Luke 18 22

Luke 18:22 kjv

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.

Luke 18:22 nkjv

So when Jesus heard these things, He said to him, "You still lack one thing. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me."

Luke 18:22 niv

When Jesus heard this, he said to him, "You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."

Luke 18:22 esv

When Jesus heard this, he said to him, "One thing you still lack. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me."

Luke 18:22 nlt

When Jesus heard his answer, he said, "There is still one thing you haven't done. Sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."

Luke 18 verses

Luke 18 22 Meaning

Luke 18:22 encapsulates Jesus' radical call to discipleship, demanding complete divestment from worldly possessions and self-reliance to embrace eternal spiritual treasure and a life following Him. It highlights that even strong adherence to the Law is insufficient if one's heart remains tethered to material wealth, serving as a decisive turning point in the path to true eternal life.

Luke 18 22 Context

This verse is part of Jesus' encounter with a rich young ruler, who asks how to inherit eternal life. The man states he has kept all the commandments since his youth, a declaration of legalistic righteousness. Jesus' reply in verse 22 cuts to the core of the man's heart, revealing his spiritual deficit: an attachment to wealth that supersedes his devotion to God. The immediate preceding verses highlight the man's claim to faultless adherence to the Law. The broader context in Luke emphasizes Jesus' teachings on wealth, true discipleship, humility, and the nature of the Kingdom of God, often contrasting worldly values with divine ones. Historically, Jewish society esteemed wealth as a sign of God's blessing, making Jesus' demand a counter-cultural challenge to conventional piety and societal status. The encounter serves as a polemic against the idea that one can earn salvation through works while clinging to earthly comforts and failing to truly "follow" Christ.

Luke 18 22 Word analysis

• When Jesus heard this: Implies Jesus' divine insight into the man's heart beyond his spoken words, perceiving the underlying idolatry of wealth.
• he said to him: Authoritative pronouncement from the Teacher, an unveiling truth.
• "Still one thing you lack.": Greek: ἔτι ἕν σε λείπει (eti hen se leipei).
  • ἔτι (eti): "still," "yet," "further." It signifies a remaining, persistent deficiency, underscoring that despite the ruler's extensive outward adherence to the Law, a crucial inner void persisted.
  • ἕν (hen): "one thing." This singular emphasis pinpoints the core issue. It is not about many failings, but a central obstacle that negates his otherwise commendable observance.
  • λείπει (leipei): "to lack," "to be wanting," "to fall short." This term indicates a profound spiritual inadequacy, a deficit not in actions, but in ultimate devotion. The lack isn't superficial; it concerns the very essence of inheriting eternal life.
• "Sell all that you have": Greek: Πάντα ὅσα ἔχεις (Panta hosa echeis).
  • Πάντα (panta): "all things," "everything." This is an absolute command, demanding complete and unconditional surrender of possessions, not a mere partial offering. It directly challenges the common cultural practice of giving portions as alms, calling for radical divestment.
  • ὅσα ἔχεις (hosa echeis): "whatever you have." Reinforces the comprehensiveness. This command serves to expose the man's true object of worship – his wealth – and forces a choice between God and mammon. It implies liberating the heart from material attachment.
• "and distribute to the poor,": Greek: διασκορπίσον τοῖς πτωχοῖς (diaskorpison tois ptochois).
  • διασκορπίσον (diaskorpison): "scatter abroad," "distribute." The term suggests spreading the wealth widely, ensuring it genuinely benefits the needy, rather than merely disposing of it.
  • τοῖς πτωχοῖς (tois ptochois): "to the poor ones." πτωχός (ptochos) typically refers to the utterly destitute, often a beggar or one reduced to extreme poverty, who depends on others. It implies compassion for the genuinely suffering and a sharing with those whom society often overlooked, echoing Mosaic Law principles (Dt 15:7-8).
• "and you will have treasure in heaven;": Greek: καὶ ἕξεις θησαυρὸν ἐν οὐρανῷ (kai hexeis thēsauron en ouranō).
  • θησαυρὸν (thēsauron): "treasure." Directly contrasts with earthly wealth, representing something of true, eternal value that cannot be stolen, corrupted, or lost.
  • ἐν οὐρανῷ (en ouranō): "in heaven." Emphasizes the divine source and eternal security of this "treasure," in stark contrast to the ephemeral and insecure nature of earthly possessions (Mt 6:19-21). This is the true reward of radical obedience.
• "and come, follow me.": Greek: δεῦρο ἀκολούθει μοι (deuro akolouthei moi).
  • δεῦρο (deuro): "Come here," "hither." An urgent, direct invitation to an immediate personal encounter and commitment. It's a command of presence.
  • ἀκολούθει μοι (akolouthei moi): "follow me." This is the ultimate objective, the call to discipleship, which is a life lived in continuous imitation of Jesus, sharing in His mission, suffering, and ultimately His glory. Poverty is not an end in itself, but a means to unhindered discipleship. It encapsulates walking the same path as Jesus, abandoning all earthly priorities for His kingdom.

Luke 18 22 Bonus section

This specific encounter often raises the question of whether Jesus mandates poverty for all His followers. Scholarly consensus suggests that while the principle of radical detachment from materialism applies universally, the literal command to sell "all" possessions was unique to this man, addressing his particular spiritual idol. For him, wealth was the barrier preventing full devotion and discipleship. For others, a different "one thing" might be holding them back. The underlying principle is that anything or anyone that takes precedence over God in one's life, especially self-reliance through wealth, must be surrendered to fully "follow Christ" and lay up true treasure in heaven. This story does not invalidate prudent financial management or responsible use of resources, but it profoundly challenges the spiritual security placed in them.

Luke 18 22 Commentary

Luke 18:22 represents a direct and penetrating challenge to the rich young ruler, moving beyond legalistic adherence to the Law to demand a radical, inner transformation. Jesus' command to "sell all that you have and distribute to the poor" was not a general requirement for all believers for all time, but a specific, diagnostic command aimed at this particular individual, whose heart was demonstrably held captive by his wealth. This "one thing" he lacked was a singular devotion to God, a willingness to place Him above his most prized possession. The promise of "treasure in heaven" illustrates that relinquishing earthly goods for Christ results in an infinitely more valuable and eternal recompense. The culminating call, "come, follow me," defines the essence of the demand: it's not about being poor, but about unreserved, unhindered discipleship, joining Jesus' mission and aligning one's life fully with His kingdom values. It serves as a profound example that true eternal life stems not from outward performance or accumulated merit, but from radical trust and unconditional surrender to Christ, prioritizing Him above all earthly securities and attachments. The rich young ruler’s failure to act on this exposes the idolatrous nature of his heart, highlighting that material possessions can be significant barriers to wholehearted devotion to God.