Who Is the Greatest?

³³ They^(A) came to Capernaum.^(B) When he was in the house,^(C) he asked them, “What were you arguing about on the way?”^{(D) 34} But they were silent,^(E) because on the way they had been arguing with one another about who was the greatest.^{(F) 35} Sitting down, he called the Twelve^(G) and said to them, “If anyone wants to be first, he must be last and servant of all.”^{(H) 36} He took a child,^(I) had him stand among them, and taking him in his arms, he said to them, ³⁷ “Whoever welcomes^[a] one little child such as this in my name^(J) welcomes me. And whoever welcomes me does not welcome me, but him who sent^(K) me.”^(L)

In His Name

³⁸ John^(M) said to him, “Teacher,^(N) we saw someone^[b] driving out demons^(O) in your name,^(P) and we tried to stop him because he wasn’t following us.”^(Q)

³⁹ “Don’t stop him,” said Jesus, “because there is no one who will perform a miracle^(R) in my name who can soon afterward speak evil of me. ⁴⁰ For whoever is not against us is for us.^{(S) 41} And whoever gives you a cup of water to drink^(T) in my name, because you belong to Christ^(U) —truly I tell you,^(V) he will never lose his reward.^(W)

Warnings from Jesus

⁴² “But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to fall away^(X) —it would be better for him if a heavy millstone^(Y) were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea.

⁴³ “And if your hand causes you to fall away, cut it off.^(Z) It is better for you to enter life maimed^(AA) than to have two hands and go to hell, the unquenchable fire.^{[c](AB) 45} And if your foot causes you to fall away, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame^(AC) than to have two feet and be thrown into hell.^{[d] 47} And if your eye causes you to fall away, gouge it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God^(AD) with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown^(AE) into hell,^{(AF) 48} where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.^{[e] 49} For everyone will be salted with fire.^{[f][g](AG) 50} Salt is good, but if the salt should lose its flavor, how can you season it?^(AH) Have salt^(AI) among yourselves, and be at peace^(AJ) with one another.”

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.”