Luke 18:18
Luke 18:18 in Multiple Translations
Then a certain ruler asked Him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
And a certain ruler asked him, saying, Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?
And a certain ruler asked him, saying, Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?
And a certain ruler put a question to him, saying, Good Master, what have I to do so that I may have eternal life?
One of the rulers came to Jesus and asked him, “Good Teacher, what do I have to do to inherit eternal life?”
Then a certaine ruler asked him, saying, Good Master, what ought I to doe, to inherite eternall life?
And a certain ruler questioned him, saying, 'Good teacher, what having done — shall I inherit life age-during?'
A certain ruler asked him, saying, “Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”
And a certain ruler asked him, saying, Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?
And a certain ruler asked him, saying: Good master, what shall I do to possess everlasting life?
A Jewish leader asked Jesus, “Good teacher, what shall I do in order to have eternal life?”
Berean Amplified Bible — Luke 18:18
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Luke 18:18 Interlinear (Deep Study)
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Greek Word Reference — Luke 18:18
Study Notes — Luke 18:18
- Context
- Cross References
- Luke 18:18 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Luke 18:18
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Luke 18:18
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Luke 18:18
- Trapp's Commentary on Luke 18:18
- Ellicott's Commentary on Luke 18:18
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Luke 18:18
- Cambridge Bible on Luke 18:18
- Sermons on Luke 18:18
Context — The Rich Young Ruler
18Then a certain ruler asked Him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
19“Why do you call Me good?” Jesus replied. “No one is good except God alone. 20You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery, do not murder, do not steal, do not bear false witness, honor your father and mother.’ ”Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mark 10:17–31 | As Jesus started on His way, a man ran up and knelt before Him. “Good Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” “Why do you call Me good?” Jesus replied. “No one is good except God alone. You know the commandments: ‘Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not bear false witness, do not cheat others, honor your father and mother.’ ” “Teacher,” he replied, “all these I have kept from my youth.” Jesus looked at him, loved him, and said to him, “There is one thing you lack: Go, sell everything you own and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow Me. ” But the man was saddened by these words and went away in sorrow, because he had great wealth. Then Jesus looked around and said to His disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!” And the disciples were amazed at His words. But Jesus said to them again, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” They were even more astonished and said to one another, “Who then can be saved?” Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God.” Peter began to say to Him, “Look, we have left everything and followed You.” “Truly I tell you,” Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for My sake and for the gospel will fail to receive a hundredfold in the present age—houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and fields, along with persecutions—and in the age to come, eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.” |
| 2 | Acts 16:30 | Then he brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” |
| 3 | Matthew 19:16–30 | Just then a man came up to Jesus and inquired, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to obtain eternal life?” “Why do you ask Me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, keep the commandments.” “Which ones?” the man asked. Jesus answered, “‘Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not bear false witness, honor your father and mother, and love your neighbor as yourself.’ ” “All these I have kept,” said the young man. “What do I still lack?” Jesus told him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow Me.” When the young man heard this, he went away in sorrow, because he had great wealth. Then Jesus said to His disciples, “Truly I tell you, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, “Who then can be saved?” Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” “Look,” Peter replied, “we have left everything to follow You. What then will there be for us?” Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, in the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on His glorious throne, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or fields for the sake of My name will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first. |
| 4 | Ezekiel 33:31 | So My people come to you as usual, sit before you, and hear your words; but they do not put them into practice. Although they express love with their mouths, their hearts pursue dishonest gain. |
| 5 | Acts 2:37 | When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and asked Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” |
| 6 | Luke 6:46 | Why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ but not do what I say? |
| 7 | Luke 10:25–28 | One day an expert in the law stood up to test Him. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” “What is written in the Law?” Jesus replied. “How do you read it?” He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’ and ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ ” “You have answered correctly,” Jesus said. “Do this and you will live.” |
| 8 | John 13:13–15 | You call Me Teacher and Lord, and rightly so, because I am. So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example so that you should do as I have done for you. |
| 9 | Malachi 1:6 | “A son honors his father, and a servant his master. But if I am a father, where is My honor? And if I am a master, where is your fear of Me?” says the LORD of Hosts to you priests who despise My name. “But you ask, ‘How have we despised Your name?’ |
Luke 18:18 Summary
This verse is about a ruler who wants to know how to get eternal life. He asks Jesus, who is the only one who can give true life, as promised in John 14:6. To inherit eternal life, we need to receive it as a gift from God, not by our own efforts, but by trusting in Jesus and following Him, as taught in Ephesians 2:8-9 and Romans 3:24. This means surrendering our pride and self-sufficiency, and coming to God with a humble and childlike heart, as Jesus taught in Matthew 18:3-4.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean to inherit eternal life?
