Mark 10:2–16

2Some Pharisees came to put him to the test. They asked, “Does the Law allow a man to divorce his wife?”

3“What did Moses command you?” he replied.

4They said, “Moses allowed a man to write a letter of divorce and send her away.”

5“You were stubborn. That’s why Moses wrote you this law,” Jesus replied. 6“But at the beginning of creation, God ‘made them male and female.’ (Genesis 1:27) 7‘That’s why a man will leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife. 8The two of them will become one.’ (Genesis 2:24) They are no longer two, but one. 9So a man must not separate what God has joined together.”

10When they were in the house again, the disciples asked Jesus about this.

11He answered, “What if a man divorces his wife and gets married to another woman? He commits adultery against her. 12And what if she divorces her husband and gets married to another man? She commits adultery.”

Little Children Are Brought to Jesus

13People were bringing little children to Jesus. They wanted him to touch them. But the disciples told the people to stop.

14When Jesus saw this, he was angry. He said to his disciples, “Let the little children come to me. Don’t keep them away. God’s kingdom belongs to people like them. 15What I’m about to tell you is true. Anyone who will not receive God’s kingdom like a little child will never enter it.”

16Then he took the children in his arms. He put his hands on them and blessed them.