Matthew 19
19
Jesus Teaches About Divorce
1When Jesus had finished saying these things, he left Galilee and went into the area of Judea that’s on the other side of the Jordan River. 2Large crowds followed him, and he healed many people there.
3Some Pharisees came to test Jesus. They asked, “Does the Law allow a man to divorce his wife for any reason he wants?”
4Jesus replied, “Haven’t you read that in the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female’? 5He said, ‘A man will leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two will become one.’ 6Since they are no longer two, but one, no one should separate what God has joined together.”
7They asked, “Then why did Moses say that a man could give his wife a letter of divorce and send her away?”
8Jesus replied, “Moses allowed you to divorce your wives because you were so hard-hearted. But that’s not the way it was from the beginning. 9I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, unless she has been unfaithful, and marries another woman commits adultery.”
10The disciples said to him. “If that’s the way it is between a husband and a wife, then it’s better not to get married.”
11Jesus answered, “Not everyone can grasp this saying. God has to enable a person to do that. 12Others won’t get married, either because they were born unable to have children or because other people made them that way. Still others will choose not to get married so they can serve the kingdom of heaven single. But anyone who can grasp the saying should accept it.”
Jesus Blesses Little Children
13Then people brought little children to Jesus because they wanted him to place his hands on them and pray for them. The disciples started to tell the people that they shouldn’t do this.
14But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and don’t try to stop them, because the kingdom of heaven belongs to people like these.” 15He placed his hands on them, and then he went on his way.
Rich People and the Kingdom of God
16A man came up to Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to receive eternal life?”
17“Why do you ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only one who is good. If you want to enter the kingdom, obey the commandments.”
18“Which ones?” the man asked.
Jesus said, “ ‘Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not be a false witness, 19honor your father and mother.’ And, ‘love your neighbor as you love yourself.’ ”
20“I’ve obeyed all those commandments,” the young man said. “What else do I need to do?”
21Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go and sell everything you have. Give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come and follow me.”
22When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he was very rich.
23Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly I tell you, it’s very difficult for someone who’s rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24Again I tell you, it’s easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who’s rich to enter the kingdom of God.”
25When the disciples heard this, they were amazed and asked, “Then who can be saved?”
26Jesus looked at them and said, “With people, it’s impossible, but with God, all things are possible.”
27Peter answered him, “We’ve left everything to follow you! What reward will we get?”
28Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, when all things are made new and the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, then you who have followed me will also sit on 12 thrones, judging the 12 tribes of Israel. 29Everyone who has left houses or fields, brothers or sisters, father or mother, or husband or wife and children because of me will receive 100 times as much. They will also receive eternal life. 30But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first.
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Matthew 19
19
A Discussion about Divorce and Celibacy
(Mark 10:1–12)
1When Jesus finished speaking, he left Galilee and traveled along the other side of the Jordan River to the territory of Judea. 2Large crowds followed him, and he healed them there.
3Some Pharisees came to test him. They asked, “Can a man divorce his wife for any reason?”
4Jesus answered, “Haven’t you read that the Creator made them male and female in the beginning 5and that he said, ‘That’s why a man will leave his father and mother and will remain united with his wife, and the two will be one’? 6So they are no longer two but one. Therefore, don’t let anyone separate what God has joined together.”
7The Pharisees asked him, “Why, then, did Moses order a man to give his wife a written notice to divorce her?”
8Jesus answered them, “Moses allowed you to divorce your wives because you’re heartless. It was never this way in the beginning. 9I can guarantee that whoever divorces his wife for any reason other than her unfaithfulness is committing adultery if he marries another woman.”
10The disciples said to him, “If that is the only reason a man can use to divorce his wife, it’s better not to get married.”
11He answered them, “Not everyone can do what you suggest. Only those who have that gift can. 12For example, some men are celibate because they were born that way. Others are celibate because they were castrated. Still others have decided to be celibate because of the kingdom of heaven. If anyone can do what you’ve suggested, then he should do it.”
Jesus Blesses Children
(Mark 10:13–16; Luke 18:15–17)
13Then some people brought little children to Jesus to have him bless them and pray for them. But the disciples told the people not to do that.
14Jesus said, “Don’t stop children from coming to me! Children like these are part of God’s kingdom.” 15After Jesus blessed them, he went away from there.
Eternal Life in the Kingdom
(Mark 10:17–31; Luke 18:18–30)
16Then a man came to Jesus and said, “Teacher, what good deed should I do to gain eternal life?”
17Jesus said to him, “Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. If you want to enter into life, obey the commandments.”
18“Which commandments?” the man asked.
Jesus said, “Never murder. Never commit adultery. Never steal. Never give false testimony. 19Honor your father and mother. Love your neighbor as you love yourself.”
20The young man replied, “I have obeyed all these commandments. What else do I need to do?”
21Jesus said to him, “If you want to be perfect, sell what you own. Give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then follow me!”
22When the young man heard this, he went away sad because he owned a lot of property.
23Jesus said to his disciples, “I can guarantee this truth: It will be hard for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24I can guarantee again that it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter God’s kingdom.”
25He amazed his disciples more than ever when they heard this. “Then who can be saved?” they asked.
26Jesus looked at them and said, “It is impossible for people ⌞to save themselves⌟, but everything is possible for God.”
27Then Peter replied to him, “Look, we’ve given up everything to follow you. What will we get out of it?”
28Jesus said to them, “I can guarantee this truth: When the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne in the world to come, you, my followers, will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29And everyone who gave up homes, brothers or sisters, father, mother, children, or fields because of my name will receive a hundred times more and will inherit eternal life. 30However, many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first.
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