Matthew 19
19
The Question of Divorce
1When Jesus had finished saying these things,#Mk 10:1–12 he departed from Galilee and went to the region of Judea across the Jordan.#Mt 7:28; Lk 9:51; Jn 10:40 2Large crowds followed him, and he healed them there.#Mt 4:23; 12:15 3Some Pharisees approached him to test him. They asked, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife on any grounds?” #Mt 5:31; Jn 8:6
4 “Haven’t you read,” he replied, “that he who created#19:4 Other mss read made them in the beginning made them male and female,#19:4 Gn 1:27; 5:2#Gn 2:18; Mt 21:16 5and he also said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’?#19:5 Gn 2:24#Gn 2:24; Mal 2:15; 1Co 6:16; Eph 5:31 6So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore, what God has joined together, let no one separate.”
7“Why then,” they asked him, “did Moses command us to give divorce papers#Dt 24:1–4; Mt 5:31 and to send her away?”
8He told them, “Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because of the hardness of your hearts, but it was not like that from the beginning. 9I tell you, whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another commits adultery.”#19:9 Other mss add Also whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery; Mt 5:32#Mt 5:32; Lk 16:18
10His disciples#Mt 10:1; 26:56; Mk 3:7; 16:20; Lk 6:13; Jn 12:16 said to him, “If the relationship of a man with his wife is like this, it’s better not to marry.”
11He responded, “Not everyone can accept this saying, but only those to whom it has been given.#Mt 13:11; 1Co 7:7 12For there are eunuchs who were born that way from their mother’s womb, there are eunuchs who were made by men, and there are eunuchs who have made themselves that way because of the kingdom of heaven. The one who is able to accept it should accept it.”
Blessing the Children
13Then little children were brought to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray, but the disciples rebuked them.#Mk 10:13–16; Lk 18:15–17 14Jesus said, “Leave the little children alone, and don’t try to keep them from coming to me, because the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”#19:14 Lit heaven is of such ones#Mt 18:3; 1Pt 2:2 15After placing his hands on them, he went on from there.
The Rich Young Ruler
16Just then someone came up and asked him,#Mk 10:17–30; Lk 10:25–28; 18:18–30 “Teacher, what good must I do to have eternal life?” #Mk 10:17; Jn 12:25; Ac 13:48
17 “Why do you ask me about what is good?” # 19:17 Other mss read “Why do you call me good?” he said to him. “There is only one who is good.#19:17 Other mss read “No one is good but one — God If you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.”#Lv 18:5; Neh 9:29; Ezk 20:21
18“Which ones?” he asked him.
Jesus answered: Do not murder; do not commit adultery; do not steal; do not bear false witness;#Ex 20:13–16; Dt 5:17–20 19honor your father and your mother; and love your neighbor as yourself.#19:18–19 Ex 20:12–16; Lv 19:18; Dt 5:16–20#Ex 20:12; Lv 19:18; Dt 5:16; Mt 5:43; 22:39; Gl 5:14; Jms 2:8
20“I have kept all these,”#19:20 Other mss add from my youth the young man told him. “What do I still lack?”
21 “If you want to be perfect,” # 19:21 Or complete Jesus said to him, “go, sell your belongings and give to the poor,#Lk 12:33; 16:9; Ac 2:45; 4:35; 1Tm 6:18 and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
22When the young man heard that, he went away grieving, because he had many possessions.
Possessions and the Kingdom
23Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly I tell you, it will be hard for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven.#Mt 13:22; Mk 10:23; 1Co 1:26; 1Tm 6:9 24Again I tell you, 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.”#Mt 12:28; Mk 10:25; Lk 18:25
25When the disciples heard this, they were utterly astonished and asked, “Then who can be saved?”
26Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”#Gn 18:14; Jb 42:2; Jr 32:17; Zch 8:6; Mk 10:27; Lk 18:27
27Then Peter responded to him, “See, we have left everything and followed you. So what will there be for us?”
28Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, in the renewal of all things,#Is 65:17; 66:22; 2Pt 3:13; Rv 21:1 when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne,#Ps 45:6; Mt 25:31; Heb 1:8; Rv 3:21; 22:1,3 you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother#19:29 Other mss add or wife or children or fields because of my name will receive a hundred times more and will inherit eternal life.#Mt 6:33; Mk 10:29; Lk 18:29 30But many who are first will be last, and the last first.#Mt 20:16; 21:31; Mk 10:31; Lk 13:30
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Matthew 19: CSB
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© 2017 Holman Bible Publishers
Matthew 19
19
Jesus goes from Galilee to Jerusalem
Teaching about divorce
(Mark 10.1-12)
1When Jesus finished teaching, he left Galilee and went to the part of Judea that is east of the River Jordan. 2Large crowds followed him, and he healed their sick people.
3Some Pharisees wanted to test Jesus. They came up to him and asked, “Is it right for a man to divorce his wife for just any reason?”
4Jesus answered, “Don't you know that in the beginning the Creator made a man and a woman?#Gn 1.27; 5.2. 5That's why a man leaves his father and mother and gets married. He becomes like one person with his wife.#Gn 2.24. 6Then they are no longer two people, but one. And no one should separate a couple that God has joined together.”
7The Pharisees asked Jesus, “Why did Moses say that a man could write out divorce papers and send his wife away?”#Dt 24.1-4; Mt 5.31.
8Jesus replied, “You are so heartless! That's why Moses allowed you to divorce your wife. But from the beginning God did not intend it to be that way. 9I say that if your wife has not committed some terrible sexual sin,#19.9 some terrible sexual sin: See the note at 5.32. you must not divorce her to marry someone else. If you do, you are unfaithful.”#Mt 5.32; 1 Co 7.10,11.
10The disciples said, “If that's how it is between a man and a woman, it's better not to get married.”
11Jesus told them, “Only those people who have been given the gift of staying single can accept this teaching. 12Some people are unable to marry because of birth defects or because of what someone has done to their bodies. Others stay single for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. Anyone who can accept this teaching should do so.”
Jesus blesses little children
(Mark 10.13-16; Luke 18.15-17)
13Some people brought their children to Jesus, so that he could place his hands on them and pray for them. His disciples told the people to stop bothering him. 14But Jesus said, “Let the children come to me, and don't try to stop them! People who are like these children belong to God's kingdom.”#19.14 People who are like these children belong to God's kingdom: Or “God's kingdom belongs to people who are like these children.” 15After Jesus had placed his hands on the children, he left.
A rich young man
(Mark 10.17-31; Luke 18.18-30)
16A man came to Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to have eternal life?”
17Jesus said to him, “Why do you ask me about what is good? Only God is good. If you want to have eternal life, you must obey his commandments.”
18“Which ones?” the man asked.#Ex 20.13; Dt 5.17; Ex 20.14; Dt 5.18; Ex 20.15; Dt 5.19; Ex 20.16; Dt 5.20.
Jesus answered, “Do not murder. Be faithful in marriage. Do not steal. Do not tell lies about others. 19Respect your father and mother. And love others as much as you love yourself.”#Ex 20.12; Dt 5.16; Lv 19.18. 20The young man said, “I have obeyed all these. What else must I do?”
21Jesus replied, “If you want to be perfect, go and sell everything you own! Give the money to the poor, and you will have riches in heaven. Then come and be my follower.” 22When the young man heard this, he was sad, because he was very rich.
23Jesus said to his disciples, “It's terribly hard for rich people to get into the kingdom of heaven! 24In fact, it's easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to get into God's kingdom.”
25When the disciples heard this, they were greatly surprised and asked, “How can anyone ever be saved?”
26Jesus looked straight at them and said, “There are some things that people cannot do, but God can do anything.”
27Peter replied, “Remember, we have left everything to be your followers! What will we get?”
28Jesus answered:#Mt 25.31; Lk 22.30.
Yes, all of you have become my followers. And so in the future world, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, I promise that you will sit on twelve thrones to judge the twelve tribes of Israel. 29All who have given up home or brothers and sisters or father and mother or children or land for me will be given a hundred times as much. They will also have eternal life. 30But many who are now first will be last, and many who are last will be first.#Mt 20.16; Lk 13.30.
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© British and Foreign Bible Society 2012