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
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.
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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.