Matthew 19:25
When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved?
Original Language Analysis
οἱ
G3588
οἱ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
3 of 12
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
αὐτοῦ
his
G846
αὐτοῦ
his
Strong's:
G846
Word #:
5 of 12
the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative g1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons
σφόδρα
it they were exceedingly
G4970
σφόδρα
it they were exceedingly
Strong's:
G4970
Word #:
7 of 12
of uncertain derivation) as adverb; vehemently, i.e., in a high degree, much
λέγοντες,
saying
G3004
λέγοντες,
saying
Strong's:
G3004
Word #:
8 of 12
properly, to "lay" forth, i.e., (figuratively) relate (in words (usually of systematic or set discourse; whereas g2036 and g5346 generally refer to an
Historical Context
First-century Palestinian Judaism operated within a covenantal nomism framework—belief that God graciously chose Israel, and faithful Jews maintained covenant standing through Torah observance. The disciples' shock reflects their assumption that a Torah-observant, wealthy young man represented the best-case scenario for salvation. Jesus's teaching on wealth's spiritual danger threatened this entire paradigm.
Questions for Reflection
- How does the disciples' question expose the human tendency to assess salvation by comparing ourselves favorably to others?
- What modern equivalents to first-century Jewish confidence in wealth and religious pedigree do Christians trust for salvation?
- How should Jesus's teaching on salvation's impossibility shape our evangelism, pastoral care, and personal assurance of grace?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
They were exceedingly amazed (ἐξεπλήσσοντο σφόδρα, exeplēssonto sphodra)—The disciples' astonishment reveals their residual belief in merit-based salvation. The verb ἐκπλήσσω (ekplēssō) means to strike with panic or shock; intensified by σφόδρα (sphodra, exceedingly), it conveys their theological world collapsing. If the wealthy and righteous cannot save themselves, who then can be saved? (τίς ἄρα δύναται σωθῆναι, tis ara dunatai sōthēnai)—their question exposes the universal impossibility of self-salvation.
Jesus's teaching that entrance through the needle's eye is impossible (v. 24) demolishes all human confidence in natural ability or achievement. The disciples understood the implication: if advantage, morality, and religious devotion cannot secure salvation, then salvation is humanly impossible. This sets up Jesus's revelation in verse 26 that with God all things are possible—salvation is divine work, not human achievement.