論休妻

19 耶穌說完這番話,就離開加利利來到約旦河對岸的猶太地區。 有一大群人跟著祂,祂就在那裡醫好了他們的病。

有幾個法利賽人到耶穌那裡想試探祂,便問祂:「丈夫可以用任何理由休妻嗎?」

耶穌回答說:「你們沒有讀過嗎?太初,造物主造了男人和女人,並且說, 『因此,人要離開父母,與妻子結合,二人成為一體。』 這樣,夫妻不再是兩個人,而是一體了。因此,上帝配合的,人不可分開。」

他們追問:「那麼,為什麼摩西說,只要給妻子休書,就可以休她呢?」

耶穌說:「因為摩西知道你們鐵石心腸,所以才准你們休妻。但起初並不是這樣。 我告訴你們,除非是妻子不貞,否則,任何人休妻另娶,就是犯通姦罪[a]。」

10 門徒對耶穌說:「如果夫妻關係是這樣,還不如不結婚。」

11 耶穌說:「這話不是每個人都能接受的,只有那些得到這種恩賜的人才能接受。 12 人不結婚的原因很多,有些是因為先天的缺陷,有些是被人閹了,也有些是為了天國而自己放棄結婚的權利。誰能接受,就讓他接受吧。」

耶穌為小孩子祝福

13 有人帶著小孩子來見耶穌,請求耶穌為他們按手禱告,卻受到門徒的責備。

14 耶穌說:「讓小孩子到我這裡來,不要阻止他們,因為天國屬於這樣的人。」 15 於是祂為他們按手禱告,然後才離開那裡。

有錢的青年

16 有一個人來請教耶穌:「老師,我該做什麼善事才能獲得永生呢?」

17 耶穌說:「你為什麼問我做什麼善事?只有上帝是善的,你要得永生,就必須遵守祂的誡命。」

18 那人問:「什麼誡命呢?」

耶穌答道:「不可殺人,不可通姦,不可偷盜,不可作偽證, 19 要孝敬父母,並且愛鄰如己。」

20 那青年說:「這些我早已遵守了,還缺什麼呢?」

21 耶穌告訴他:「如果你想做到純全,就去變賣所有的產業,送給窮人,你就必有財寶存在天上,然後你來跟從我。」 22 那青年聽後,便憂傷地走了,因為他有許多產業。

23 事後,耶穌對門徒說:「我實在告訴你們,有錢人進天國很困難。 24 我再告訴你們,駱駝穿過針眼比有錢人進上帝的國還容易呢!」

25 門徒聽了,驚奇地問:「這樣,誰能得救呢?」

26 耶穌看著他們說:「對人而言,這不可能;但對上帝而言,凡事都可能。」

27 彼得問道:「你看,我們已經撇下一切來跟從你了,將來會有什麼獎賞呢?」

28 耶穌說:「我實在告訴你們,到萬物更新、人子坐在祂榮耀的寶座上時,你們這些跟從我的人也要坐在十二個寶座上,審判以色列的十二個支派。 29 無論誰為我的名而撇下房屋、弟兄、姊妹、父母、兒女或田地,都要得到百倍的賞賜,而且承受永生。 30 然而,許多為首的將要殿後,殿後的將要為首。」

Footnotes

  1. 19·9 有古卷在此處有「娶被休女子的人也犯了通姦罪」。

Jesus teaches about when a man sends his own wife away

19 When Jesus had finished saying all these things, he went away from Galilee. He went to the part of Judea that is on the other side of the Jordan River. Large crowds followed Jesus there. He made the sick people well again.

Some Pharisees came to talk to Jesus. They wanted to see how he would answer their question. They asked, ‘Can a man send his wife away so that she is no longer his wife? Is it right for him to do that for any reason he chooses?’

Jesus replied, ‘You surely have read about this in the Bible. At the start, when God created the world, he made people male and female.[a] Because of this, a man leaves his father and his mother. God joins him and his wife together. The man and the woman become like one body. They are not two separate people any longer. They have come together as one person. God has put them together to be husband and wife. So nobody should make them separate.’

