What does Jesus mean when he says that with man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible?
In Matthew 19:26, Jesus showed that salvation is God’s work, not man’s. The young man’s error was his hope to gain life by his own merits, for the path unto life is not by self-effort, but by grace.
Jesus looks upon the disciples with compassion, for they are still caught up in fear. He points to God, with whom all things are possible, and who enabled the apostles to confess Jesus as the Son of God. Even if man does everything humanly possible, he still could not merit salvation, while God accomplishes anything he wills (Genesis 18:14; Job 42:2; Zechariah 8:6; Luke 1:37). Because God is a God of mercy, he sent his Son (John 17:3). In light of the discussion with the rich man (Matthew 19:16–25), Jesus stresses that the gospel is also for the rich. Jesus can free them from the bondage of their wealth to bring them into the kingdom.
Jesus is here in Matthew 19:26 referring to the salvation of man which is a work of God, not of man himself. The heart of the young man’s error was that he thought he would be able to attain life by means of his own merits. The path unto life is not self-effort, however, but salvation by grace.1
Jesus looks upon them with compassion when he says this, for the apostles are still caught up in fear and uncertainty. He points to God, with whom all things are possible, and who enabled the apostles to confess Jesus as the Son of God. Even if man does everything humanly possible, he would still not be able to merit salvation, while God accomplishes anything he wills (Genesis 18:14; Job 42:2; Zechariah 8:6; Luke 1:37). God is a God of mercy, and this is why he had sent his Son (John 17:3). In light of the preceding discussion with the rich young man (Matthew 19:16–25), he highlights that the gospel is also for the wealthy. Jesus can liberate them from the bondage of their possessions and receive them in the kingdom of heaven.2
26 But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”