Matthew 19:25-26

The disciples’ amazement was due to the Jewish belief that wealth signified God’s favor. "Saved" is a synonym for entering the kingdom (Matthew 19:24) or obtaining eternal life (Matthew 19:16, cf. Mark 9:43-47). The antecedent of "this" in Matthew 19:26 is salvation (Matthew 19:25). In other words, man cannot save himself (cf. Matthew 19:21). Nevertheless God can save him, and He can do anything else. Jesus characteristically pointed the disciples away from man’s work to God’s work. Joseph of Arimathea was exceptional in that he was both rich and a disciple (Matthew 26:57).