Mark 10:1-31

Christian Standard Bible

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 was his custom he taught^(D) them again.

² Some Pharisees^(E) came to test^(F) him, asking, “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.^{[b](P) 7} For this reason a man will leave ^(Q) his father and mother ^{[c] 8} and the two will become one flesh.^[d](R) So they are no longer two, but one flesh. ⁹ Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.”^(S)

¹⁰ When they were in the house again, the disciples questioned him about this matter. ¹¹ 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 People^(X) were bringing little children^(Y) to him in order that he might touch them, but the 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, because the kingdom of God^(AD) belongs to such as these. ¹⁵ Truly I tell you,^(AE) whoever does not receive^[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 except God alone.^{(AQ) 19} You know the commandments: Do not murder;^(AR) do not commit adultery;^(AS) do not steal;^(AT) do not bear false witness;^(AU) do not defraud;^(AV) honor^(AW) your father and mother.”^[f](AX)

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

²¹ 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 dismayed by 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 The disciples were astonished at his words. Again Jesus said to them, “Children,^(BI) how hard it is^[h] 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 They were even more astonished, saying to one another, “Then who can be saved?” ^(BK)

²⁷ Looking at them, Jesus said, “With man 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 “Truly I tell you,”^(BN) Jesus said, “there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father^[i] or children or fields for my sake and for the sake of the gospel,^{(BO) 30} who will not receive a hundred 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)