The Question of Divorce

19 When Jesus had finished saying these things,^(A) he departed from Galilee and went to the region of Judea across the Jordan.^{(B) 2} Large crowds followed him, and he healed them there.^{(C) 3} Some Pharisees approached him to test him. They asked, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife on any grounds?” ^(D)

⁴ “Haven’t you read,” he replied, “that he who created^[a] them in the beginning made them male and female,^{[b](E) 5} and he also said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’?^{[c](F) 6} So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore, what God has joined together, let no one separate.”

⁷ “Why then,” they asked him, “did Moses command us to give divorce papers^(G) and to send her away?”

⁸ He told them, “Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because of the hardness of your hearts, but it was not like that from the beginning. ⁹ I tell you, whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another commits adultery.”^[d](H)

¹⁰ His disciples^(I) said to him, “If the relationship of a man with his wife is like this, it’s better not to marry.”

¹¹ He responded, “Not everyone can accept this saying, but only those to whom it has been given.^{(J) 12} For there are eunuchs who were born that way from their mother’s womb, there are eunuchs who were made by men, and there are eunuchs who have made themselves that way because of the kingdom of heaven. The one who is able to accept it should accept it.”

Blessing the Children

¹³ Then little children were brought to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray, but the disciples rebuked them.^{(K) 14} Jesus said, “Leave the little children alone, and don’t try to keep them from coming to me, because the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”^{[e](L) 15} After placing his hands on them, he went on from there.

The Rich Young Ruler

¹⁶ Just then someone came up and asked him,^(M) “Teacher, what good must I do to have eternal life?” ^(N)

¹⁷ “Why do you ask me about what is good?”^[f] he said to him. “There is only one who is good.^[g] If you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.”^(O)

¹⁸ “Which ones?” he asked him.

Jesus answered: Do not murder; do not commit adultery; do not steal; do not bear false witness;^{(P) 19} honor your father and your mother; and love your neighbor as yourself.^[h](Q)

²⁰ “I have kept all these,”^[i] the young man told him. “What do I still lack?”

²¹ “If you want to be perfect,”^[j] Jesus said to him, “go, sell your belongings and give to the poor,^(R) and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

²² When the young man heard that, he went away grieving, because he had many possessions.

Possessions and the Kingdom

²³ Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly I tell you, it will be hard for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven.^{(S) 24} Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.”^(T)

²⁵ When the disciples heard this, they were utterly astonished and asked, “Then who can be saved?”

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

²⁷ Then Peter responded to him, “See, we have left everything and followed you. So what will there be for us?”

²⁸ Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, in the renewal of all things,^(V) when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne,^(W) you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. ²⁹ And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother^[k] or children or fields because of my name will receive a hundred times more and will inherit eternal life.^{(X) 30} But many who are first will be last, and the last first.^(Y)

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)

Blessing the Children

¹⁵ People^(A) were bringing infants to him so that he might touch them, but when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them. ¹⁶ Jesus, however, invited them: “Let the little children come to me,^(B) and don’t stop them, because the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. ¹⁷ Truly I tell you,^(C) whoever does not receive^(D) the kingdom of God like a little child^(E) will never enter it.”

The Rich Young Ruler

¹⁸ A^(F) ruler^(G) asked him, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” ^(H)

¹⁹ “Why do you call me good?” Jesus asked him. “No one is good except God alone. ²⁰ You know the commandments: Do not commit adultery; do not murder; do not steal; do not bear false witness; honor your father and mother.”^[a](I)

²¹ “I have kept all these from my youth,” he said.

²² When Jesus heard this, he told him, “You still lack one thing: Sell all you have and distribute it to the poor,^(J) and you will have treasure in heaven.^(K) Then come, follow me.”^(L)

²³ After he heard this, he became extremely sad,^(M) because he was very rich.

Possessions and the Kingdom

²⁴ Seeing that he became sad,^[b] Jesus said, “How hard it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God! ²⁵ For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.”

²⁶ Those who heard this asked, “Then who can be saved?” ^(N)

²⁷ He replied, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.”^(O)

²⁸ Then Peter said, “Look, we have left what we had and followed^(P) you.”

²⁹ So he said to them, “Truly I tell you, there is no one who has left a house, wife or brothers or sisters, parents or children because of the kingdom of God, ³⁰ who will not receive many times more at this time,^(Q) and eternal life in the age to come.”