16. Then Jesus took the children in his arms. He put his hands on them and blessed them.
17. Jesus started to leave, but a man ran to him and fell on his knees before Jesus. The man asked, “Good teacher, what must I do to get the life that never ends?”
18. Jesus answered, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone.
19. You know the commands: ‘You must not murder anyone. You must not be guilty of adultery. You must not steal. You must not tell lies about your neighbor in court. You must not cheat. Honor your father and mother.’”
20. The man said, “Teacher, I have obeyed all these commands since I was a boy.”
21. Jesus looked straight at the man and loved him. Jesus said, “There is still one more thing you need to do. Go and sell everything you have, and give the money to the poor. You will have a reward in heaven. Then come and follow me.”
22. He was very sad to hear Jesus say this, and he left. The man was sad because he was very rich.
23. Then Jesus looked at his followers and said, “How hard it will be for those who are rich to enter the kingdom of God!”