CHAPTER 19

Teaching About Divorce

1 1aNow it happened that when Jesus had finished these words, He departed from Galilee and bcame into the region of Judea beyond the Jordan;

2 and 1large crowds followed Him, and aHe healed them there.

3 And some Pharisees came to 1Jesus, testing Him and saying, “aIs it lawful for a man to 2divorce his wife for any reason at all?”

4 And He answered and said, “Have you not read athat He who created them from the beginning made them male and female,

5 and said, ‘aFor this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and bthe two shall become one flesh’?

6 “So they are no longer two, but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate.”

7 They *said to Him, “aWhy then did Moses command to give her a certificate of divorce and send her away?”

8 He *said to them, “Because of your hardness of heart Moses permitted you to 1divorce your wives; but from the beginning it has not been this way.

9 “And I say to you, awhoever 1divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another woman 2commits adultery3.”

10 The disciples *said to Him, “If the relationship of the man with his wife is like this, it is better not to marry.”

11 But He said to them, “aNot all men can accept this statement, but bonly those to whom it has been given.

12 “For there are eunuchs who were born that way from their mother’s womb; and there are eunuchs who were made eunuchs by men; and there are also eunuchs who made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. He who is able to accept this, let him accept it.”

Jesus Blesses Children

13 aThen some children were brought to Him so that He might lay His hands on them and pray; and the disciples rebuked them.

14 But Jesus said, “1aLet the children alone, and do not hinder them from coming to Me; for bthe kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”

15 And after laying His hands on them, He departed from there.

The Rich Young Ruler

16 aAnd behold, someone came to Him and said, “Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have beternal life?”

17 And He said to him, “Why are you asking Me about what is good? There is only One who is good; but aif you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments.”

18 Then he *said to Him, “Which ones?” And Jesus said, “aYou shall not murder; You shall not commit adultery; You shall not steal; You shall not bear false witness;

19 aHonor your father and mother; and bYou shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

20 The young man *said to Him, “All these things I have kept; what am I still lacking?”

21 Jesus said to him, “If you wish to be 1complete, go and asell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have btreasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”

22 But when the young man heard this statement, he went away grieving; for he was one who owned much property.

23 And Jesus said to His disciples, “Truly I say to you, ait is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.

24 “And again I say to you, ait is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”

25 And when the disciples heard this, they were very astonished and said, “Then who can be saved?”

26 And looking at them Jesus said to them, “aWith people this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

Many Who Are First Will Be Last

27 Then Peter answered and said to Him, “Behold, we have left everything and followed You; what then will there be for us?”

28 And Jesus said to them, “Truly I say to you, that you who have followed Me, in the regeneration when athe Son of Man will sit on 1His glorious throne, byou also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

29 “And aeveryone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother 1or children or farms for My name’s sake, will receive 2one hundred times as much, and will inherit eternal life.

30 “aBut many who are first will be last; and the last, first.