Matthew 19
19
Discussion about Divorce and Marriage
1When Jesus had finished saying these things, he left Galilee and went down to the region of Judea east of the Jordan River. 2Large crowds followed him there, and he healed their sick.
3Some Pharisees came and tried to trap him with this question: “Should a man be allowed to divorce his wife for just any reason?”
4 “Haven’t you read the Scriptures?” Jesus replied. “They record that from the beginning ‘God made them male and female.’#19:4 Gen 1:27; 5:2.” 5And he said, “‘This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.’#19:5 Gen 2:24. 6Since they are no longer two but one, let no one split apart what God has joined together.”
7“Then why did Moses say in the law that a man could give his wife a written notice of divorce and send her away?”#19:7 See Deut 24:1. they asked.
8Jesus replied, “Moses permitted divorce only as a concession to your hard hearts, but it was not what God had originally intended. 9And I tell you this, whoever divorces his wife and marries someone else commits adultery—unless his wife has been unfaithful.#19:9 Some manuscripts add And anyone who marries a divorced woman commits adultery. Compare Matt 5:32.”
10Jesus’ disciples then said to him, “If this is the case, it is better not to marry!”
11 “Not everyone can accept this statement,” Jesus said. “Only those whom God helps. 12Some are born as eunuchs, some have been made eunuchs by others, and some choose not to marry#19:12 Greek and some make themselves eunuchs. for the sake of the Kingdom of Heaven. Let anyone accept this who can.”
Jesus Blesses the Children
13One day some parents brought their children to Jesus so he could lay his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples scolded the parents for bothering him.
14But Jesus said, “Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to those who are like these children.” 15And he placed his hands on their heads and blessed them before he left.
The Rich Man
16Someone came to Jesus with this question: “Teacher,#19:16 Some manuscripts read Good Teacher. what good deed must I do to have eternal life?”
17 “Why ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. But to answer your question—if you want to receive eternal life, keep#19:17 Some manuscripts read continue to keep. the commandments.”
18“Which ones?” the man asked.
And Jesus replied: “‘You must not murder. You must not commit adultery. You must not steal. You must not testify falsely. 19Honor your father and mother. Love your neighbor as yourself.’#19:18-19 Exod 20:12-16; Deut 5:16-20; Lev 19:18.”
20“I’ve obeyed all these commandments,” the young man replied. “What else must I do?”
21Jesus told him, “If you want to be perfect, go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
22But when the young man heard this, he went away sad, for he had many possessions.
23Then Jesus said to his disciples, “I tell you the truth, it is very hard for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. 24I’ll say it again—it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God!”
25The disciples were astounded. “Then who in the world can be saved?” they asked.
26Jesus looked at them intently and said, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But with God everything is possible.”
27Then Peter said to him, “We’ve given up everything to follow you. What will we get?”
28Jesus replied, “I assure you that when the world is made new#19:28a Or in the regeneration. and the Son of Man#19:28b “Son of Man” is a title Jesus used for himself. sits upon his glorious throne, you who have been my followers will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29And everyone who has given up houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or property, for my sake, will receive a hundred times as much in return and will inherit eternal life. 30But many who are the greatest now will be least important then, and those who seem least important now will be the greatest then.#19:30 Greek But many who are first will be last; and the last, first.
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Matthew 19: NLT
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Holy Bible, New Living Translation copyright 1996, 2004, 2007, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation.
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Matthew 19
19
1And it came to pass, when Jesus had finished these words, he withdrew from Galilee, and came to the coasts of Judaea beyond the Jordan; 2and great crowds followed him, and he healed them there.
3And the Pharisees came to him tempting him, and saying, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause? 4But he answering said to them, Have ye not read that he who made them, from the beginning made them male and female, 5and said, On account of this a man shall leave father and mother, and shall be united to his wife, and the two shall be one flesh? 6so that they are no longer two, but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate. 7They say to him, Why then did Moses command to give a letter of divorce and to send her away? 8He says to them, Moses, in view of your hardheartedness, allowed you to put away your wives; but from the beginning it was not thus. 9But I say unto you, that whosoever shall put away his wife, not for fornication, and shall marry another, commits adultery; and he who marries one put away commits adultery. 10His disciples say to him, If the case of the man be so with his wife, it is not good to marry. 11And he said to them, All cannot receive this word, but those to whom it has been given; 12for there are eunuchs which have been born thus from their mother's womb; and there are eunuchs who have been made eunuchs of men; and there are eunuchs who have made eunuchs of themselves for the sake of the kingdom of the heavens. He that is able to receive it, let him receive it.
13Then there were brought to him little children that he might lay his hands on them and pray; but the disciples rebuked them. 14But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and do not hinder them from coming to me; for the kingdom of the heavens is of such: 15and having laid his hands upon them, he departed thence.
16And lo, one coming up said to him, Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have life eternal? 17And he said to him, What askest thou me concerning goodness? one is good. But if thou wouldest enter into life, keep the commandments. 18He says to him, Which? And Jesus said, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, 19Honour thy father and thy mother, and Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 20The young man says to him, All these have I kept; what lack I yet? 21Jesus said to him, If thou wouldest be perfect, go, sell what thou hast and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me. 22But the young man, having heard the word, went away grieved, for he had large possessions.
23And Jesus said to his disciples, Verily I say unto you, A rich man shall with difficulty enter into the kingdom of the heavens; 24and again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to enter a needle's eye than a rich man into the kingdom of God. 25And when the disciples heard it they were exceedingly astonished, saying, Who then can be saved? 26But Jesus, looking on them, said to them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible. 27Then Peter answering said to him, Behold, we have left all things and have followed thee; what then shall happen to us? 28And Jesus said to them, Verily I say unto you, That ye who have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit down upon his throne of glory, ye also shall sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29And every one who has left houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and shall inherit life eternal. 30But many first shall be last, and last first.
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First published in 1890. This edition is maintained by the British and Foreign Bible Society.