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Matthew 19 · a question people ask

"go, sell what you have, and give to the poor" (19:21). Does Jesus say this to everyone?

In the text

Here is what the chapter says. Jesus said it to one man: "Jesus said to him, “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.”" (19:21). Mark and Luke tell the same conversation in their own words (Mark 10:21; Luke 18:22). Then "Jesus said to his disciples" that "a rich man will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven with difficulty" (19:23). When they asked, "Who then can be saved?" (19:25), he said, "With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." (19:26). The chapter doesn't say whether his words to the young man are for anyone else. Christians read them in more than one way, and these notes don't choose; Favor applies them to no one's money or possessions.

The verses

“Jesus looking at him loved him, and said to him, “One thing you lack. Go, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me, taking up the cross.””
Mark 10:21 · World English Bible
“When Jesus heard these things, he said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell all that you have and distribute it to the poor. Then you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.””
Luke 18:22 · World English Bible

From Favor's study of Matthew 19

Matthew 19: With God all things are possible

When Peter says, "we have left everything and followed you" (19:27), his two verbs are the two Matthew used of Simon and Andrew by the sea of Galilee: "They immediately left their nets and followed him" (4:20). In the Greek they are the same verbs, and Thayer lists the two verses together.

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Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, which is in the public domain. Every answer cites the verses it rests on. What we believe · All Bible questions