Luke 18:23

And when he heard this, he was very sorrowful: for he was very rich.

And {G1161} when he heard {G191} this {G5023}, he was {G1096} very sorrowful {G4036}: for {G1063} he was {G2258} very {G4970} rich {G4145}.

But when the man heard this, he became very sad, because he was very rich.

But when the ruler heard this, he became very sad, because he was extremely wealthy.

But when he heard these things, he became exceeding sorrowful; for he was very rich.

Luke 18:23 captures a pivotal and somber moment in the interaction between Jesus and a wealthy young man. When challenged by Jesus to sell all his extensive possessions and follow Him, the man's immediate reaction was profound sorrow, revealing the deep hold his riches had on his heart.

Context

This verse concludes the account of the rich young ruler, which begins in Luke 18:18. A prominent and affluent young man approaches Jesus, inquiring what he must do to inherit eternal life. After confirming his adherence to the commandments, Jesus presented him with a radical and personal test: "One thing thou lackest: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me." The man's reaction in verse 23 underscores the immense difficulty this command presented to him, highlighting the conflict between worldly security and divine calling.

Key Themes

  • The Idolatry of Wealth: The man's sorrow vividly illustrates how material possessions can become an idol, obstructing a person's full commitment to God. His great wealth, rather than being a blessing, became a spiritual burden.
  • The Cost of Discipleship: Following Jesus often demands significant personal sacrifice and a willingness to surrender everything. For this young man, the call to "take up his cross" meant relinquishing his earthly security and status.
  • Sorrow of Missed Opportunity: The man's profound sadness reflects the agonizing choice between his comfortable life and the radical call of Christ. His decision to cling to his riches meant turning away from the unique opportunity to follow Jesus directly.
  • Heart Condition Revealed: Jesus' command was not a universal mandate for all, but a specific diagnosis for this individual, designed to expose where his true affections and priorities lay. His inability to obey unveiled a heart more attached to worldly treasure than to God's kingdom.

Linguistic Insights

  • The Greek word for "sorrowful" is lypoumenos (λυπούμενος), which conveys a deep sense of grief, distress, or sadness. It's more than mere disappointment; it signifies a profound internal anguish over the perceived loss or the inability to meet the divine expectation.
  • The phrase "very rich" is rendered from the Greek plousios sphodra (πλούσιος σφόδρα), emphasizing the extreme extent of his wealth. This detail is crucial, as it explains the magnitude of the sacrifice Jesus requested and, consequently, the intensity of the man's sorrow.

Practical Application

Luke 18:23 serves as a timeless challenge to all believers to examine their own hearts for anything that might hinder absolute devotion to God. While not everyone is called to literal poverty, the principle remains: anything—be it wealth, career, relationships, or comfort—that takes precedence over our relationship with Christ can become a barrier to spiritual growth and true discipleship. This passage encourages us to prioritize eternal treasures over temporal ones, echoing Jesus' teaching to "lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven." The rich young ruler's sorrowful departure also sets the stage for Jesus' subsequent teaching about the great difficulty the wealthy face in entering the kingdom of God (Luke 18:24-25), reminding us that humanly impossible things are possible with God.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Ezekiel 33:31

    And they come unto thee as the people cometh, and they sit before thee [as] my people, and they hear thy words, but they will not do them: for with their mouth they shew much love, [but] their heart goeth after their covetousness.

  • 1 John 2:15

    Love not the world, neither the things [that are] in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

  • Luke 8:14

    And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of [this] life, and bring no fruit to perfection.

  • Mark 10:22

    And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions.

  • Job 31:24

    ¶ If I have made gold my hope, or have said to the fine gold, [Thou art] my confidence;

  • Job 31:25

    If I rejoiced because my wealth [was] great, and because mine hand had gotten much;

  • Matthew 19:22

    But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.

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