Jesus’ Teaching about Divorce

1Setting out from there, Jesus *went to the region of Judea and beyond the Jordan; crowds *gathered to Him again, and, as He was accustomed, He once more began to teach them.

2And some Pharisees came up to Jesus, testing Him, and began questioning Him whether it was lawful for a man to [a]divorce his wife. 3And He answered and said to them, “What did Moses command you?” 4They said, “Moses permitted a man to write a [b]certificate of divorce and [c]send his wife away.” 5But Jesus said to them, “[d]Because of your hardness of heart he wrote you this commandment. 6But from the beginning of creation, God CREATED THEM MALE AND FEMALE. 7FOR THIS REASON A MAN SHALL LEAVE HIS FATHER AND MOTHER[e], 8AND THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH; so they are no longer two, but one flesh. 9Therefore, what God has joined together, no person is to separate.”

10And in the house the disciples again began questioning Him about this. 11And He *said to them, “Whoever [f]divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against her; 12and if she herself [g]divorces her husband and marries another man, she is committing adultery.”

Jesus Blesses Little Children

13And they were bringing children to Him so that He would touch them; but the disciples rebuked them. 14But when Jesus saw this, He was indignant and said to them, “Allow the children to come to Me; do not [h]forbid them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 15Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it at all.” 16And He took them in His arms and began blessing them, laying His hands on them.

The Rich Young Ruler

17As He was setting out on a journey, a man ran up to Him and knelt before Him, and asked Him, “Good Teacher, what shall I do so that I may inherit eternal life?” 18But Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone. 19You know the commandments: ‘DO NOT MURDER, DO NOT COMMIT ADULTERY, DO NOT STEAL, DO NOT GIVE FALSE TESTIMONY, Do not defraud, HONOR YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER.’” 20And he said to Him, “Teacher, I have kept all these things from my youth.” 21Looking at him, Jesus showed love to him and said to him, “One thing you lack: go and sell all you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” 22But he [i]was deeply dismayed by [j]these words, and he went away grieving; for he was one who owned much property.

23And Jesus, looking around, *said to His disciples, “How hard it will be for those who are wealthy to enter the kingdom of God!” 24And the disciples were amazed at His words. But Jesus responded again and *said to them, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! 25It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” 26And they were even more astonished, and said to Him, “[k]Then who can be saved?” 27Looking at them, Jesus *said, “With people it is impossible, but not with God; for all things are possible with God.”

28Peter began to say to Him, “Behold, we have left everything and have followed You.” 29Jesus said, “Truly I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or farms, for My sake and for the gospel’s sake, 30[l]but that he will receive a hundred times as much now in [m]the present age, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and farms, along with persecutions; and in the age to come, eternal life. 31But many who are first will be last, and the last, first.”

Jesus’ Sufferings Foretold

32Now they were on the road going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking on ahead of them; and they were amazed, and those who followed were fearful. And again He took the twelve aside and began to tell them what was going to happen to Him, 33saying, “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be [n]handed over to the chief priests and the scribes; and they will condemn Him to death and will [o]hand Him over to the Gentiles. 34And they will mock Him and spit on Him, and flog Him and kill Him; and three days later He will rise from the dead.”

35[p]James and John, the two sons of Zebedee, *came up to [q]Jesus, saying to Him, “Teacher, we want You to do for us whatever we ask of You.” 36And He said to them, “What do you want Me to do for you?” 37They said to Him, “[r]Grant that we may sit, one on Your right and one on Your left, in Your glory.” 38But Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?” 39They said to Him, “We are able.” And Jesus said to them, “The cup that I drink you shall drink; and you shall be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized. 40But to sit on My right or on My left is not Mine to give; but it is for those for whom it has been prepared.”

41Hearing this, the other ten began to feel indignant with [s]James and John. 42Calling them to Himself, Jesus *said to them, “You know that those who are recognized as rulers of the Gentiles domineer over them; and their [t]people in high position exercise authority over them. 43But it is not this way among you; rather, whoever wants to become [u]prominent among you shall be your servant; 44and whoever wants to be first among you shall be slave of all. 45For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His [v]life as a ransom for many.”

Bartimaeus Receives His Sight

46Then they *came to Jericho. And later, as He was leaving Jericho with His disciples and a large crowd, a beggar who was blind named Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, was sitting by the road. 47And when he heard that it was Jesus the Nazarene, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” 48Many were sternly telling him to be quiet, but he kept crying out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” 49And Jesus stopped and said, “Call him here.” So they *called the man who was blind, saying to him, “Take courage, stand up! He is calling for you.” 50And throwing off his cloak, he jumped up and came to Jesus. 51And replying to him, Jesus said, “What do you want Me to do for you?” And the man who was blind said to Him, “[w]Rabboni, I want to regain my sight!” 52And Jesus said to him, “Go; your faith has [x]made you well.” And immediately he regained his sight and began following Him on the road.

[a] 2 Lit send away, the Heb term for divorce
[b] 4 Permitting her to remarry
[c] 4 Or divorce her
[d] 5 Or With reference to
[e] 7 Many late mss add and shall cling to his wife
[f] 11 Or sends away
[g] 12 Or sends away
[h] 14 Or prevent
[i] 22 Or became gloomy at; or was shocked by
[j] 22 Lit the word
[k] 26 Lit And
[l] 30 Lit if he does not
[m] 30 Lit this time
[n] 33 Or betrayed
[o] 33 Or betray
[p] 35 Or Jacob
[q] 35 Lit Him
[r] 37 Lit Give to us
[s] 41 Or Jacob
[t] 42 Lit great ones
[u] 43 Lit great
[v] 45 Or soul
[w] 51 I.e., My Master
[x] 52 Lit saved you