Matthew 19:25

Matthew 19:25 Meaning and Explanation

When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved?

King James Version (KJV)

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The disciples are astonished and ask who then can possibly be saved.

What Does Matthew 19:25 Mean?

The disciples are "exceedingly amazed." In their world, wealth was often seen as a sign of God's favor, so if the rich can scarcely be saved, they wonder, "Who then can be saved?" Their question reveals how thoroughly Jesus' words have overturned their assumptions about who stands well before God.

Their astonishment is the right response, for Jesus has just exposed how impossible salvation is by human effort or advantage. The disciples sense that the door is narrower than they thought, and that no earthly standing guarantees entrance. This honest bewilderment opens them to the answer that follows. The verse reminds us that the gospel begins where our confidence in ourselves ends, with the humbling realization that salvation lies beyond our reach to earn.

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What does Matthew 19:25 mean?

The disciples are astonished and ask who then can possibly be saved.

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