Then the Pharisees said to Jesus, ‘Moses said that a man could write a letter to say that he and his wife are no longer married. Then the man can send the woman away. Why did Moses say this?’

Jesus answered them, ‘Moses said this because you people did not want to obey God. All these things were different at the start, when God made the world. But now I say to you: A man must not send his wife away and marry another woman. If he does that, it is the same as if he had sex with another man's wife. A man may only send his wife away if she has had sex with another man.’

10 Jesus' disciples said to him, ‘You say that this is what it is like for a man and his wife. Then maybe it is better if people do not marry.’

11 Jesus replied, ‘Not everyone can agree with this idea. But God has helped some people to agree with it. 12 There are several different reasons why a person may not marry. Some men cannot have sex. They were born like that. Some other people cannot have sex because people did something to them. Some people choose not to have sex. They do not marry because then they can work better for God and his kingdom. Anyone who can agree with this idea should do it.’

Jesus wants children to come to him

13 Then some people brought their little children to Jesus. They wanted him to put his hands on each child's head. They wanted him to pray for them. But the disciples told the people that they should not do that.

14 Jesus said to them, ‘Do not stop the children. Let them come to me. People must become like these children so that God can rule their lives. That is what the kingdom of heaven is like.’ 15 So Jesus put his hands on each of the children's heads and he prayed for them. After that, he went away from that place.

Jesus meets a rich man

16 One day a man came to Jesus. ‘Teacher,’ he asked. ‘What good thing must I do so that I can live with God for ever?’

17 Jesus replied, ‘Why do you ask me about a good thing? Only God is good. Nobody else. If you want to have real life, then you must obey God's laws.’

18 The man asked Jesus, ‘Which laws must I obey?’

So Jesus replied, ‘Do not kill anyone. Do not have sex with anyone who is not your wife. Do not rob anyone. Do not say things that are not true about people. 19 Love your father and your mother and obey them. Love other people as much as you love yourself.’

20 ‘I have always obeyed these laws,’ the young man replied. ‘What else must I do?’

21 Jesus said to him, ‘If you want to be completely good, then you must do this: You must sell everything that you have. Then give the money to poor people. If you do that, you will have many valuable things in heaven. Then come back and be my disciple.’

22 When the young man heard this, he went away. He was not happy. He was feeling sad because he was a very rich man.

23 Then Jesus said to his disciples, ‘What I say is true. It is very difficult for rich people to let God rule in their lives. 24 The hole in a needle is very small. A camel cannot go through it! But I tell you, it is even more difficult than that for a rich person to let God rule in their life.’

25 When the disciples heard this, they were even more surprised. They said, ‘So perhaps God will not save anyone!’

26 Jesus looked at them and he replied, ‘For people, it really is impossible. But God can do it. God can do everything.’

27 Peter said to Jesus, ‘Look! We have left everything that we had. Now we are your disciples. What will we receive because we have done this?’

28 Jesus said to his disciples, ‘I tell you this: One day God will cause all things to become new. I, the Son of Man, will sit on my great throne as King and I will rule that new world. You who are my disciples will also sit like kings on thrones. You will judge the people of the 12 tribes of Israel. 29 Some people have left their homes. Or they may have left their brothers or sisters. Or they may have left their mother or their father. Or they may have left their wife or their children or their fields. They have done that because of me. God will give those people many more things than they have left behind, even 100 times more! And after they die, they will live for ever with God. 30 But many people who are very important now will become the least important. And many people who are not important now will become very important then.’

Footnotes

  1. 19:4 See Genesis 2:24.

Marriage and Divorce(A)

19 Now it came to pass, (B)when Jesus had finished these sayings, that He departed from Galilee and came to the region of Judea beyond the Jordan. (C)And great multitudes followed Him, and He healed them there.

The Pharisees also came to Him, testing Him, and saying to Him, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for just any reason?”

