¹When Jesus finished speaking, he left Galilee and traveled along the other side of the Jordan River to the territory of Judea. ²Large crowds followed him, and he healed them there.

³Some Pharisees came to test him. They asked, “Can a man divorce his wife for any reason?”

⁴Jesus answered, “Haven’t you read that the Creator made them male and female in the beginning ⁵and that he said, ‘That’s why a man will leave his father and mother and will remain united with his wife, and the two will be one’? ⁶So they are no longer two but one. Therefore, don’t let anyone separate what God has joined together.”

⁷The Pharisees asked him, “Why, then, did Moses order a man to give his wife a written notice to divorce her?”

⁸Jesus answered them, “Moses allowed you to divorce your wives because you’re heartless. It was never this way in the beginning. ⁹I can guarantee that whoever divorces his wife for any reason other than her unfaithfulness is committing adultery if he marries another woman.”

¹⁰The disciples said to him, “If that is the only reason a man can use to divorce his wife, it’s better not to get married.”

¹¹He answered them, “Not everyone can do what you suggest. Only those who have that gift can. ¹²For example, some men are celibate because they were born that way. Others are celibate because they were castrated. Still others have decided to be celibate because of the kingdom of heaven. If anyone can do what you’ve suggested, then he should do it.”

Jesus Blesses Children—Mark 10:13–16; Luke 18:15–17

¹³Then some people brought little children to Jesus to have him bless them and pray for them. But the disciples told the people not to do that.

¹⁴Jesus said, “Don’t stop children from coming to me! Children like these are part of God’s kingdom.” ¹⁵After Jesus blessed them, he went away from there.

Eternal Life in the Kingdom—Mark 10:17–31; Luke 18:18–30

¹⁶Then a man came to Jesus and said, “Teacher, what good deed should I do to gain eternal life?”

¹⁷Jesus said to him, “Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. If you want to enter into life, obey the commandments.”

¹⁸“Which commandments?” the man asked.

Jesus said, “Never murder. Never commit adultery. Never steal. Never give false testimony. ¹⁹Honor your father and mother. Love your neighbor as you love yourself.”

²⁰The young man replied, “I have obeyed all these commandments. What else do I need to do?”

²¹Jesus said to him, “If you want to be perfect, sell what you own. Give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then follow me!”

²²When the young man heard this, he went away sad because he owned a lot of property.

²³Jesus said to his disciples, “I can guarantee this truth: It will be hard for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven. ²⁴I can guarantee again that it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter God’s kingdom.”

²⁵He amazed his disciples more than ever when they heard this. “Then who can be saved?” they asked.

²⁶Jesus looked at them and said, “It is impossible for people ⸤to save themselves⸥, but everything is possible for God.”

²⁷Then Peter replied to him, “Look, we’ve given up everything to follow you. What will we get out of it?”

²⁸Jesus said to them, “I can guarantee this truth: When the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne in the world to come, you, my followers, will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. ²⁹And everyone who gave up homes, brothers or sisters, father, mother, children, or fields because of my name will receive a hundred times more and will inherit eternal life. ³⁰However, many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first.

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