Matthew 19
19
Jesus Teaches About Divorce
1After Jesus said all these things, he left Galilee. He went into the area of Judea on the other side of the Jordan River. 2Large crowds followed Jesus, and he healed them there.
3Some Pharisees came to Jesus and tried to trick him. They asked, “Is it right for a man to divorce his wife for any reason he chooses?”
4Jesus answered, “Surely you have read in the Scriptures: When God made the world, ‘he made them male and female.’# Quotation from Genesis 1:27 or 5:2. 5And God said, ‘So a man will leave his father and mother and be united with his wife. And the two people will become one body.’# Quotation from Genesis 2:24. 6So the two are not two, but one. God joined the two people together. No person should separate them.”
7The Pharisees asked, “Why then did Moses give a command for a man to divorce his wife by giving her divorce papers?”
8Jesus answered, “Moses allowed you to divorce your wives because you refused to accept God’s teaching. But divorce was not allowed in the beginning. 9I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman is guilty of adultery.# Some Greek copies continue, “And anyone who marries a divorced woman is guilty of adultery,” Compare Matthew 5:32. The only reason for a man to divorce and marry again is if his first wife has been unfaithful to him.”
10The followers said to him, “If that is the only reason a man can divorce his wife, then it is better not to marry.”
11Jesus answered, “Not everyone can accept this truth about marriage. But God has made some able to accept it. 12There are different reasons why some men cannot marry. Some men were born without the ability to become fathers. Others were made that way later in life by other people. And other men have given up marriage because of the kingdom of heaven. But the person who can marry should accept this teaching about marriage.”# This may also mean, “The person who can accept this teaching about not marrying should accept it.”
Jesus Welcomes Children
13Then the people brought their little children to Jesus so that he could put his hands on them# Showing that Jesus gave special blessings to these children. and pray for them. When his followers saw this, they told the people to stop bringing their children to Jesus. 14But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me. Don’t stop them, because the kingdom of heaven belongs to people who are like these children.” 15After Jesus put his hands on the children, he left there.
A Rich Young Man’s Question
16A man came to Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to have life forever?”
17Jesus answered, “Why do you ask me about what is good? Only God is good. But if you want to have life forever, obey the commands.”
18The man asked, “Which commands?”
Jesus answered, “‘You must not murder anyone. You must not be guilty of adultery. You must not steal. You must not tell lies about your neighbor in court. 19Honor your father and mother.# Quotation from Exodus 20:12–16; Deuteronomy 5:16–20. Love your neighbor as you love yourself.’”# Quotation from Leviticus 19:18.
20The young man said, “I have obeyed all these things. What else do I need to do?”
21Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, then go and sell all the things you own. Give the money to the poor. If you do this, you will have a treasure in heaven. Then come and follow me!”
22But when the young man heard this, he became very sad because he was very rich. So he left Jesus.
23Then Jesus said to his followers, “I tell you the truth. It will be very hard for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24Yes, I tell you that 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.”
25When the followers heard this, they were very surprised. They asked, “Then who can be saved?”
26Jesus looked at them and said, “For men this is impossible. But for God all things are possible.”
27Peter said to Jesus, “We left everything we had and followed you. So what will we have?”
28Jesus said to them, “I tell you the truth. When the new age comes, the Son of Man will sit on his great throne. And all of you who followed me will also sit on 12 thrones. And you will judge the 12 tribes of Israel. 29And everyone who has left houses, brothers, sisters, father, mother,# Some Greek copies continue, “or wife.” children, or farms to follow me will get much more than he left. And he will have life forever. 30Many who are first now will be last in the future. And many who are last now will be first in the future.
Currently Selected:
Matthew 19: ICB
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
Copyright © 2015 by Tommy Nelson™, a Division of Thomas Nelson, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
Matthew 19
19
Jesus Teaches about Divorce
(Mk 10.1–12)
1When Jesus finished saying these things, he left Galilee and went to the territory of Judea on the other side of the River Jordan. 2Large crowds followed him, and he healed them there.
3Some Pharisees came to him and tried to trap him by asking, “Does our Law allow a man to divorce his wife for whatever reason he wishes?”
4 #
Gen 1.27; 5.2 Jesus answered, “Haven't you read the scripture that says that in the beginning the Creator made people male and female? 5#Gen 2.24And God said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and unite with his wife, and the two will become one.’ 6So they are no longer two, but one. No human being must separate, then, what God has joined together.”
7 #
Deut 24.1–4; Mt 5.31 The Pharisees asked him, “Why, then, did Moses give the law for a man to hand his wife a divorce notice and send her away?”
8Jesus answered, “Moses gave you permission to divorce your wives because you are so hard to teach. But it was not like that at the time of creation. 9#Mt 5.32; 1 Cor 7.10–11I tell you, then, that any man who divorces his wife for any cause other than her unfaithfulness, commits adultery if he marries some other woman.”
10His disciples said to him, “If this is how it is between a man and his wife, it is better not to marry.”
11Jesus answered, “This teaching does not apply to everyone, but only to those to whom God has given it. 12For there are different reasons why men cannot marry: some, because they were born that way; others, because men made them that way; and others do not marry for the sake of the Kingdom of heaven. Let him who can accept this teaching do so.”
Jesus Blesses Little Children
(Mk 10.13–16; Lk 18.15–17)
13Some people brought children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and to pray for them, but the disciples scolded the people. 14Jesus said, “Let the children come to me and do not stop them, because the Kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”
15He placed his hands on them and then went away.
The Rich Young Man
(Mk 10.17–31; Lk 18.18–30)
16Once a man came to Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what good thing must I do to receive eternal life?”
17 “Why do you ask me concerning what is good?” answered Jesus. “There is only One who is good. Keep the commandments if you want to enter life.”
18 #
Ex 20.13–16; Deut 5.17–20 “What commandments?” he asked.
Jesus answered, “Do not commit murder; do not commit adultery; do not steal; do not accuse anyone falsely; 19#Ex 20.12; Deut 5.16; Lev 19.18respect your father and your mother; and love your neighbour as you love yourself.”
20“I have obeyed all these commandments,” the young man replied. “What else do I need to do?”
21Jesus said to him, “If you want to be perfect, go and sell all you have and give the money to the poor, and you will have riches in heaven; then come and follow me.”
22When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he was very rich.
23Jesus then said to his disciples, “I assure you: it will be very hard for rich people to enter the Kingdom of heaven. 24I repeat: it is much harder for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God than for a camel to go through the eye of a needle.”
25When the disciples heard this, they were completely amazed. “Who, then, can be saved?” they asked.
26Jesus looked straight at them and answered, “This is impossible for human beings, but for God everything is possible.”
27Then Peter spoke up. “Look,” he said, “we have left everything and followed you. What will we have?”
28 #
Mt 25.31; Lk 22.30 Jesus said to them, “You can be sure that when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne in the New Age, then you twelve followers of mine will also sit on thrones, to rule the twelve tribes of Israel. 29And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for my sake, will receive a hundred times more and will be given eternal life. 30#Mt 20.16; Lk 13.30But many who now are first will be last, and many who now are last will be first.
Currently Selected:
:
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
Good News Bible. Scripture taken from the Good News Bible (r) (Today's English Version Second Edition, UK/British Edition). Copyright © 1992 British & Foreign Bible Society. Used by permission.