Mark 10:1–16

The Question of Divorce

10He ^yset out from there and went to the region of Judea ^zand across the Jordan. ^aThen crowds converged on Him again and, as He usually did, He began teaching ^bthem once more. ²Some Pharisees ^capproached Him to test ^dHim. They asked, “Is it lawful ^efor a man to divorce ^fhis wife?” ^g

³He replied to them, “What did Moses ^hcommand you?”

⁴They said, “Moses permitted us to write divorce papers ⁱand send her away.” ^j

⁵But Jesus told them, “He wrote this command for you because of the hardness of your hearts. ^k6But from the beginning ^lof creation ^mGod ⁿmade them male and female. ^op

⁷For this reason a man will leave ^q

his father and mother

[and be joined to his wife], ^r

⁸and the two will become one flesh. ^st

So they are no longer two, but one flesh. ⁹Therefore what God has joined together, man must not separate.” ^u

¹⁰Now in the house the disciples questioned Him again about this matter. ¹¹And He said to them, “Whoever divorces his wife ^vand marries ^wanother commits adultery ^xagainst her. ¹²Also, if she divorces her husband ^yand marries another, she commits adultery.”

Blessing the Children

¹³Some ^zpeople were bringing little children ^ato Him so He might touch them, but His disciples rebuked ^bthem. ¹⁴When Jesus saw it, He was indignant ^cand said to them, “Let the little children come to Me. ^dDon’t stop ^ethem, for the kingdom of God ^fbelongs to such as these. ^15•I assure you: ^gWhoever does not welcome ^hithe kingdom of God like a little child ^jwill never enter it.” ¹⁶After taking them in His arms, He laid His hands on ^kthem and blessed ^lthem.