SEV Biblia, Chapter 19:23
¶ Entonces Jess dijo a sus discípulos: De cierto os digo, que el rico difícilmente entrar en el Reino de los cielos.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Matthew 19:23
Verse 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 great obstacle to salvation; because it is almost impossible to possess them, and not to set the heart upon them; and they who love the world have not the love of the Father in them. 1 John ii. 15. To be rich, therefore, is in general a great misfortune: but what rich man can be convinced of this? It is only God himself who, by a miracle of mercy, can do this. Christ himself affirms the difficulty of the salvation of a rich man, with an oath, verily; but who of the rich either hears or believes him!
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 23. Then said Jesus unto his disciples . etc.] 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 had looked round about; with concern, and in order to affect their minds with this incident, and to raise their attention to what he was about to say: verily I say unto you, that a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven : either into the Gospel dispensation, and receive the truths, and submit to the ordinances of it, or into the kingdom of glory hereafter; not but that there have been, are, and will be, some that are rich, called by grace, brought into a Gospel church state, and are heirs of the kingdom of heaven; though these are but comparatively few: nor is it riches themselves that make the entrance so difficult, and clog the way, either into grace or glory, but putting trust and confidence in them; and therefore in Mark, they that have riches, are by Christ explained of such, that trust in riches; and which rich men in common are very apt to do, as this young man did, against which the apostle cautions, ( 1 Timothy 6:17) Ver. 24. And again I say unto you , etc.] After the apostles had discovered their astonishment at the above expression, about the difficulty of a rich man entering into the kingdom of heaven; when they expected that, in a short time, all the rich and great men of the nation would espouse the interest of the Messiah, and acknowledge him as a temporal king, and add to the grandeur of his state and kingdom; and after he had in a mild and gentle manner, calling them children, explained himself of such, that trusted in uncertain riches, served mammon, made these their gods, and placed their hope and happiness in them; in order to strengthen and confirm what he had before asserted, and to assure, in the strongest manner, the very great difficulty, and seeming impossibility, of rich men becoming followers of Christ here, or companions with him hereafter, he expresses himself in this proverbial way: it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God : thus, when the Jews would express anything that was rare and unusual, difficult and impossible, they used a like saying with this. So speaking of showing persons the interpretation of their dreams f1042 ; Says Rabba, you know they do not show to a man a golden palm tree i.e. the interpretation of a dream about one, which, as the gloss says, is a thing he is not used to see, and of which he never thought, ajjmd apwqb lyy[d alyp alw , nor an elephant going through the eye of a needle. Again, to one that had delivered something as was thought very absurd, it is said f1043 ; perhaps thou art one of Pombeditha (a school of the Jews in Babylon) ajjmd apwqb alyp ylyy[md , who make an elephant pass through the eye of a needle.
That is, who teach such things as are equally as monstrous and absurd, and difficult of belief. So the authors of an edition of the book of Zohar, to set forth the difficulty of the work they engaged in, express themselves in this manner f1044 : In the name of our God, we have seen fit, ajjmd apwqb alyp synkhl , to bring an elephant through the eye of a needle.
And not only among the Jews, but in other eastern nations, this proverbial way of speaking was used, to signify difficulties or impossibilities.
Mahomet has it in his Alcoran f1045 ; Verily, says he, they who shall charge our signs with falsehood, and shall proudly reject them, the gates of heaven shall not be opened to them, neither shall they enter into paradise, until a camel pass through the eye of a needle.
All which show, that there is no need to suppose, that by a camel is meant, not the creature so called, but a cable rope, as some have thought; since these common proverbs manifestly make it appear, that a creature is intended, and which aggravates the difficulty: the reason why instead of an elephant, as used in most of the above sayings, Christ makes mention of a camel, may be, because that might be more known in Judea, than the other; and because the hump on its back would serve to make the thing still more impracticable.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 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' earnestness in this matter is like their toiling to build a high wal to shut themselves and their children out of heaven. It should be satisfaction to those who are in a low condition, that they are no exposed to the temptations of a high and prosperous condition. If the live more hardly in this world than the rich, yet, if they get mor easily to a better world, they have no reason to complain. Christ' words show that it is hard for a rich man to be a good Christian, an to be saved. The way to heaven is a narrow way to all, and the gat that leads into it, a strait gate; particularly so to rich people. Mor duties are expected from them than from others, and more sins easil beset them. It is hard not to be charmed with a smiling world. Ric people have a great account to make up for their opportunities abov others. It is utterly impossible for a man that sets his heart upon his riches, to get to heaven. Christ used an expression, denoting difficulty altogether unconquerable by the power of man. Nothing les than the almighty grace of God will enable a rich man to get over thi difficulty. Who then can be saved? If riches hinder rich people, ar not pride and sinful lusts found in those not rich, and as dangerous to them? Who can be saved? say the disciples. None, saith Christ, by an created power. The beginning, progress, and perfecting the work of salvation, depend wholly on the almighty power of God, to which all things are possible. Not that rich people can be saved in their worldliness, but that they should be saved from it. Peter said, We have forsaken all. Alas! it was but a poor all, only a few boats and nets yet observe how Peter speaks, as if it had been some mighty thing. We are too apt to make the most of our services and sufferings, ou expenses and losses, for Christ. However, Christ does not upbraid them though it was but little that they had forsaken, yet it was their all and as dear to them as if it had been more. Christ took it kindly tha they left it to follow him; he accepts according to what a man hath Our Lord's promise to the apostles is, that when the Son of man shal sit on the throne of his glory, he will make all things new, and the shall sit with him in judgement on those who will be judged accordin to their doctrine. This sets forth the honour, dignity, and authorit of their office and ministry. Our Lord added, that every one who ha forsaken possessions or comforts, for his sake and the gospel, would be recompensed at last. May God give us faith to rest our hope on this his promise; then we shall be ready for every service or sacrifice. Ou Saviour, in the last verse, does away a mistake of some. The heavenl inheritance is not given as earthly ones are, but according to God' pleasure. Let us not trust in promising appearances or outwar profession. Others may, for aught we know, become eminent in faith an holiness __________________________________________________________________
Greek Textus Receptus
ο 3588 T-NSM δε 1161 CONJ ιησους 2424 N-NSM ειπεν 2036 5627 V-2AAI-3S τοις 3588 T-DPM μαθηταις 3101 N-DPM αυτου 846 P-GSM αμην 281 HEB λεγω 3004 5719 V-PAI-1S υμιν 5213 P-2DP οτι 3754 CONJ δυσκολως 1423 ADV πλουσιος 4145 A-NSM εισελευσεται 1525 5695 V-FDI-3S εις 1519 PREP την 3588 T-ASF βασιλειαν 932 N-ASF των 3588 T-GPM ουρανων 3772 N-GPM
Robertson's NT Word Studies
19:23 {It is hard} (duskolws). With difficulty. Adverb from duskolos, hard to find food, fastidious, faultfinding, qen difficult.
