Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Matthew 19:23

"And Jesus said unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, It is hard for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of heaven." — Matthew 19:23 (ASV)

Jesus is not saying that all poor people and none of the wealthy enter the kingdom of heaven. That would exclude Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to say nothing of David, Solomon, and Joseph of Arimathea. The point of Jesus’ teaching lies elsewhere. Most Jews expected the rich to inherit eternal life, not because their wealth could buy their way in, but because their wealth testified to the blessing of the Lord on their lives. Jesus’ view is different and more sobering. The proverbial saying of v.24 refers to the absolutely impossible; the camel was the biggest animal in Palestine.