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Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

Matthew 19:23

Shall hardly enter. — The Greek adverb is somewhat stronger than the colloquial meaning of the English. Literally, shall not easily enter. The words imply not so much the mere difficulty as the painfulness of the process. Here, as elsewhere, the “kingdom of heaven” is not the state of happiness after death, but the spiritual life and the society of those in whom it is realised even upon earth. Into that kingdom those only can enter who become as little children, as in other things, so in their unconsciousness of the cares of wealth.

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See also Matthew 19:23 in other biblical comments:

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    Verse Matthew 19:23. _A RICH MAN SHALL HARDLY ENTER_] That is, into the _spirit_ and _privileges_ of the _Gospel_ in _this world_, and through them into the _kingdom of glory_. Earthly riches are a g...

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    This account is found also in Mark 10:17; Luke 18:18. Matthew 19:16 ONE CAME - This was a young man,...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    7. DEPARTURE FROM GALILEE. Concerning Divorce. Little Children Blessed and the Rich Young Man. CHAPTER 19 1. The Departure from Galilee. (Matthew 19:1 .) 2. Concerning Divorce. (Matthew 19:3 .) 3....

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    THE GREAT REFUSAL AND THE OBSTACLE OF RICHES (Mark 10:17 *, Luke 18:18). In Matthew 19:16 f. note the changes made by Mt. to avoid the saying of Jesus, as given by Mk., that only God can be called goo...

  • Barclay Daily Study Bible (NT)

    Jesus said to the disciples, "This is the truth I tell you--it is with difficulty that a rich man shall enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. Again I say unto you--it is easier for a camel to pass through...

  • Barclay Daily Study Bible (NT)

    JEWISH MARRIAGE AND DIVORCE (Matthew 19:1-9)...

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    VERILY. See note on Matthew 5:18. HARDLY. with difficulty....

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    _hardly_ i. e. with difficulty....

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    Of Riches, and the Kingdom of God Mark 10:23-27; Luke 18:24-27. These reflections follow naturally on the last incident....

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    τὴν βασ. τῶν οὐρ. Comparing this with Matthew 19:16-17, we note that ζωὴ αἰώνιος, ἡ ζωὴ and ἠ βασιλεία τῶν οὐρανῶν are used as synonyms....

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    OF RICHES, AND THE KINGDOM OF GOD Mark 10:23-27; Luke 18:24-27 These reflections follow naturally on the last incident....

  • Catena Aurea Commentary

    VER 23. THEN SAID JESUS UNTO HIS DISCIPLES, "VERILY I SAY UNTO YOU, THAT A RICH MAN SHALL HARDLY ENTER INTO THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN. 24. AND AGAIN I SAY UNTO YOU, IT IS EASIER FOR A CAMEL TO GO THROUGH...

  • Charles Box Commentaries

    _WISDOM FROM ABOVE CONCERNING WHO CAN BE SAVED MATTHEW 19:23-30:_ It is difficult for those who have wealth to get into the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 19:23) When the disciples heard Jesus say that i...

  • Charles Rose Commentaries

    ΠΛΟΎΣΙΟΣ (G4145) богатый, очень богатый (DJG, 705). ΔΥΣΚΌΛΩΣ (G1423) _adv._ трудно, с трудом (RWP). ΕΊΣΕΛΕΎΣΕΤΑΙ _fut. ind. med. (dep.) от_ ΕΙΣΈΡΧΟΜΑΙ (G1525) идти, приходить....

  • Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

    SHALL HARDLY— _Will hardly._...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    SECTION 49 JESUS TESTS RICH YOUNG RULER AND ENCOURAGES DISCIPLES (Parallels: Mark 10:17-31; Luke 18:18-30) TEXT: 19:16-30 A. The Demands of Discipleship 16 And behold, one came to him and said, Tea...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? For the exposition, see the notes at Luke 18:18....

  • Concordant Commentary on the New Testament by A. E. Knoch

    3-12 Compare Mar_10:2-12. 4 Compare Gen_1:27. See Mal_2:15. 4 Man was originally bi-sexual. Adam had both male and female functions (Gen_1:27). Before the woman was taken out of Adam, the sexes were...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    THE QUESTION OF DIVORCE. THE RICH YOUNG MAN 1, 2. End of the Galilean ministry. The Peræn ministry begins (Mark 10:1; Luke 9:51 cp. Luke 17:11). The time was now late summer of 28 a.d. The Passion was...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    MATTHEW’S GOOD NEWS MATTHEW’S *GOSPEL _HILDA BRIGHT_ CHAPTER 19 MARRIAGE AND DIVORCE 19:1-12 V1 When Jesus had finished saying these things, he left the Galilee region. He went to the other sid...

