Matthew 19:26 “But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible”
Few statements of Jesus are quoted as frequently (or misunderstood as often) as His words in Matthew 19:26: “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” These words are often lifted from their setting and turned into a slogan for limitless personal achievement. Over time, this interpretation has subtly reshaped prayer into self-promotion and faith into a tool for fulfilling personal ambition.
Yet Jesus was not offering a blank cheque for human desire. He was revealing something far deeper, the profound truth that salvation, transformation, and wholehearted devotion are utterly beyond human ability, but never beyond God’s power.
To understand His words rightly, the surrounding moment must be considered. Just before this statement, a young man approached Jesus with what seemed like an earnest question: how to inherit eternal life. He appeared sincere, moral, and spiritually curious. Yet when Jesus invited him to release what held his heart (his wealth and sense of security), the young man turned away. His sorrow revealed a divided heart. Though he desired eternal life, he was unwilling to entrust himself fully to Jesus.
This encounter exposed a timeless struggle. Faith is not merely about belief; it is about surrender. Jesus was not condemning wealth itself but uncovering the deeper issue of misplaced trust. Anything that competes with wholehearted reliance on Him becomes a barrier, not because God withholds life, but because the heart refuses to receive it.
Jesus then spoke words that startled those listening: entering the kingdom of God was exceedingly difficult for those who placed their confidence in earthly security. The statement unsettled the disciples, who assumed that devotion and blessing were naturally aligned. Their confusion gave voice to an honest question: “Who then can be saved?”
It was in response to this question that Jesus uttered the famous words: “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” His answer shifted the focus entirely. Salvation was never something humanity could produce, earn, or sustain. No amount of discipline, effort, or moral striving could accomplish what only God could initiate and complete.
Jesus made it clear that transformation begins with divine action, not human achievement. Humanity cannot rescue itself from brokenness, pride, fear, or divided loyalty. But God can do what human effort cannot: change hearts, awaken faith, and restore what is beyond repair.
This truth dismantles both pride and despair. It humbles the self-reliant and lifts the weary. Faith is not the result of human strength, but the response to divine grace. Salvation is not achieved by effort but received through trust in what Jesus has already accomplished.
Through Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection, access to new life was made possible. And through the quiet, persistent work of the Spirit, hearts are drawn, softened, and awakened to trust God fully. What once seemed impossible (faith, surrender, transformation) becomes possible when God is allowed to work from the inside out.
This message invites personal reflection. Each heart holds attachments that quietly compete with trust in Jesus. Sometimes it is material security. Sometimes it is relationships, identity, control, or long-held beliefs about self-sufficiency. Often, these things feel necessary, even harmless, yet they subtly shape where confidence is placed.
Spending time with God creates space for honest examination. As hearts are opened before Him, hidden attachments are revealed; not to shame, but to heal. In that sacred space, faith grows not through pressure, but through trust.
And then comes the courageous step: surrender. Letting go of what once felt essential. Entrusting it to the God who does the impossible. In that surrender, faith deepens, love becomes undivided, and life begins to reflect the freedom only Jesus can give.
The good news is that God does not demand change through force or fear. He offers freedom through grace. He has the power to loosen the grip of anything that hinders trust: gently, patiently, lovingly. What feels impossible to release becomes possible when surrendered into His care. What humanity cannot do for itself, God delights to do in grace. And that, at its core, is the miracle Jesus was pointing to all along.
Amen
SIX KEY TAKEAWAY POINTS
Matthew 19:26 is not a promise of unlimited personal achievement, but a declaration of God’s power to do what humanity cannot.
Faith is not about effort or moral strength, but about surrendering divided loyalties to Jesus.
Salvation is impossible through human striving: yet fully possible through God’s grace and power.
Anything that competes with trust in Jesus can quietly hinder faith: even when it seems good or necessary.
God does not force transformation: He invites it through love, patiently freeing hearts from misplaced confidence.
What feels impossible to release becomes possible when surrendered into the hands of a faithful God.
