Matthew 19:25

KJV

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

KJV (with Strong's)

When {G1161} his {G846} disciples {G3101} heard {G191} it, they were exceedingly {G4970} amazed {G1605}, saying {G3004}, Who {G5101} then {G686} can {G1410} be saved {G4982}?

Complete Jewish Bible

When the talmidim heard this they were utterly amazed. "Then who," they asked, "can be saved?"

Berean Standard Bible

When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, “Who then can be saved?”

American Standard Version

And when the disciples heard it, they were astonished exceedingly, saying, Who then can be saved?

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Matthew 19:25 powerfully captures the profound astonishment and deep spiritual crisis experienced by Jesus' disciples upon hearing His radical teaching about the extreme difficulty for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. Their bewildered question, "Who then can be saved?", underscores the revolutionary nature of Jesus' words, which directly challenged the prevailing cultural and religious assumptions of their era, revealing a fundamental misunderstanding of salvation's true source.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse immediately follows Jesus' encounter with the [rich young ruler](/matthew/19-16-22 "Matthew 19:16-22 - The Rich Young Ruler"), who, despite his apparent piety and desire for eternal life, was unwilling to surrender his vast possessions to follow Christ. Jesus then delivers a startling teaching, declaring, "Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven" ([Matthew 19:23](/matthew/19-23 "Matthew 19:23 - Jesus on the Difficulty of Wealth and Salvation")). He further intensifies this statement with the vivid and memorable hyperbole, "And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God" ([Matthew 19:24](/matthew/19-24 "Matthew 19:24 - The Camel and the Needle's Eye")). The disciples' reaction in verse 25 is a direct, visceral response to the seemingly insurmountable obstacle Jesus has just presented, setting the stage for Jesus' profound answer regarding divine possibility in the subsequent verse ([Matthew 19:26](/matthew/19-26 "Matthew 19:26 - With God All Things Are Possible")).

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In the Jewish society of Jesus' time, wealth was often perceived as a clear sign of God's blessing and favor. It was commonly believed that prosperity indicated a person's righteousness and adherence to the Law, making them more likely candidates for divine favor and entrance into the kingdom. The Old Testament frequently connects obedience with material blessings (e.g., [Deuteronomy 28:1-14](/deuteronomy/28-1-14 "Deuteronomy 28:1-14 - Blessings for Obedience")). Therefore, Jesus' assertion that a rich man would find it *hard* to enter the kingdom, let alone be compared to a camel passing through a needle's eye, was utterly counter-cultural and deeply shocking. It shattered their conventional understanding of success, piety, and the path to salvation, leading to their bewildered question.

* **Key Themes:** This verse contributes significantly to several key themes within [Matthew's Gospel](/matthew/1 "The Gospel According to Matthew") and the broader New Testament. It highlights the theme of **human impossibility** in achieving salvation through one's own efforts, status, or possessions, contrasting sharply with the prevailing Jewish understanding of merit. It also sets the stage for the theme of **divine possibility**, as Jesus' answer in the next verse will pivot to God's omnipotence in salvation. Furthermore, it reinforces Jesus' consistent challenge to **worldly values**, particularly the idolatry of wealth, demonstrating that material possessions, far from being a guarantee of spiritual standing, can become a significant barrier to true spiritual life and allegiance to God. The disciples' question ultimately forces a re-evaluation of **the nature of true salvation**, moving it from external markers of success to an internal transformation and radical dependence on God.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Disciples (Greek, _mathētḗs_):** From G3101, meaning "a learner, i.e., pupil." This term emphasizes their role as students under Jesus' instruction. Their astonishment highlights that even those intimately familiar with Jesus' teachings were profoundly challenged by this particular truth, revealing the depth of their ingrained cultural assumptions about wealth and salvation.
* **Amazed (Greek, _ekplḗssō_):** From G1605, meaning "to strike with astonishment." The prefix "ek" (out of) intensifies the verb "plēssō" (to strike), conveying a sense of being "struck out of one's senses" or utterly overwhelmed. This word choice vividly portrays the disciples' profound shock and bewilderment, indicating that Jesus' words had a truly jarring and paradigm-shifting effect on them.
* **Saved (Greek, _sṓzō_):** From G4982, meaning "to save, i.e., deliver or protect (literally or figuratively); to heal, preserve, make whole." This is the core of their desperate inquiry. The disciples' question, "Who then can be saved?", reflects their understanding of salvation as entrance into the Kingdom of God, and their fear that if the "blessed" rich cannot enter, then no one can meet such an impossibly high standard.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"When his disciples heard [it]":** This phrase connects the disciples' reaction directly to Jesus' preceding statements about the rich man and the camel. The "it" refers to Jesus' radical teaching that wealth is a hindrance, not a help, to entering the Kingdom of God, and the vivid analogy of the camel and the needle's eye. Their hearing was not merely auditory but intellectual and spiritual, leading to a profound internal struggle.
* **"they were exceedingly amazed":** This clause describes the intensity of their reaction. The adverb "exceedingly" (Greek, _sphódra_) emphasizes the extreme nature of their astonishment. It was not mere surprise but a deep, overwhelming sense of shock and bewilderment, indicating that Jesus' words had completely upended their theological framework and cultural expectations regarding salvation.
* **"saying, Who then can be saved?":** This is a rhetorical question born out of despair and confusion. It expresses the disciples' conclusion that if the rich, who were considered most favored by God, could not be saved, then salvation must be an impossibility for anyone. This question is crucial as it sets the stage for Jesus' subsequent teaching on the divine nature of salvation.

