But when the young man heard the saying, he went away sad, for he was one who had great possessions.
Parallel translations
- KJV But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.
- BSB When the young man heard this, he went away in sorrow, because he had great wealth.
- NKJV But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.
- NASB But when the young man heard this statement, he went away grieving; for he was one who owned much property.
- NLT But when the young man heard this, he went away sad, for he had many possessions.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The man walks away grieving because he was very wealthy. His sorrow shows that his possessions held first place over Christ.
Overview
Confronted with the true cost of following Jesus, the rich young man chooses his wealth and departs in sadness. His response demonstrates that riches can be a god that enslaves even sincere, moral people. The account warns that nothing—however good—may be held above Christ, and it sets the stage for Jesus' teaching on the danger of riches.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 14
- Matt 6:24“No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other; or else he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You can’t serve both God and Mammon.
- Ezek 33:31They come to you as the people come, and they sit before you as my people, and they hear your words, but don’t do them; for with their mouth they show much love, but their heart goes after their gain.
- Matt 13:22What was sown among the thorns, this is he who hears the word, but the cares of this age and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful.
- Mark 10:22But his face fell at that saying, and he went away sorrowful, for he was one who had great possessions.
- Eph 5:5Know this for sure, that no sexually immoral person, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the Kingdom of Christ and God.
- Matt 16:26For what will it profit a man, if he gains the whole world, and forfeits his life? Or what will a man give in exchange for his life?
- Col 3:5Put to death therefore your members which are on the earth: sexual immorality, uncleanness, depraved passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry;
- Mark 6:26The king was exceedingly sorry, but for the sake of his oaths, and of his dinner guests, he didn’t wish to refuse her.
- Matt 14:9The king was grieved, but for the sake of his oaths, and of those who sat at the table with him, he commanded it to be given,
- Luke 18:23But when he heard these things, he became very sad, for he was very rich.
- Ps 17:14from men by your hand, Yahweh, from men of the world, whose portion is in this life. You fill the belly of your cherished ones. Your sons have plenty, and they store up wealth for their children.
- Judg 18:23–24As they cried to the children of Dan, they turned their faces, and said to Micah, “What ails you, that you come with such a company?”
- Dan 6:14–17Then the king, when he heard these words, was very displeased, and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him; and he labored until the going down of the sun to rescue him.
- John 19:12–16At this, Pilate was seeking to release him, but the Jews cried out, saying, “If you release this man, you aren’t Caesar’s friend! Everyone who makes himself a king speaks against Caesar!”
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Christ at the center
Matthew presents Jesus as the promised King — son of David, son of Abraham — the new Moses and true Israel in whom every prophecy reaches 'that it might be fulfilled.'
How Matthew 19:22 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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