude clear to his readers. Jesus said that wealth makes it difficult, but not impossible (cf. Luk 19:1-10), for rich people to obtain salvation. Riches are a handicap because they present two temptations to the wealthy (cf. 1Ti 6:9-10). First, rich people sometimes conclude that because they are rich they are superior to the poor, perhaps more blessed by God, and therefore do not need God’s grace. Second, they may conclude that because they are rich they are secure, and therefore they fail to plan for the future beyond the grave.
"John D. Rockefeller . . . once said that riches were ’a gift from heaven signifying, ’This is My beloved son, in whom I am well pleased.’" [Note: Wiersbe, 1:250.]
A camel going through the eye of a sewing needle (Gr. belones) was evidently a proverbial expression describing a very difficult thing.