A Rich Man Asks Jesus a Question

¹⁸A [Jewish] leader asked Jesus, "Good teacher, what must I do to get the life that continues forever?" ¹⁹Jesus said to him, "Why do you call me good? Only God is good. ²⁰[But I will answer your question]. You know [God's] commands: 'You must not do the sin of adultery,* you must not murder anyone, you must not steal anything, you must not tell lies about other people, you must honor (respect) your father and mother....'*" ²¹But the leader said, "I have obeyed all these commands since I was a boy!" ²²When Jesus heard this, he said to the leader, "But there is still one more thing you need to do. Sell everything you have and give the money to the poor people. You will have a reward in heaven. Then come and follow me!" ²³But when the man heard this, he was very sad. The man was very rich [and wanted to keep his money.] ²⁴When Jesus saw that the man was sad, he said, "It will be very hard for rich people to enter the kingdom of God! ²⁵It would be easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God!"

Who Can Be Saved?

²⁶When the people heard this, they said, "Then who can be saved?" ²⁷Jesus answered, "God can do things that are not possible for people to do!" ²⁸Peter said, "Look, we left everything we had and followed you!" ²⁹Jesus said, "I tell you the truth. Every person that has left his home, wife, brothers, parents, or children for God's kingdom ³⁰will get much more than he left. That person will get many times more in this life. And after that person dies, he will live with God forever."

Jesus Will Rise from Death

³¹Then Jesus talked to the twelve apostles* alone. Jesus said to them, "Listen! We are going to Jerusalem. Everything that God told the prophets* to write about the Son of Man* will happen! ³²His people will turn against him and give him to the non-Jewish people.* They will laugh at him and spit on him. He will be insulted and embarrassed. ³³They will beat him with whips and then kill him! But on the third day after his death, he will rise to life again." ³⁴The apostles tried to understand this, but they could not; the meaning was hidden from them.

Jesus Heals a Blind Man

³⁵Jesus came near the city of Jericho. There was a blind man sitting beside the road. The blind man was begging people for money. ³⁶When this man heard the people coming down the road, he asked, "What is happening?" ³⁷The people told him, "Jesus, the one from Nazareth, is coming here." ³⁸The blind man was excited and said, "Jesus, Son of David*! Please help me!" ³⁹The people that were in front, leading the group, criticized the blind man. They told him not to speak. But the blind man shouted more and more, "Son of David, please help me!" ⁴⁰Jesus stopped there and said, "Bring that blind man to me!" When the blind man came near, Jesus asked him, ⁴¹"What do you want me to do for you?" The blind man said, "Lord, I want to see again." ⁴²Jesus said to him, "You can see now! You are healed because you believed." ⁴³Then the man was able to see. The man followed Jesus, thanking God. All the people that saw this praised God for what happened.

adultery Breaking a marriage promise by sexual sin. 'You must not ... mother' Quote from Ex. 20:12-16; Deut. 5:16-20. apostles The men Jesus chose to be his special helpers. prophets People that spoke for God. Some of them wrote books that are part of the Old Testament. Son of Man A name Jesus used for himself. In Dan. 7:13-14, this is the name for the Messiah, the one God chose to save his people. non-Jewish people Literally, "nations" (Gentiles). Son of David Name for the Christ, who was from the family of David, king of Israel.