“Who then can be saved?”
The full verse · Mark 10:26 · KJV
they were out of , , then be ?
Asked by
Disciples: "the disciples" (Mark 10:24), also "his disciples" (Mark 10:23), the followers with Jesus when the rich man "went away grieved" (Mark 10:22); they "were astonished out of measure" at His words about riches (Mark 10:24-26)
Asked to
Disciples: "the disciples" (Mark 10:24), speaking "among themselves" in the KJV (Mark 10:26); the ESV, following other Greek manuscripts, says they "said to him."
The Scene
After the rich man goes away grieved, Jesus tells His disciples how hard it is "for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God," adding that a camel could go through the eye of a needle more easily (Mark 10:22-25).
Why It Was Asked
The purpose behind the questionThe disciples were "astonished out of measure." They had just watched a man who said he had kept the commandments from his youth go away grieved (Mark 10:20-22), and then heard Jesus' saying about the camel. Gill says their amazement grew when Jesus used the camel comparison, which to them showed it was "utterly impossible for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God." They reasoned, as Gill puts it, "who then can be saved? in the Messiah's kingdom, if rich men are not?" The question is not a challenge. It is honest bewilderment at how high the bar seemed.
The Response
What Scripture records"Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible" (Mark 10:27). Jesus did not lower the bar. He agreed that salvation is impossible for people on their own, and then pointed them to God. Peter responded, "Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee" (Mark 10:28), and Jesus promised that no one who has left house or family for His sake and the gospel's will fail to receive "an hundredfold now in this time... and in the world to come eternal life" (Mark 10:29-30).
Historical Context
The world behind the words"Astonished out of measure" translates two Greek words: perissos, exceedingly, and ekplesso, which Thayer defines as "to strike one out of self-possession" or to be "struck with astonishment." Barnes says "out of measure" simply means "Very much, or exceedingly."
The KJV says they spoke "among themselves," following the Textus Receptus (the Greek text behind the KJV), which reads pros heautous. Other Greek manuscripts read "to him," which is why the ESV says they "said to him." Gill also notes that the Persic version (an old Persian translation) reads, "how can this man be saved?" as if the disciples were thinking of the young man who had just left.
The Bigger Picture
Where this fits in God's storyThis question gets to the center of the gospel. If salvation depended on human effort, no one could be saved, rich or poor. Jesus' answer makes clear where salvation comes from: "with God all things are possible" (Mark 10:27).
The same chapter has just shown it. Jesus said the kingdom must be received "as a little child" (Mark 10:15), and the eager man who asked what he could do went away grieved (Mark 10:22). The disciples' astonished question opens the door for Jesus to point them away from what people can do and toward what God can do.
Look Closer
Why were the disciples so astonished?
Carry the question into prayer and conversation.
Lord, when I see how far short we all fall, what do You want me to understand about what is possible with You?
A prayer to carry into the day.
- The disciples were astonished at how hard Jesus said it is to enter the kingdom. Where do you tend to measure yourself or others by outward goodness?
- Tell about a time you saw God do something in a person's life that seemed impossible.
For you, a small group, a friend, or the dinner table.
If you have ever felt that following Jesus is too hard, you are in good company. His own disciples asked, "Who then can be saved?" And Jesus did not tell them it was easy. He told them it was impossible for people, but not for God.
That is good news. Your salvation does not rest on how strong, wealthy, or disciplined you are. It rests on what God can do. When you feel unable, bring that to Him honestly.
This does not mean effort and obedience do not matter. Right after this, Jesus spoke of those who leave all to follow Him (Mark 10:29-30). But even that following rests on what God makes possible (Mark 10:27).
Built from the biblical text and checked against trusted commentaries and lexicons. References & Sources