But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.
Parallel translations
- WEB But when the young man heard the saying, he went away sad, for he was one who 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 6:24No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
- Ezek 33:31And they come unto thee as the people cometh, and they sit before thee as my people, and they hear thy words, but they will not do them: for with their mouth they shew much love, but their heart goeth after their covetousness.
- Matt 13:22He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.
- Mark 10:22And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions.
- Eph 5:5For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
- Matt 16:26For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
- Col 3:5Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:
- Mark 6:26And the king was exceeding sorry; yet for his oath’s sake, and for their sakes which sat with him, he would not reject her.
- Matt 14:9And the king was sorry: nevertheless for the oath’s sake, and them which sat with him at meat, he commanded it to be given her.
- Luke 18:23And when he heard this, he was very sorrowful: for he was very rich.
- Ps 17:14From men which are thy hand, O LORD, from men of the world, which have their portion in this life, and whose belly thou fillest with thy hid treasure: they are full of children, and leave the rest of their substance to their babes.
- Judg 18:23–24And they cried unto the children of Dan. And they turned their faces, and said unto Micah, What aileth thee, that thou comest with such a company?
- Dan 6:14–17Then the king, when he heard these words, was sore displeased with himself, and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him: and he laboured till the going down of the sun to deliver him.
- John 19:12–16And from thenceforth Pilate sought to release him: but the Jews cried out, saying, If thou let this man go, thou art not Caesar’s friend: whosoever maketh himself a king speaketh 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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