Mark 10:2-16

Contemporary English Version

² Some Pharisees wanted to test Jesus. So they came up to him and asked if it was right for a man to divorce his wife. ³ Jesus asked them, “What does the Law of Moses say about this?”

^4 (A) They answered, “Moses allows a man to write out divorce papers and send his wife away.”

⁵ Jesus replied, “Moses gave you this law because you are so heartless. ^6 (B) But in the beginning God made a man and a woman. ^7 (C) That's why a man leaves his father and mother and gets married. ⁸ He becomes like one person with his wife. Then they are no longer two people, but one. ⁹ And no one should separate a couple that God has joined together.”

¹⁰ When Jesus and his disciples were back in the house, they asked him about what he had said. ^11 (D) He told them, “A man who divorces his wife and marries someone else is unfaithful to his wife. ¹² A woman who divorces her husband^[a] and marries again is also unfaithful.”

Jesus Blesses Little Children

(Matthew 19.13-15; Luke 18.15-17)

¹³ Some people brought their children to Jesus so he could bless them by placing his hands on them. But his disciples told the people to stop bothering him.

¹⁴ When Jesus saw this, he became angry and said, “Let the children come to me! Don't try to stop them. People who are like these little children belong to the kingdom of God.^{[b] 15 (E)} I promise you that you cannot get into God's kingdom, unless you accept it the way a child does.” ¹⁶ Then Jesus took the children in his arms and blessed them by placing his hands on them.