The Question of Divorce

10 He^(A) set out from there and went to the region of Judea^(B) and across the Jordan.^(C) Then crowds converged on Him again and, as He usually did, He began teaching^(D) them once more. ² Some Pharisees^(E) approached Him to test^(F) Him. They asked, “Is it lawful^(G) for a man to divorce^(H) his wife?”^(I)

³ He replied to them, “What did Moses^(J) command you?”

⁴ They said, “Moses permitted us to write divorce papers^(K) and send her away.”^(L)

⁵ But Jesus told them, “He wrote this command for you because of the hardness of your hearts.^{(M) 6} But from the beginning^(N) of creation^(O) God^[a] made them male and female.^(P)[b]

So they are no longer two, but one flesh. ⁹ Therefore what God has joined together, man must not separate.”^(S)

¹⁰ Now in the house the disciples questioned Him again about this matter. ¹¹ And He said to them, “Whoever divorces his wife^(T) and marries^(U) another commits adultery^(V) against her. ¹² Also, if she divorces her husband^(W) and marries another, she commits adultery.”

Blessing the Children

¹³ Some^(X) people were bringing little children^(Y) to Him so He might touch them, but His disciples rebuked^(Z) them. ¹⁴ When Jesus saw it, He was indignant^(AA) and said to them, “Let the little children come to Me.^(AB) Don’t stop^(AC) them, for the kingdom of God^(AD) belongs to such as these. ¹⁵ I assure you:^(AE) Whoever does not welcome^[e](AF) the kingdom of God like a little child^(AG) will never enter it.” ¹⁶ After taking them in His arms, He laid His hands on^(AH) them and blessed^(AI) them.

The Rich Young Ruler

¹⁷ As^(AJ) He was setting out on a journey,^(AK) a man ran up, knelt down^(AL) before Him, and asked Him, “Good^(AM) Teacher,^(AN) what must I do to inherit^(AO) eternal life?”^(AP)

¹⁸ “Why do you call Me good?” Jesus asked him. “No one is good but One—God.^{(AQ) 19} You know the commandments:

²⁰ He said to Him, “Teacher,^(AY) I have kept all these from my youth.”

²¹ Then, looking at him, Jesus loved him^(AZ) and said to him, “You lack one thing: Go, sell all you have and give to the poor,^(BA) and you will have treasure^(BB) in heaven.^(BC) Then come,^[g] follow Me.”^{(BD) 22} But he was stunned^[h] at this demand, and he went away grieving,^(BE) because he had many possessions.^(BF)

Possessions and the Kingdom

²³ Jesus looked around and said to His disciples, “How hard it is for those who have wealth^(BG) to enter the kingdom of God!”^{(BH) 24} But the disciples were astonished at His words. Again Jesus said to them, “Children,^(BI) how hard it is^[i] to enter the kingdom of God! ²⁵ It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich^(BJ) person to enter the kingdom of God.”

²⁶ So they were even more astonished, saying to one another, “Then who can be saved?”^(BK)

²⁷ Looking at them, Jesus said, “With men it is impossible,^(BL) but not with God, because all things are possible with God.”

²⁸ Peter^(BM) began to tell Him, “Look, we have left everything and followed You.”

²⁹ “I assure you,”^(BN) Jesus said, “there is no one who has left house, brothers or sisters, mother or father,^[j] children, or fields because of Me and the gospel,^{(BO) 30} who will not receive 100 times^(BP) more, now at this time^(BQ)—houses, brothers and sisters, mothers and children, and fields, with persecutions^(BR)—and eternal life^(BS) in the age to come.^{(BT) 31} But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”^(BU)

The Third Prediction of His Death

³² They^(BV) were on the road, going up to Jerusalem,^(BW) and Jesus was walking ahead of them. They were astonished, but those who followed Him were afraid.^(BX) Taking the Twelve aside again, He began to tell them the things that would happen to Him.^(BY)

³³ “Listen! We are going up to Jerusalem. The Son of Man^(BZ) will be handed over to the chief priests and the scribes,^(CA) and they will condemn Him to death. Then they will hand Him over to the Gentiles,^{(CB) 34} and they will mock Him, spit on Him, flog^[k] Him, and kill Him, and He will rise^(CC) after three days.”^(CD)

Suffering and Service

³⁵ Then^(CE) James^(CF) and John,^(CG) the sons of Zebedee,^(CH) approached Him and said, “Teacher,^(CI) we want You to do something for us if we ask You.”

³⁶ “What do you want Me to do for you?” He asked them.

³⁷ They answered Him, “Allow us to sit at Your right and at Your left in Your glory.”^(CJ)

³⁸ But Jesus said to them, “You don’t know what you’re asking.^(CK) Are you able to drink the cup^(CL) I drink or to be baptized with the baptism^(CM) I am baptized with?”^(CN)

³⁹ “We are able,” they told Him.

Jesus said to them, “You will drink the cup I drink, and you will be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with.^{(CO) 40} But to sit at My right or left is not Mine to give; instead, it is for those it has been prepared for.” ⁴¹ When the other 10 disciples heard this, they began to be indignant with James and John.^(CP)

⁴² Jesus called them over and said to them, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles dominate^(CQ) them, and their men of high positions exercise power over them. ⁴³ But it must not be like that among you.^(CR) On the contrary, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant,^{(CS) 44} and whoever wants to be first among you must be a slave^(CT) to all. ⁴⁵ For even the Son of Man^(CU) did not come to be served, but to serve,^(CV) and to give His life^(CW)—a ransom^(CX) for many.”^[l](CY)

A Blind Man Healed

⁴⁶ They^(CZ) came to Jericho.^(DA) And as He was leaving Jericho with His disciples and a large crowd, Bartimaeus (the son of Timaeus), a blind^(DB) beggar,^(DC) was sitting by the road.^{(DD) 47} When he heard that it was Jesus the Nazarene,^(DE) he began to cry out, “Son of David,^(DF) Jesus, have mercy^(DG) on me!”^{(DH) 48} Many people told him to keep quiet, but he was crying out all the more, “Have mercy on me,^(DI) Son of David!”

⁴⁹ Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.”

So they called the blind man and said to him, “Have courage!^(DJ) Get up; He’s calling for you.” ⁵⁰ He threw off his coat,^(DK) jumped up, and came to Jesus.

⁵¹ Then Jesus answered him, “What do you want^(DL) Me to do for you?”

“Rabbouni,”^[m](DM) the blind man told Him, “I want to see!”

⁵² “Go your way,” Jesus told him. “Your faith has healed you.”^(DN) Immediately he could see and began to follow Him on the road.