What does “with men this is impossible” mean (Matthew 19:26)?

Response

On His final journey to Jerusalem before His death, Jesus met a wealthy young man who inquired about obtaining eternal life (Matthew 19:16-30). Jesus used this opportunity to instruct His followers about the risks associated with accumulating wealth and possessions, which can impede one’s faith. Anything that obstructs our dedication to following God must be abandoned (refer to verse 21). When Jesus emphasized the difficulty for the affluent to enter the kingdom of heaven, the disciples were greatly surprised. They had embraced the common belief that wealth indicated God’s approval. “Then who can be saved?” the disciples inquired (verse 25, NLT).

Gazing at them intently, Jesus declared, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible” «But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible. », (Matthew 19:26, NKJV). Jesus revealed the essential aspect of salvation. By themselves, humans lack the ability to enter the kingdom of heaven. A person may possess every material blessing but remains incapable of saving themselves. Salvation is solely a gift from God (Romans 5:15-16).

Wealth tends to foster self-reliance, self-centeredness, and distraction with worldly pursuits. We place excessive trust in ourselves and our riches, losing our childlike faith and dependence on God’s goodness and mercy. Nevertheless, it is humanly impossible to earn or work our way into heaven: “But—When God our Savior revealed his kindness and love, he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new.Life through the Holy Spirit. He generously poured out the Spirit upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior. Because of His grace, He made us right in His sight and gave us confidence that we will inherit eternal life” (Titus 3:4-7;NLT).

When Jesus said, “With men, this is impossible,” He meant that it is only by God’s grace through faith in Jesus Christ that a person can be saved (Ephesians 2:4-9;see also Acts 15:11;see also Acts 16:30-31;Romans 3:21-24;5:1-2;11:5-6). Jesus is the only way to the Father (John 14:6;John 10:9;Hebrews 10:19-20;1 Timothy 2:5). “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved” «Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. », (Acts 4:12).

Belief in Jesus changes what is humanly impossible into unlimited possibilities with God. Through faith in Jesus Christ, mere mortals receive “the right to become children of God—children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God” (John 1:12-13). As God’s children, we receive the indescribably good gift of eternal life (John 3:15-16;Romans 10:9;2 Corinthians 9:15).

Job and others in Scripture asked similar questions as the disciples, “How then can a mortal be righteous before God? How can one bornOf woman be pure?” (Job 25:4; see also 1 Samuel 6:20; Job 4:17-19; 9:2; 15:14-16; Psalm 130:3; Psalm 143:2; Malachi 3:2; Revelation 6:17). Apart from the Lord’s intervention, becoming righteous before God is hopeless. With men, this is impossible! But with God, “we have been made right in God’s sight by faith. We have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory” (Romans 5:1-2; NLT).

With men, this is impossible means there’s no place in God’s kingdom for boasting about our own righteousness (Romans 3:27-30; 1 Corinthians 1:28-31). The apostle Paul expounded, “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!” (Galatians 2:20-21). Paul continued, “As for me, may I never boast about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of that cross, my interest in this world has been crucified, and the world’s interest in me has also died” «But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world. », (Galatians 6:14, NLT).

With men tThis is impossible affirms that any form of self-justification is futile. We cannot purchase our way into heaven or labor our way into God’s kingdom. The believer’s sole hope of salvation—his only assurance in approaching God—is in God Himself, with whom all things are achievable.