Inheriting eternal life means receiving the gift of eternal salvation and fellowship with God, as promised in John 3:16 and Romans 6:23, which is only possible through faith in Jesus Christ.
Why did the ruler call Jesus 'Good Teacher'?
The ruler called Jesus 'Good Teacher' as a sign of respect and admiration, but Jesus responded by saying that only God is truly good, emphasizing His divine nature and authority, as seen in Matthew 19:17 and Mark 10:18.
What is the significance of this ruler's question?
The ruler's question reveals his desire to know how to attain eternal life, which is a universal human longing, and Jesus' response will reveal the true nature of salvation and discipleship, as taught in Luke 9:23-25 and Matthew 16:24-26.
How does this verse relate to the previous verses about children and the kingdom of God?
This verse is connected to the previous verses because it shows that even a ruler, who might seem mature and self-sufficient, needs to receive the kingdom of God like a little child, as Jesus taught in Luke 18:17 and Matthew 18:3-4.
Reflection Questions
- What are my motivations for seeking eternal life, and am I willing to surrender my own efforts to receive it as a gift from God?
- How do I view Jesus - as a good teacher or as the Lord of my life, and what difference does that make in my daily decisions?
- In what ways can I receive the kingdom of God like a little child, with humility, trust, and dependence on God's grace?
- What are the obstacles in my life that might hinder me from inheriting eternal life, and how can I overcome them with God's help?
Gill's Exposition on Luke 18:18
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Luke 18:18
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Luke 18:18
Trapp's Commentary on Luke 18:18
Ellicott's Commentary on Luke 18:18
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Luke 18:18
Cambridge Bible on Luke 18:18
Sermons on Luke 18:18
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
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Lukewarm and Loving It! by Francis Chan | In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of overcoming worldly desires and focusing on the treasure of God's kingdom. He refers to the book of Revelation, where those |
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K-048 One Thing You Lack by Art Katz | In this sermon, the speaker reflects on the deep attachment and love we can have for animals, which may ultimately be a love of self. He emphasizes the need to cut the cord on this |
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Hell's Best Kept Secret (Spanish) by Ray Comfort | In this sermon, the preacher uses a story of two men on a plane to illustrate the difference between a gospel focused on life enhancement and a gospel focused on salvation. The fir |
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The Rich Young Ruler and the Blind Beggar by Art Katz | In this sermon, the speaker focuses on the encounter between Jesus and the rich young ruler as described in Luke chapter 18. The speaker emphasizes that this encounter is not just |
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Seers by Jackie Pullinger | In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of seeing and taking action to help those in need. They highlight the need for spiritual and material wealth in order to give |
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Do Not Sell the Gospel by John Piper | In this sermon, Pastor John Piper reflects on a message he heard 36 years ago about the story of the rich young ruler. The speaker emphasized the importance of letting go of worldl |
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Religious Without Being a Christian by Winkie Pratney | In this sermon, the preacher discusses the parable of the sower, which is repeated three times by Jesus. He identifies three kinds of counterfeit conversion - the religion of fear, |






