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As Jesus started to leave, a man ran to him and fell on his knees before Jesus. The man asked, "Good teacher, what must I do to have life forever?"
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Jesus answered, "Why do you call me good? Only God is good.
19
You know the commands: 'You must not murder anyone. You must not be guilty of adultery. You must not steal. You must not tell lies about your neighbor. You must not cheat. Honor your father and mother.'"
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The man said, "Teacher, I have obeyed all these things since I was a boy."
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Jesus, looking at the man, loved him and said, "There is one more thing you need to do. Go and sell everything you have, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come and follow me."
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He was very sad to hear Jesus say this, and he left sorrowfully, because he was rich.
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Then Jesus looked at his followers and said, "How hard it will be for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!"
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The followers were amazed at what Jesus said. But he said again, "My children, it is very hard to enter the kingdom of God!
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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."
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The followers were even more surprised and said to each other, "Then who can be saved?"
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Jesus looked at them and said, "This is something people cannot do, but God can. God can do all things."
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Peter said to Jesus, "Look, we have left everything and followed you."
29
Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, all those who have left houses, brothers, sisters, mother, father, children, or farms for me and for the Good News
30
will get more than they left. Here in this world they will have a hundred times more homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and fields. And with those things, they will also suffer for their belief. But in the age that is coming they will have life forever.
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Many who have the highest place now will have the lowest place in the future. And many who have the lowest place now will have the highest place in the future."