New Testament in a Year
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 He usually did, He began teaching(D) them once more. 2 Some Pharisees(E) approached Him to test(F) Him. They asked, “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.(P)[b]
7 For this reason a man will leave(Q)
his father and mother
[and be joined to his wife],[c]
8 and the two will become one flesh.(R)[d]
So they are no longer two, but one flesh. 9 Therefore what God has joined together, man must not separate.”(S)
10 Now in the house the disciples questioned Him again about this matter. 11 And 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 Some(X) people were bringing little children(Y) to Him so He might touch them, but His 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, for the kingdom of God(AD) belongs to such as these. 15 I assure you:(AE) Whoever does not welcome[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 but One—God.(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.”(AX)[f]
20 He said to Him, “Teacher,(AY) I have kept all these from my youth.”
21 Then, 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 stunned[h] at 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 But the disciples were astonished at His words. Again Jesus said to them, “Children,(BI) how hard it is[i] 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 So they were even more astonished, saying to one another, “Then who can be saved?”(BK)
27 Looking at them, Jesus said, “With men 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 “I assure you,”(BN) Jesus said, “there is no one who has left house, brothers or sisters, mother or father,[j] children, or fields because of Me and the gospel,(BO) 30 who will not receive 100 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)
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