Bible Strands
Matthew 19:22
When the young man heard this, he went away in sorrow, because he had great wealth.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Jesus speaks to the young man immediately after commanding him to sell his possessions, give to the poor, and follow Him. The moment captures the young man's immediate reaction to the demand for total surrender.
The words — Ἀκούσας (Akousas) means "having heard," and ἀπῆλθεν (apēlthen) means "he went away," marking a decisive physical departure from Jesus' instruction.
The thread — This pattern of hearing a divine word but walking away appears in Ezekiel 33:31, where listeners do not practice what they hear, and in Matthew 13:22, where the deceitfulness of wealth chokes the word.
Why it lands — The text establishes a direct conflict between retaining material wealth and obeying Christ's call, leaving no room for divided allegiance as stated in Matthew 6:24.
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
But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.
Cross-references
- Ezekiel 33:31 So My people come to you as usual, sit before you, and hear your words; but they do not put them into practice. Although they express love with their mouths, their hearts pursue dishonest gain.
- Matthew 6:24 No one can serve two masters: Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.
- Matthew 13:22 The seed sown among the thorns is the one who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.
- Matthew 16:26 What will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?
- Mark 10:22 But the man was saddened by these words and went away in sorrow, because he had great wealth.
- Ephesians 5:5 For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure, or greedy person (that is, an idolater) has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
- Colossians 3:5 Put to death, therefore, the components of your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires, and greed, which is idolatry.
- Matthew 14:9 The king was grieved, but because of his oaths and his guests, he ordered that her wish be granted
- Mark 6:26 The king was consumed with sorrow, but because of his oaths and his guests, he did not want to refuse her.
- Luke 18:23 But when the ruler heard this, he became very sad, because he was extremely wealthy.