What does “sell what you have and give to the poor” mean in Matthew 19:21?

In Matthew 19:21, Jesus tells a wealthy young man, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me” (NKJV). This statement challenges believers to prioritize God’s kingdom over material wealth. To enter God’s kingdom, we must not let the love of money control our hearts.

The context of Matthew 19:21 is fundamental. The young man approaches Jesus and asks, “What good thing must I do to get eternal life?” (Matthew 19:16). First, Jesus points him to the commandments, all of which the young man claims to have kept. However, Jesus knew the man’s heart, so He said, “Sell your possessions, and give the money to the poor” (verse 21). Material possessions held the man’s heart, so he sorrowfully departed from Jesus’ presence (verse 22). He loved his money more than he loved Christ.

Jesus’ command to the young man to sell what he had and give it to the poor does not imply a works-based salvation. It was simply Jesus’ way of pinpointing the sin of greed in the young man’s heart. Despite the young man’s claim to be a law-keeper, he was in violation of the very first commandment to love the Lord God more than anything. His heart was not right with God, and his clinging to his wealth proved it.

Selling what we have and giving to the poor is a recurring biblical theme. For instance, Proverbs 19:17 states, “Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will reward them for what they have done.” Similarly, generous giving is promoted in Proverbs 14:21: “It is a sin to despise one’s neighbor, but blessed is the one who is kind to the needy.” The young man in Matthew 19:21 cared more about himself than giving money to the poor, and he decided not to follow Jesus.

The young man should have built treasure in heaven instead of on earth. In Matthew 6:19–20, Jesus advises, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.” The young man in Matthew 19 was earthly minded, not heavenly minded, as evidenced by his refusal to sell what he had and give to the poor.

In the Sermon on the Plain, Jesus gives similar instruction: “Sell what you have and give alms; provide yourselves money bags which do not grow old, a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches nor moth destroys” (Luke 12:33, NKJV). The young man in Matthew 19 should have trusted God’s provision instead of trusting his material possessions. Jesus reassures us that God will provide for our needs when we submit to His will: “Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you” (Matthew 6:33).

Sell what you have and give to the poor was a command given to the rich young ruler to reveal his sinful heart. It does not follow that God wants everyone to take a vow of poverty and purposefully impoverish themselves. But God does want us to hold our possessions loosely. Followers of Christ must have a spirit of generosity and willingness to share their possessions with others. In Matthew 19, the young man’s wealth had become an idol, preventing him from trusting and obeying Christ.

Matthew 19:21 prompts us to evaluate our hearts and reorient our priorities. The apostle Paul charges, “Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment” (1 Timothy 6:17). Earthly wealth is temporary, but heavenly wealth is eternal. So, let us place our hope in the God who never fails.