Matthew 19
19
Jesus Teaches About Divorce
(Mk. 10:1–12)
1After Jesus said all these things, he left Galilee. He went into the area of Judea on the other side of the Jordan River. 2Many people followed him. Jesus healed the sick people there.
3Some Pharisees came to Jesus. They tried to make him say something wrong. They asked him, “Is it right for a man to divorce his wife for any reason he chooses?”
4Jesus answered, “Surely you have read this in the Scriptures: When God made the world, ‘he made people male and female.’#Quote from Gen. 1:27; 5:2. 5And God said, ‘That is why a man will leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife. And the two people will become one.’#Quote from Gen. 2:24. 6So they are no longer two, but one. God has joined them together, so no one should separate them.”
7The Pharisees asked, “Then why did Moses give a command allowing a man to divorce his wife by writing a certificate of divorce#19:7 a command … certificate of divorce See Deut. 24:1.?”
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 whoever divorces his wife, except for the problem of sexual sin, and marries another woman is guilty of adultery.”
10The followers said to Jesus, “If that is the only reason a man can divorce his wife, it is better not to marry.”
11He answered, “This statement is true for some, but not for everyone—only for those who have been given this gift. 12There are different reasons why some men don’t marry.#19:12 some men don’t marry Literally, “there are eunuchs.” Some were born without the ability to produce children. Others were made that way later in life. And others have given up marriage because of God’s kingdom. This is for anyone who is able to accept it.”
Jesus Welcomes Children
(Mk. 10:13–16; Lk. 18:15–17)
13Then the people brought their little children to Jesus so that he could lay his hands on them to bless them and pray for them. When the followers saw this, they told the people to stop bringing their children to him. 14But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me. Don’t stop them, because God’s kingdom belongs to people who are like these children.” 15After Jesus blessed the children, he left there.
A Rich Man Refuses to Follow Jesus
(Mk. 10:17–31; Lk. 18:18–30)
16A man came to Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to have eternal life?”
17Jesus answered, “Why do you ask me about what is good? Only God is good. But if you want to have eternal life, obey the law’s commands.”
18The man asked, “Which ones?”
Jesus answered, “‘You must not murder anyone, you must not commit adultery, you must not steal, you must not tell lies about others, 19you must respect your father and mother,’#Quote from Ex. 20:12-16; Deut. 5:16-20. and ‘love your neighbor#19:19 your neighbor Or “others.” Jesus’ teaching in Lk. 10:25-37 makes clear that this includes anyone in need. the same as you love yourself.’#Quote from Lev. 19:18.”
20The young man said, “I have obeyed all these commands. What else do I need?”
21Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, then go and sell all that you own. Give the money to the poor, and you will have riches in heaven. Then come and follow me!”
22But when the young man heard Jesus tell him to give away his money, he was sad. He didn’t want to do this, because he was very rich. So he left.
23Then Jesus said to his followers, “The truth is, it will be very hard for a rich person to enter God’s kingdom. 24Yes, I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter God’s kingdom.”
25The followers were amazed to hear this. They asked, “Then who can be saved?”
26Jesus looked at them and said, “This is something that people cannot do. But God can do anything.”
27Peter said to him, “We left everything we had and followed you. So what will we have?”
28Jesus said to them, “When the time of the new world comes, the Son of Man will sit on his great and glorious throne. And I can promise that you who followed me will sit on twelve thrones, and you will judge the twelve tribes of Israel. 29Everyone who has left houses, brothers, sisters, father, mother, children, or farms to follow me will get much more than they left. And they will have eternal life. 30Many people who are first now will be last in the future. And many who are last now will be first in the future.
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© 1987, 2004 Bible League International
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.