Luke 18:22

22 When Jesus heard that, he said, "Then there's only one thing left to do: Sell everything you own and give it away to the poor. You will have riches in heaven. Then come, follow me."

Luke 18:22 Meaning and Commentary

Luke 18:22

Now when Jesus heard these things
That he had kept all these commandments, and that ever since he was a child, and to that very time:

he said unto him, yet lackest thou one thing;
not but that he lacked many other things, and even every thing: for he had performed no one thing as it should be: but Christ said, partly in answer to his pert question, "what lack I yet?" and partly by an ironical concession, granting he had kept them all, as he had said, yet one thing was wanting; and chiefly with a view to mortify his pride and vanity:

sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou
shalt have treasure in heaven, and come and follow me;
(See Gill on Matthew 19:21).

Luke 18:22 In-Context

20 You know the commandments, don't you? No illicit sex, no killing, no stealing, no lying, honor your father and mother."
21 He said, "I've kept them all for as long as I can remember."
22 When Jesus heard that, he said, "Then there's only one thing left to do: Sell everything you own and give it away to the poor. You will have riches in heaven. Then come, follow me."
23 This was the last thing the official expected to hear. He was very rich and became terribly sad. He was holding on tight to a lot of things and not about to let them go.
24 Seeing his reaction, Jesus said, "Do you have any idea how difficult it is for people who have it all to enter God's kingdom?
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.