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    CHAPTER 15 Last Days in Peraea - Matthew 19:1 - Matthew 20:1 THERE were two main roads from Galilee to Jerusalem. One passed through Samaria, on the west of the Jordan, the other through Peraea, east...

  • Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

    _Conversation ensuing_ (Mark 10:23-27; Luke 18:24-27)....

  • Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

    ἀμὴν, introduces as usual a solemn utterance. πλούσιος : the rich man is brought on the stage, not as an object of envy or admiration, which he is to the worldly-minded, but as an object of commiserat...

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    RICHES IN THE KINGDOM Matthew 19:23-30 Money is not an unmixed good. It brings in its train many temptations. It is easier to bear poverty than wealth-easier to be a saint when life is hard than whe...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    The Pharisees approached Him with a question concerning divorce. The force of His reply is in the words "from the beginning." He had no opinions apart from the will and intention of God. As God willed...

  • Geneva Study Bible Commentary

    (6) Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven. (6) Rich men have need of a singular gift of God to escape out of the sna...

  • Godbey's Commentary on the New Testament

    THE RICH YOUNG MAN Matthew 19:16-30; Mark 10:17-31; Luke 18:18-30. Mark: “And He, traveling along the road, one running and kneeling clown asked Him, Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit e...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    "And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? (17) And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that i...

  • Introductory Lectures - Commentary by William Kelly

    Chapter 8, which opens the portion that comes before us tonight, is a striking illustration as well as proof of the method which God has been pleased to employ in giving us the apostle Matthew's accou...

  • John Calvin's Bible Commentary

    Matthew 19:23._A rich man will with difficulty enter. _Christ warns them, not only how dangerous and how deadly a plague avarice is, but also how great an obstacle is presented by riches. In Mark, ind...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    chapter 19 carries on the subject of the spirit that is suited to the kingdom of heaven, and goes deep into the principles which govern human nature, and of what was now divinely introduced. A questio...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    THEN SAID JESUS UNTO HIS DISCIPLES..... When the young man was gone; taking this opportunity to make some proper observations for the use and instruction of his disciples, after, as Mark observes, he...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven. Ver. 23. _A rich man shall hardly enter_] With that burden of thick clay, tha...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _Then said Jesus unto his disciples_ While they had this example before their eyes, and were witnesses of the melancholy fact of a well-educated and well-disposed man voluntarily foregoing all hope of...

  • Justin Edwards' Family Bible New Testament (1851)

    HARDLY ENTER; it is with great difficulty that he can enter....

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    THEN SAID JESUS UNTO HIS DISCIPLES, VERILY I SAY UNTO YOU, THAT A RICH MAN SHALL HARDLY ENTER INTO THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN....

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    The lesson:...

  • Leslie M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible

    The setting now is changed from Galilee to Judea, with great crowds following Him, finding healing from their illnesses. But since the Lord Jesus has been announcing a kingdom of a different character...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    23-30 Though Christ spoke so strongly, few that have riches do not trust in them. How few that are poor are not tempted to envy! But men's earnestness in this matter is like their toiling to build a...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    SEE POOLE ON "MATTHEW 19:24"....

  • NT Verse References in the Ante-Nicene Fathers

    Shepherd of Hermas Similitude Ninth For as it is disagreeable to walk among thistles with naked feet, so also it is hard for such to enter the kingdom of God.[37] Clement of Alexandria Stromata Book...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    Matthew 19:23 Then G1161 Jesus G2424 said G2036 (G5627) His G846 disciples G3101 Assuredly G281 say G3004 ...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    THE BASIS OF THE NEW KINGLY RULE - THE IMPOSSIBILITY OF SALVATION WITHOUT GOD BEING AT WORK (19:23-26). In Matthew 5:3 it was those who had been ‘blessed' by God who were poor in spirit, repentant, me...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    ANALYSIS OF THE SECTION MATTHEW 19:3 TO MATTHEW 22:46. This whole Section may be analysed as follows: a Jesus' testing commences with a question about divorce. b Jesus questions the Pharisees about...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    ‘And Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly I say to you, It is hard for a rich man to enter into the kingly rule of heaven.” ' As the young man walks away Jesus recognises the conflict that is taking pl...

