Discovery BoxMatthew 19:21 
Context19:21 Jesus said to him, “If you wish to be perfect, go sell your possessions and give the money 1 to the poor, and you will have treasure 2 in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
Matthew 19:27
Context19:27 Then Peter said 3 to him, “Look, 4 we have left everything to follow you! 5 What then will there be for us?”
Matthew 19:29
Context19:29 And whoever has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much 6 and will inherit eternal life.
1 tn The words “the money” are not in the Greek text, but are implied. Direct objects were often omitted in Greek when clear from the context.
2 sn The call for sacrifice comes with a promise of eternal reward: You will have treasure in heaven. Jesus’ call is a test to see how responsive the man is to God’s direction through him. Will he walk the path God’s agent calls him to walk? For a rich person who got it right, see Zacchaeus in Luke 19:1-10.
3 tn Grk “Then answering, Peter said.” This construction is somewhat redundant in contemporary English and has been simplified in the translation.
4 sn Peter wants reassurance that the disciples’ response and sacrifice have been noticed.
5 tn Grk “We have left everything and followed you.” Koine Greek often used paratactic structure when hypotactic was implied.
6 sn Jesus reassures his disciples with a promise that (1) much benefit in this life (a hundred times as much) and (2) eternal life will be given.
