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.

Despărţirea bărbatului de nevastă

19 După(A) ce a sfârşit Isus cuvântările acestea, a plecat din Galileea şi a venit în ţinutul Iudeii, dincolo de Iordan. După(B) El au mers multe gloate; şi acolo a vindecat pe cei bolnavi. Fariseii au venit la El şi, ca să-L ispitească, I-au zis: „Oare este îngăduit unui bărbat să-şi lase nevasta pentru orice pricină?” Drept răspuns, El le-a zis: „Oare n-aţi citit că(C) Ziditorul de la început i-a făcut parte bărbătească şi parte femeiască şi a zis: ‘De aceea(D) va lăsa omul pe tatăl său şi pe mama sa şi se va lipi de nevastă-sa, şi cei doi vor(E) fi un singur trup? Aşa că nu mai sunt doi, ci un singur trup. Deci ce a împreunat Dumnezeu, omul să nu despartă’.” „Pentru(F) ce dar”, I-au zis ei, „a poruncit Moise ca bărbatul să dea nevestei o carte de despărţire şi s-o lase?” Isus le-a răspuns: „Din pricina împietririi inimilor voastre a îngăduit Moise să vă lăsaţi nevestele, dar de la început n-a fost aşa. Eu(G) însă vă spun că oricine îşi lasă nevasta, afară de pricină de curvie, şi ia pe alta de nevastă, preacurveşte şi cine ia de nevastă pe cea lăsată de bărbat preacurveşte.” 10 Ucenicii Lui I-au zis: „Dacă(H) astfel stă lucrul cu bărbatul şi nevasta lui, nu este de folos să se însoare”. 11 El le-a răspuns: „Nu(I) toţi pot primi cuvântul acesta, ci numai aceia cărora le este dat. 12 Fiindcă sunt fameni care s-au născut aşa din pântecele maicii lor, sunt fameni, care au fost făcuţi fameni(J) de oameni şi sunt fameni care singuri s-au făcut fameni pentru Împărăţia cerurilor. Cine poate să primească lucrul acesta să-l primească.”

Isus şi copilaşii

13 Atunci(K) I-au adus nişte copilaşi, ca să-Şi pună mâinile peste ei şi să Se roage pentru ei. Dar ucenicii îi certau. 14 Şi Isus le-a zis: „Lăsaţi copilaşii să vină la Mine şi nu-i opriţi, căci Împărăţia cerurilor este a(L) celor ca ei”. 15 După ce Şi-a pus mâinile peste ei, a plecat de acolo.

Tânărul bogat

16 Atunci(M) s-a apropiat de Isus un om şi I-a zis: „Învăţătorule(N), ce bine să fac, ca să am viaţa veşnică?” 17 El i-a răspuns: „De ce mă întrebi: ‘Ce bine?’ Binele este Unul singur. Dar, dacă vrei să intri în viaţă, păzeşte poruncile.” 18 „Care?” I-a zis el. Şi Isus i-a răspuns: „Să(O) nu ucizi; să nu preacurveşti; să nu furi; să nu faci o mărturisire mincinoasă; 19 să cinsteşti(P) pe tatăl tău şi pe mama ta şi să(Q) iubeşti pe aproapele tău ca pe tine însuţi.” 20 Tânărul I-a zis: „Toate aceste porunci le-am păzit cu grijă din tinereţea mea. Ce-mi mai lipseşte?” 21 „Dacă vrei să fii desăvârşit”, i-a zis Isus, „du-te(R) de vinde ce ai, dă la săraci şi vei avea o comoară în cer! Apoi vino şi urmează-Mă.” 22 Când a auzit tânărul vorba aceasta, a plecat foarte întristat, pentru că avea multe avuţii. 23 Isus a zis ucenicilor Săi: „Adevărat vă spun că greu(S) va intra un bogat în Împărăţia cerurilor. 24 Vă mai spun iarăşi că este mai uşor să treacă o cămilă prin urechea acului decât să intre un bogat în Împărăţia lui Dumnezeu.” 25 Ucenicii, când au auzit lucrul acesta, au rămas uimiţi de tot şi au zis: „Cine poate atunci să fie mântuit?” 26 Isus S-a uitat ţintă la ei şi le-a zis: „La oameni lucrul acesta este cu neputinţă, dar la(T) Dumnezeu toate lucrurile sunt cu putinţă.”

Moştenirea vieţii veşnice

27 Atunci(U), Petru a luat cuvântul şi I-a zis: „Iată că noi(V) am lăsat tot şi Te-am urmat. Ce răsplată vom avea?” 28 Isus le-a răspuns: „Adevărat vă spun că, atunci când va sta Fiul omului pe scaunul de domnie al măririi Sale, la înnoirea tuturor lucrurilor, voi, care M-aţi urmat, veţi(W) şedea şi voi pe douăsprezece scaune de domnie şi veţi judeca pe cele douăsprezece seminţii ale lui Israel. 29 Şi oricine(X) a lăsat case sau fraţi, sau surori, sau tată, sau mamă, sau nevastă, sau feciori, sau holde pentru Numele Meu va primi însutit şi va moşteni viaţa veşnică. 30 Dar(Y) mulţi din cei dintâi vor fi cei din urmă şi mulţi din cei din urmă vor fi cei dintâi.