Matthew 19
19
Teaching about divorce
1When Jesus finished saying these things, he left Galilee and came to the area of Judea on the east side of the Jordan. 2Large crowds followed him, and he healed them. 3Some Pharisees came to him. In order to test him, they said, “Does the Law allow a man to divorce his wife for just any reason?”
4Jesus answered, “Haven’t you read that at the beginning the creator made them male and female?#19.4 Gen 1:27; 5:2 5And God said, ‘Because of this a man should leave his father and mother and be joined together with his wife, and the two will be one flesh.’#19.5 Gen 2:24 6So they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore, humans must not pull apart what God has put together.”
7The Pharisees said to him, “Then why did Moses command us to give a divorce certificate and divorce her?”#19.7 Deut 24:1
8Jesus replied, “Moses allowed you to divorce your wives because your hearts are unyielding. But it wasn’t that way from the beginning. 9I say to you that whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual unfaithfulness, and marries another woman commits adultery.”
10His disciples said to him, “If that’s the way things are between a man and his wife, then it’s better not to marry.”
11He replied, “Not everybody can accept this teaching, but only those who have received the ability to accept it. 12For there are eunuchs who have been eunuchs from birth. And there are eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by other people. And there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs because of the kingdom of heaven. Those who can accept it should accept it.”
Jesus blesses children
13Some people brought children to Jesus so that he would place his hands on them and pray. But the disciples scolded them. 14“Allow the children to come to me,” Jesus said. “Don’t forbid them, because the kingdom of heaven belongs to people like these children.” 15Then he blessed the children and went away from there.
A rich man’s question
16A man approached him and said, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to have eternal life?”
17Jesus said, “Why do you ask me about what is good? There’s only one who is good. If you want to enter eternal life, keep the commandments.”
18The man said, “Which ones?”
Then Jesus said, “Don’t commit murder. Don’t commit adultery. Don’t steal. Don’t give false testimony. 19Honor your father and mother,#19.19 Exod 20:12-16; Deut 5:16-20 and love your neighbor as you love yourself.”#19.19 Lev 19:18
20The young man replied, “I’ve kept all these. What am I still missing?”
21Jesus said, “If you want to be complete, go, sell what you own, and give the money to the poor. Then you will have treasure in heaven. And come follow me.”
22But when the young man heard this, he went away saddened, because he had many possessions.
Teaching about giving up things
23Then Jesus said to his disciples, “I assure you that it will be very hard for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24In fact, it’s easier for a camel to squeeze through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter God’s kingdom.”
25When his disciples heard this, they were stunned. “Then who can be saved?” they asked.
26Jesus looked at them carefully and said, “It’s impossible for human beings. But all things are possible for God.”
27Then Peter replied, “Look, we’ve left everything and followed you. What will we have?”
28Jesus said to them, “I assure you who have followed me that, when everything is made new, when the Human One#19.28 Or Son of Man sits on his magnificent throne, you also will sit on twelve thrones overseeing the twelve tribes of Israel. 29And all who have left houses, brothers, sisters, father, mother, children, or farms because of my name will receive one hundred times more and will inherit eternal life. 30But many who are first will be last. And many who are last will be first.
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Matthew 19: CEB
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2011 Common English Bible. All rights reserved.
Matthew 19
19
Teaching about Divorce
1When Jesus had finished saying these things, he left Galilee and went to the region of Judea beyond the Jordan. 2Large crowds followed him, and he cured them there.
3Some Pharisees came to him, and to test him they asked, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any cause?” 4He answered, “Have you not read that the one who made them at the beginning ‘made them male and female,’ 5and said, ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? 6So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.” 7They said to him, “Why then did Moses command us to give a certificate of dismissal and to divorce her?” 8He said to them, “It was because you were so hard-hearted that Moses allowed you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so. 9And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for unchastity, and marries another commits adultery.”#19.9 Other ancient authorities read except on the ground of unchastity, causes her to commit adultery; others add at the end of the verse and he who marries a divorced woman commits adultery
10His disciples said to him, “If such is the case of a man with his wife, it is better not to marry.” 11But he said to them, “Not everyone can accept this teaching, but only those to whom it is given. 12For there are eunuchs who have been so from birth, and there are eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by others, and there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. Let anyone accept this who can.”
Jesus Blesses Little Children
13Then little children were being brought to him in order that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples spoke sternly to those who brought them; 14but Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of heaven belongs.” 15And he laid his hands on them and went on his way.
The Rich Young Man
16Then someone came to him and said, “Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?” 17And he said to him, “Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. If you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments.” 18He said to him, “Which ones?” And Jesus said, “You shall not murder; You shall not commit adultery; You shall not steal; You shall not bear false witness; 19Honor your father and mother; also, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 20The young man said to him, “I have kept all these;#19.20 Other ancient authorities add from my youth what do I still lack?” 21Jesus said to him, “If you wish to be perfect, go, sell your possessions, and give the money#19.21 Gk lacks the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.” 22When the young man heard this word, he went away grieving, for he had many possessions.
23Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly I tell you, it will be hard for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” 25When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astounded and said, “Then who can be saved?” 26But Jesus looked at them and said, “For mortals it is impossible, but for God all things are possible.”
27Then Peter said in reply, “Look, we have left everything and followed you. What then will we have?” 28Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man is seated on the throne of his glory, 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 or children or fields, for my name's sake, will receive a hundredfold,#19.29 Other ancient authorities read manifold and will inherit eternal life. 30But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.
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New Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright © 1989 Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA. Used by permission. All rights reserved.