17
As Jesus was coming out to the road, a man came running to him and knelt in front of him. He asked Jesus, "Good Teacher, what should I do to inherit eternal life?"
18
Jesus said to him, "Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone.
19
You know the commandments: Never murder. Never commit adultery. Never steal. Never give false testimony. Never cheat. Honor your father and mother."
20
The man replied, "Teacher, I've obeyed all these commandments since I was a boy."
21
Jesus looked at him and loved him. He told him, "You're still missing one thing. Sell everything you have. Give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then follow me!"
22
When the man heard that, he looked unhappy and went away sad, because he owned a lot of property.
23
Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, "How hard it will be for rich people to enter the kingdom of God!"
24
The disciples were stunned by his words. But Jesus said to them again, "Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God!
25
It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God."
26
This amazed his disciples more than ever. They asked each other, "Who, then, can be saved?"
27
Jesus looked at them and said, "It's impossible for people [to save themselves], but it's not impossible for God to save them. Everything is possible for God."
28
Then Peter spoke up, "We've given up everything to follow you."
29
Jesus said, "I can guarantee this truth: Anyone who gave up his home, brothers, sisters, mother, father, children, or fields because of me and the Good News
30
will certainly receive a hundred times as much here in this life. They will certainly receive homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields, along with persecutions. But in the world to come they will receive eternal life.
31
But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first."