Matthew 19:26 Meaning: God's Power When We Have None
Looking at them, Jesus said, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.
And Jesus looking upon them said to them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.
And Jesus having earnestly beheld, said to them, `With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.'
But Jesus, looking on [them], said to them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.
Meaning in one sentence
Jesus tells his disciples that while we can't save ourselves, God can do what is humanly impossible. See the context and meaning of Matthew 19:26.
Context
Moments before this verse, a rich young man walked away from Jesus, unable to let go of his possessions. The disciples watched him go, and their hearts sank. If someone so blessed could not enter the kingdom, who could? They had spent years following Jesus, giving up homes and families. Now even that did not seem enough.
Jesus saw the fear in their eyes. He did not take back a word he had said. Instead he gave them something greater: a promise that shifts the whole weight from their shoulders to God. This verse is the hinge of the passage. It names human inability honestly, then opens the door to divine power.
Key Words
The word "this" in Jesus's answer matters. The disciples had asked, "Who then can be saved?" So when Jesus says "with men this is impossible," he is talking about salvation. Not just saving a rich person. Saving anyone at all. We cannot pull ourselves out of the hole we are in.
The Greek word for "impossible" is adunatos. It means powerless, without strength. It is the same word used for someone who is disabled or weak. On our own, we are spiritually disabled when it comes to saving ourselves.
But Jesus does not stop there. The word for "possible" is dunatos, able, mighty. The same root gives us the word "dynamite." What is impossible for us is dynamite-strong with God. He can do what we cannot even begin to do.
How Christians Read This Verse
Christians across traditions have read this verse as the great turning point from despair to hope. Reformed teachers like Calvin point out that Jesus does not comfort the disciples by lowering the standard; instead he raises it, so they learn to trust only in God. Wesley, from the Methodist tradition, said Jesus strengthens the difficulty rather than softening it, showing salvation as "the utmost effort of Omnipotence." Catholic teaching has long emphasized that grace can overcome even the most stubborn human attachments, and nothing is beyond God's power to heal. The Orthodox tradition sees here a promise of theosis, our transformation into Christ's likeness, which is beyond human reach but fully possible for God. All these voices agree: our inability is real, but God's power is greater.
A common misunderstanding
Living This Out
This week, take one situation where you feel completely stuck. It might be your own struggle with a habit you cannot break, a relationship that seems beyond repair, or a loved one who has walked away from faith. In that place, you are the disciples standing before Jesus. You have tried everything. Now hear his words: "With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." You do not have to fix it. You only have to bring it to the One who can do what you cannot. Let that situation become a place where you stop striving and start trusting.
Main takeaway: God can do what no human can: save the lost and change the hardest heart.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
Sometimes we try hard to do something but we just cannot. Maybe you tried to be kind when you were angry, or you wanted to forgive someone but it was too hard. Jesus says that when we cannot do something, God can. He is strong enough to help us do what we cannot do by ourselves.
For ages 9, 12
The disciples were worried because even rich, religious people could not save themselves. Jesus told them that while we cannot earn our way to God or fix our own hearts, nothing is too hard for God. This means when you face something that seems impossible, a subject at school you struggle with, a friend who hurt you, a sin you keep falling into, you can ask God to help. He can do what you cannot, and He loves to help His children.
Questions People Ask
What does 'this' refer to in Matthew 19:26?
The word 'this' points back to the disciples' question: 'Who then can be saved?' Jesus is saying that salvation itself is impossible for human beings to accomplish on their own. It is not just about rich people. No one can save themselves. That is why God must do it.
Does 'all things are possible with God' mean I can get whatever I pray for?
The immediate context is about salvation and heart transformation. Jesus is reassuring his disciples that God can change even the most attached heart. While God's power is unlimited, this verse is not a promise that He will give you anything you want. It is a promise that He can do what you cannot do, especially the work of saving and transforming a person.
Why did the disciples think it was impossible for a rich person to be saved?
In Jewish culture, wealth was often seen as a sign of God's blessing. So if a rich person could not be saved, who could? The disciples realized that if even the most blessed people face this difficulty, then everyone is in trouble. That is exactly the point Jesus makes: apart from God, nobody can be saved.
For pastors & researchers
Greek interlinear, 8 commentaries & word study