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19 Quando Gesú terminò questi discorsi, partí dalla Galilea e venne nel territorio della Giudea, al di là del Giordano.

Grandi folle lo seguirono, e là egli le guarí.

Allora gli si accostarono alcuni farisei per tentarlo, e gli dissero: «è lecito ad un uomo ripudiare la propria moglie per qualsiasi motivo?».

Ed egli, rispondendo, disse loro: «Non avete voi letto che chi li creò da principio, li creò maschio e femmina?

E disse: "Perciò l'uomo lascerà il padre e la madre e si unirà con la propria moglie, e i due diverranno una sola carne".

E cosí non sono piú due, ma una sola carne, quello dunque che Dio ha unito insieme, l'uomo non lo separi».

Essi gli dissero: «Perché allora Mosé ha ordinato di darle un atto di divorzio e mandarla via?».

Egli disse loro: «Per la durezza dei vostri cuori Mosé vi ha permesso di ripudiare le vostre mogli, ma da principio non era cosí.

Or io vi dico che chiunque manda via la propria moglie, eccetto in caso di fornicazione, e ne sposa un'altra, commette adulterio; e chi sposa colei che è stata mandata via, commette adulterio».

10 I suoi discepoli gli dissero: «Se questa è la condizione dell'uomo rispetto alla moglie, non conviene sposarsi».

11 Ma egli disse loro: «Non tutti sono capaci di accettare questo parlare, ma è per coloro ai quali è stato dato.

12 Poiché vi sono degli eunuchi, che sono nati cosí dal grembo della madre vi sono degli eunuchi che sono stati fatti eunuchi dagli uomini, e vi sono eunuchi che si sono fatti eunuchi da se stessi per il regno dei cieli. Chi è in grado di accettarlo, lo accetti».

13 Allora gli furono presentati dei piccoli fanciulli perché imponesse loro le mani e pregasse; i discepoli però li sgridavano.

14 Ma Gesú disse: «Lasciate i piccoli fanciulli venire a me, perché di tali è il regno dei cieli».

15 E, dopo aver imposto loro le mani, partí di là.

16 Ed ecco, un tale si avvicinò e gli disse: «Maestro buono, che devo fare di buono per avere la vita eterna?».

17 Ed egli disse: «Perché mi chiami buono? Nessuno è buono, se non uno solo, cioè: Dio. Ora, se tu vuoi entrare nella vita, osserva i comandamenti».

18 Egli gli disse: «Quali?». Gesú allora disse: «Non uccidere, non commettere adulterio, non rubare, non dire falsa testimonianza,

19 onora tuo padre e tua madre e ama il tuo prossimo come te stesso».

20 Quel giovane gli disse: «Tutte queste cose le ho osservate fin dalla mia giovinezza, che mi manca ancora?».

21 Gesú gli disse: «Se vuoi essere perfetto, va vendi ciò che hai, dallo ai poveri e tu avrai un tesoro nel cielo; poi vieni e seguimi».

22 Ma il giovane, udito questo parlare, se ne andò rattristato, perché aveva molte ricchezze.

23 Gesú allora disse ai suoi discepoli: «In verità vi dico che un ricco difficilmente entrerà nel regno dei cieli.

24 E ve lo ripeto: è piú facile che un cammello passi per la cruna di un ago, che un ricco entri nel regno di Dio».

25 All'udire ciò, i suoi discepoli, furono grandemente sbigottiti e dissero: «Chi dunque può essere salvato?».

26 E Gesú fissando lo sguardo su di loro, disse: «Per gli uomini questo è impossibile, ma per Dio ogni cosa è possibile».

27 Allora Pietro gli rispose, dicendo: «Ecco, noi abbiamo abbandonato ogni cosa e ti abbiamo seguito; che ne avremo dunque?».

28 Gesú disse loro: «In verità vi dico che nella nuova creazione, quando il Figlio dell'uomo sederà sul trono della sua gloria, anche voi che mi avete seguito sederete su dodici troni, per giudicare le dodici tribú d'Israele,

29 E chiunque ha lasciato casa, fratelli, sorelle, padre, madre, moglie, figli o campi per amore del mio nome, ne riceverà il centuplo ed erediterà la vita eterna.

30 Ma molti primi saranno ultimi e molti ultimi saranno primi»,

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.

Divorce(A)

19 When Jesus had finished saying these things,(B) he left Galilee and went into the region of Judea to the other side of the Jordan. Large crowds followed him, and he healed them(C) there.

Some Pharisees came to him to test him. They asked, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife(D) for any and every reason?”

“Haven’t you read,” he replied, “that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’[a](E) and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’[b]?(F) So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.”

“Why then,” they asked, “did Moses command that a man give his wife a certificate of divorce and send her away?”(G)

Jesus replied, “Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because your hearts were hard. But it was not this way from the beginning. I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another woman commits adultery.”(H)

10 The disciples said to him, “If this is the situation between a husband and wife, it is better not to marry.”

11 Jesus replied, “Not everyone can accept this word, but only those to whom it has been given.(I) 12 For there are eunuchs who were born that way, and there are eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by others—and there are those who choose to live like eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. The one who can accept this should accept it.”

The Little Children and Jesus(J)

13 Then people brought little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them(K) and pray for them. But the disciples rebuked them.

14 Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs(L) to such as these.”(M) 15 When he had placed his hands on them, he went on from there.

The Rich and the Kingdom of God(N)

16 Just then a man came up to Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life(O)?”(P)

17 “Why do you ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, keep the commandments.”(Q)

18 “Which ones?” he inquired.

Jesus replied, “‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery,(R) you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, 19 honor your father and mother,’[c](S) and ‘love your neighbor as yourself.’[d](T)

20 “All these I have kept,” the young man said. “What do I still lack?”

21 Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect,(U) go, sell your possessions and give to the poor,(V) and you will have treasure in heaven.(W) Then come, follow me.”

22 When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth.

23 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly I tell you, it is hard for someone who is rich(X) to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24 Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”

25 When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, “Who then can be saved?”

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

27 Peter answered him, “We have left everything to follow you!(Z) What then will there be for us?”

28 Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne,(AA) you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.(AB) 29 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife[e] or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life.(AC) 30 But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first.(AD)

Footnotes

  1. Matthew 19:4 Gen. 1:27
  2. Matthew 19:5 Gen. 2:24
  3. Matthew 19:19 Exodus 20:12-16; Deut. 5:16-20
  4. Matthew 19:19 Lev. 19:18
  5. Matthew 19:29 Some manuscripts do not have or wife.

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.