Mark 10:1–31

Marriage and Divorce

Matt. 19:1–9

10Then ^aHe arose from there and came to the region of Judea by the other side of the Jordan. And multitudes gathered to Him again, and as He was accustomed, He taught them again.

^2bThe Pharisees came and asked Him, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?” testing Him.

³And He answered and said to them, “What did Moses command you?”

⁴They said, ^c“Moses permitted a man to write a certificate of divorce, and to dismiss her.”

⁵And Jesus answered and said to them, “Because of the hardness of your heart he wrote you this ¹precept. ⁶But from the beginning of the creation, God ^d‘made them male and female.’ ^7e‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, ⁸and the two shall become one flesh’; so then they are no longer two, but one flesh. ⁹Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate.”

¹⁰In the house His disciples also asked Him again about the same matter. ¹¹So He said to them, ^f “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her. ¹²And if a woman divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery.”

Children and the Kingdom

Matt. 19:13–15; Luke 18:15–17

^13gThen they brought little children to Him, that He might touch them; but the disciples rebuked those who brought them. ¹⁴But when Jesus saw it, He was greatly displeased and said to them, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for ^hof such is the kingdom of God. ¹⁵Assuredly, I say to you, ⁱwhoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will ^jby no means enter it.” ¹⁶And He took them up in His arms, laid His hands on them, and blessed them.

Rich Young Ruler

Matt. 19:16–22; Luke 18:18–23

^17kNow as He was going out on the road, one came running, knelt before Him, and asked Him, “Good Teacher, what shall I ^ldo that I may inherit eternal life?”

¹⁸So Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, ^mGod. ¹⁹You know the commandments: ⁿ‘Do not commit adultery,’ ‘Do not murder,’ ‘Do not steal,’ ‘Do not bear false witness,’ ‘Do not defraud,’ ‘Honor your father and your mother.’ ”

²⁰And he answered and said to Him, “Teacher, all these things I have ^okept from my youth.”

²¹Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “One thing you lack: Go your way, ^psell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have ^qtreasure in heaven; and come, ^rtake up the cross, and follow Me.”

²²But he was sad at this word, and went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.

Difficulty of Riches

Matt. 19:23–26; Luke 18:24–27

^23sThen Jesus looked around and said to His disciples, “How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!” ²⁴And the disciples were astonished at His words. But Jesus answered again and said to them, “Children, how hard it is ²for those ^twho trust in riches to enter the kingdom of God! ²⁵It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a ^urich man to enter the kingdom of God.”

²⁶And they were greatly astonished, saying among themselves, “Who then can be saved?”

²⁷But Jesus looked at them and said, “With men it is impossible, but not ^vwith God; for with God all things are possible.”

Eternal Reward

Matt. 19:27–30; Luke 18:28–30

^28wThen Peter began to say to Him, “See, we have left all and followed You.”

²⁹So Jesus answered and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother ³or wife or children or ⁴lands, for My sake and the gospel’s, ^30xwho shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time—houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with ^ypersecutions—and in the age to come, eternal life. ^31zBut many who are first will be last, and the last first.”