  • Philip Schaff's Popular Commentary on the NT (4 vols)

    Matthew 19:23. A RICH MAN SHILL ENTER HARDLY, _i.e._, ‘with difficulty,' into the KINGDOM OF HEAVEN. Comp. Mark 10:24: ‘them that trust in riches.' Yet such trust is the natural result of possession,...

  • Philip Schaff's Popular Commentary on the NT (4 vols)

    This section is in its proper chronological position. Our Lord ‘departed thence' (Matthew 19:15), but on the way (Mark 10:17) He was met by this ‘ruler' (Luke 18:18). Our Lord first presented the high...

  • Philip Schaff's Popular Commentary on the NT (4 vols)

    This incident seems to be in proper chronological position. Luke's account at this point again becomes parallel to that of Matthew and Mark....

  • Robertson's Word Pictures of the New Testament

    IT IS HARD (δυσκολως). With difficulty. Adverb from δυσκολος, hard to find food, fastidious, faultfinding, then difficult....

  • Scofield's Bible Commentary

    KINGDOM (_ See Scofield) - (Matthew 3:2). _...

  • Spurgeon's Bible Commentary

    All sorts of persons are invited to come to Christ, whatever their age may be. We begin here with the children. Matthew 19:13. Then were there brought unto him little children, that he should put his...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: Christ and the divorce question. Little children blessed. The rich young ruler. Apostles' future place in the Kingdom. CHARACTERS: God, Jesus, Peter, rich young ruler. CONCLUSION: God Himse...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    Matthew 19:3. _The pharisees also came tempting him._ These men professed perfection of morality, and of worship; and their object was to tempt our Lord to sin, by giving his sanction to a law of cust...

  • The Bible Study New Testament

    JESUS THEN SAID TO HIS DISCIPLES. Notice he does not say "impossible," but "very hard." A few versions add in Mark 10:24_ "For those who trust in riches._...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven: _ THE HINDRANCES AND TEMPTATIONS OF THE RICH I. Hindrances. 1. Riches tend to obscure faith; to make one trust in them, instead of in...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _Some seeds fell by the wayside, and the fowls came and devoured them up._ WAY SEED DEVOURED BY BIRDS The birds devour the truth we neglect to cover. Let us study these birds:- 1. The first belongs...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 19:23 ONLY WITH DIFFICULTY WILL A RICH PERSON ENTER THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN. Wealth fools a person into thinking that he or she is self-sufficient apart from God. The general att...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 19:1 The Galilean ministry has now ended. Jesus and his disciples begin the journey to Jerusalem. ⇐...

  • The Gospels Compared

    JESUS SPEAKS TO THE RICH YOUNG MAN MATTHEW 19:16-30; MARK 10:17-31; LUKE 18:18-30; MATTHEW 19:16 And, behold, one came and

  • The Great Commentary of Cornelius à Lapide

    1-30 CHAPTER 19 _And it came to pass_, &c. This is the same history as that related by S. Mark (Mark 10:1), by S. Luke (Luke 9:51), and, as it would seem, by S. John (vii. 1). So Jansen, Francis Luca...

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    _CRITICAL NOTES_ Matthew 19:16. GOOD MASTER.—The better MSS. omit the adjective, and it has probably been added here by later copyists to bring the passage into a verbal agreement with the narrative o...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION MATTHEW 19:1 _The beginning of the last journey to Jerusalem_._ The question concerning divorce_._ _(Mark 10:1.) MATTHEW 19:1...

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    Now it came to pass, when Jesus had finished these sayings, he departed from Galilee, and he came to the coast of Judea (Matthew 19:1); Now that is the border of Judea, so He is moving south towards J...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    1 Corinthians 1:26; 1 Timothy 6:10; 1 Timothy 6:9; Acts 14:22;...

  • When Critics Ask: A Popular Handbook on Bible Difficulties, Norman L. Geisler and Thomas Howe, 1960

    (CF. MARK 10:17-31; LUKE 18:18-30)— If Jesus was God, why did He seem to rebuke the rich young ruler for calling Him good? PROBLEM: The rich young ruler called Jesus “Good Teacher,” and Jesus rebuked...

  • William Burkitt's Expository Notes

    Our blessed Saviour takes occasion, from what had passed, to discourse with his disciples concerning the danger of riches, and the difficulties that attend rich men in their way to salvation. A RICH M...

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