And He answered and said to them, “Have you not read that He who [a]made them at the beginning (D)‘made them male and female,’ and said, (E)‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and (F)the two shall become one flesh’? So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate.”

They said to Him, (G)“Why then did Moses command to give a certificate of divorce, and to put her away?”

He said to them, “Moses, because of the (H)hardness of your hearts, permitted you to divorce your (I)wives, but from the beginning it was not so. (J)And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for [b]sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery; and whoever marries her who is divorced commits adultery.”

10 His disciples said to Him, (K)“If such is the case of the man with his wife, it is better not to marry.”

Jesus Teaches on Celibacy

11 But He said to them, (L)“All cannot accept this saying, but only those to whom it has been given: 12 For there are [c]eunuchs who were born thus from their mother’s womb, and (M)there are eunuchs who were made eunuchs by men, and there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven’s sake. He who is able to accept it, let him accept it.”

Jesus Blesses Little Children(N)

13 (O)Then little children were brought to Him that He might put His hands on them and pray, but the disciples rebuked them. 14 But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for (P)of such is the kingdom of heaven.” 15 And He laid His hands on them and departed from there.

Jesus Counsels the Rich Young Ruler(Q)

16 (R)Now behold, one came and said to Him, (S)“Good[d] Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?”

17 So He said to him, [e]“Why do you call Me good? [f]No one is (T)good but One, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, (U)keep the commandments.”

18 He said to Him, “Which ones?”

Jesus said, (V)“‘You shall not murder,’ ‘You shall not commit adultery,’ ‘You shall not steal,’ ‘You shall not bear false witness,’ 19 (W)‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, (X)‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’

20 The young man said to Him, “All these things I have (Y)kept [g]from my youth. What do I still lack?”

21 Jesus said to him, “If you want to be perfect, (Z)go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”

22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.

With God All Things Are Possible(AA)

23 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “Assuredly, I say to you that (AB)it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24 And again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”

25 When His disciples heard it, they were greatly astonished, saying, “Who then can be saved?”

26 But Jesus looked at them and said to them, “With men this is impossible, but (AC)with God all things are possible.”

27 Then Peter answered and said to Him, “See, (AD)we have left all and followed You. Therefore what shall we have?”

28 So Jesus said to them, “Assuredly I say to you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, (AE)you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29 (AF)And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother [h]or wife or children or [i]lands, for My name’s sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life. 30 (AG)But many who are first will be last, and the last first.

Footnotes

  1. Matthew 19:4 NU created
  2. Matthew 19:9 Or fornication
  3. Matthew 19:12 Emasculated men
  4. Matthew 19:16 NU omits Good
  5. Matthew 19:17 NU Why do you ask Me about what is good?
  6. Matthew 19:17 NU There is One who is good. But
  7. Matthew 19:20 NU omits from my youth
  8. Matthew 19:29 NU omits or wife
  9. Matthew 19:29 Lit. fields

19 And it came to pass, that when Jesus had finished these sayings, he departed from Galilee, and came into the coasts of Judaea beyond Jordan;

And great multitudes followed him; and he healed them there.

The Pharisees also came unto him, tempting him, and saying unto him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause?

And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female,

And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh?

Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.

They say unto him, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away?

He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so.

And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery.

10 His disciples say unto him, If the case of the man be so with his wife, it is not good to marry.

11 But he said unto them, All men cannot receive this saying, save they to whom it is given.

12 For there are some eunuchs, which were so born from their mother's womb: and there are some eunuchs, which were made eunuchs of men: and there be eunuchs, which have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven's sake. He that is able to receive it, let him receive it.

13 Then were there brought unto him little children, that he should put his hands on them, and pray: and the disciples rebuked them.

14 But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.

15 And he laid his hands on them, and departed thence.

16 And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?

17 And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.

18 He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness,

19 Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

20 The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?

21 Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.

22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.

23 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven.

24 And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.

25 When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved?

26 But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.

27 Then answered Peter and said unto him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore?

28 And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

29 And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.

30 But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first.