Bible Strands
Luke 18:22
On hearing this, Jesus told him, “You still lack one thing: Sell everything you own and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow Me.”
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Jesus addresses a wealthy ruler who has just declared he kept all commandments from his youth. Jesus delivers this command immediately following the ruler’s claim of personal righteousness.
The words — ἔτι (eti) means "yet" or "still," and ταῦτα (tauta) means "these things." The text states that despite the ruler's past obedience, he still lacks one thing regarding these matters.
The thread — The directive to sell possessions and give to the poor appears in Luke 12:33 and Matthew 19:21, while 1 Timothy 6:18 instructs the wealthy to be generous and ready to share.
Why it lands — The text commands the ruler to liquidate his assets, give the proceeds to the poor, and then follow Jesus to gain treasure in heaven. It requires a reader to identify the specific wealth or security that currently prevents total commitment to Christ.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me.
Cross-references
- Luke 12:33 Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide yourselves with purses that will not wear out, an inexhaustible treasure in heaven, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys.
- 1 Timothy 6:18 Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, and to be generous and ready to share,
- Matthew 19:21 Jesus told him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow Me.”
- Matthew 6:19 Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.
- Luke 10:42 But only one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, and it will not be taken away from her.”
- Luke 16:9 I tell you, use worldly wealth to make friends for yourselves so that when it is gone, they will welcome you into eternal dwellings.
- Psalms 27:4 One thing I have asked of the LORD; this is what I desire: to dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the LORD and seek Him in His temple.
- Luke 9:23 Then Jesus said to all of them, “If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me.
- Luke 9:57 As they were walking along the road, someone said to Jesus, “I will follow You wherever You go.”
- Acts 2:44 All the believers were together and had everything in common.