#### Literary Devices
Matthew 19:25 employs several powerful literary devices. The most prominent is the **Rhetorical Question**, "Who then can be saved?" This is not a request for information but an expression of profound shock, despair, and a challenge to the implied impossibility of salvation based on Jesus' preceding statements. It serves to highlight the disciples' bewilderment and to draw the reader into their dilemma. Furthermore, the verse functions as a moment of **Dramatic Irony**, as the disciples, despite being close to Jesus, are still operating under a worldly understanding of righteousness and divine favor. Their amazement underscores their limited perspective, which Jesus is about to expand upon. The **Juxtaposition** of their human despair with Jesus' forthcoming divine answer (in [Matthew 19:26](/matthew/19-26 "Matthew 19:26 - With God All Things Are Possible")) creates a powerful theological contrast, emphasizing the vast difference between human effort and divine grace.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Matthew 19:25 serves as a pivotal moment, exposing the universal human predicament regarding salvation. The disciples' question, born from their cultural assumptions, reveals the inherent human inability to earn or achieve salvation through personal merit, status, or material possessions. If even those considered "blessed" by God's material provision found it impossible to enter the Kingdom, then the path to salvation must lie entirely outside human capability. This verse powerfully sets the stage for Jesus to reveal that salvation is not a human achievement but a divine work, entirely dependent on God's power and grace. It underscores the radical nature of the Kingdom of God, which operates on principles diametrically opposed to worldly values and human-centric efforts.

* [Jeremiah 32:27](/jeremiah/32-27 "Jeremiah 32:27 - Is Anything Too Hard for God?")
* [Luke 18:26-27](/luke/18-26-27 "Luke 18:26-27 - Who Then Can Be Saved? (Parallel Account)")
* [Ephesians 2:8-9](/ephesians/2-8-9 "Ephesians 2:8-9 - Salvation by Grace Through Faith")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The disciples' bewildered question in Matthew 19:25 resonates deeply with the human condition, forcing us to confront our own assumptions about what it takes to be "saved." In a world that often equates success, influence, or even moral uprightness with divine favor, this verse serves as a profound reminder that no human effort, no accumulation of wealth, no level of social standing, and no amount of good deeds can ever earn us a place in God's eternal Kingdom. Our salvation is not a reward for our performance but a gift freely given by God's boundless grace. This truth should lead us to a posture of humility, recognizing our utter dependence on God's mercy and power. It challenges us to examine where our trust truly lies: in our own abilities and resources, or in the sovereign, saving work of God alone. Embracing this reality frees us from the burden of self-justification and opens our hearts to receive the salvation that is impossible for humanity but gloriously possible with God.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What cultural or personal assumptions do you hold about what qualifies someone for God's favor or salvation?**
* **How does the disciples' astonishment challenge your understanding of human effort versus divine grace in the process of salvation?**
* **In what areas of your life might you be subtly trusting in your own resources or achievements rather than solely in God for your ultimate security and hope?**
* **What does "being saved" truly mean to you in light of this verse, and how does it impact your daily walk with Christ?**

### FAQ
**Why were the disciples so "exceedingly amazed" by Jesus' statement?**

Answer: The disciples' extreme amazement stemmed from the deeply ingrained cultural and theological beliefs of their time. In Jewish society, wealth was often seen as a sign of God's blessing and favor, indicating righteousness and a greater likelihood of entering the Kingdom of God. Therefore, Jesus' declaration that it was *hard* for a rich man to enter, and His vivid analogy of a camel passing through a needle's eye ([Matthew 19:24](/matthew/19-24 "Matthew 19:24 - The Camel and the Needle's Eye")), completely upended their understanding. If even the "blessed" rich faced such an insurmountable obstacle, then who, in their human estimation, could possibly be saved? Their amazement was a reaction to the radical challenge Jesus posed to their conventional wisdom and religious assumptions.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Matthew 19:25, with the disciples' desperate question "Who then can be saved?", finds its ultimate and glorious fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Their question, born of human impossibility, perfectly sets the stage for Jesus' profound answer in the very next verse: "With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible" ([Matthew 19:26](/matthew/19-26 "Matthew 19:26 - With God All Things Are Possible")). This "possibility with God" is realized through Christ. Humanity's inability to save itself, highlighted by the rich young ruler's failure and the disciples' despair, points directly to the necessity of a divine intervention. Jesus, as the [Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"), is God's answer to humanity's impossible predicament. Through His perfect life, atoning death on the cross, and victorious resurrection, Jesus accomplished what no human effort, wealth, or righteousness could ever achieve. He became the [way, the truth, and the life](/john/14-6 "John 14:6 - Jesus, the Way, the Truth, and the Life"), the sole mediator through whom reconciliation with God and eternal life are made possible. Thus, the "who" that can be saved is anyone who, recognizing their own inability, places their faith in the finished work of Christ, for [there is salvation in no one else](/acts/4-12 "Acts 4:12 - Salvation in No Other Name").

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Matthew 24:22

And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.

Romans 10:13

For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Luke 13:23

¶ Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them,

Luke 13:24

Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.

Mark 13:20

And except that the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh should be saved: but for the elect's sake, whom he hath chosen, he hath shortened the days.

Romans 11:5

Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.

Romans 11:7

What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded