Matthew 19
19
On Divorce
1 And it happened that when Jesus had finished these statements, he went away from Galilee and came into the region of Judea on the other side of the Jordan. 2And large crowds followed him, and he healed them there. 3And Pharisees came up to him in order to#*Here “in order to” is supplied as a component of the participle (“test”) which is understood as purpose test him, and asked#*Here the participle (“asked”) is translated as a finite verb because of English style if it was permitted for a man to divorce his wife for any cause. 4And he answered and#*Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“answered”) has been translated as a finite verb said, “Have you not read that the one who created them#*Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation from the beginning made them male and female 5and said, ‘On account of this a man will leave his#*Literally “the”; the Greek article is used here as a possessive pronoun father and his#*Literally “the”; the Greek article is used here as a possessive pronoun mother and will be joined to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’?#A quotation from Gen 2:24 6So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, man must not separate.” 7They said to him, “Why then did Moses command us#*Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation to give a document—a certificate of divorce—and to divorce her?” 8He said to them, “Moses, with reference to your hardness of heart, permitted you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not like this. 9Now I say to you that whoever divorces his wife, except on the basis of sexual immorality, and marries another commits adultery, and whoever marries her who is divorced commits adultery.”#Some manuscripts omit “and whoever marries her who is divorced commits adultery”
10The disciples#Some manuscripts have “His disciples” said to him, “If this is the case of a man with his#*Literally “the”; the Greek article is used here as a possessive pronoun wife, it would be better not to marry!” 11But he said to them, “Not everyone can accept this saying but those to whom it has been given. 12For there are eunuchs who were born as such from their mother’s womb, and there are eunuchs who were made eunuchs by people, and there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs#An understood repetition of the term from earlier in the verse for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. The one who is able to accept this,#*Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation let him accept it.”#*Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
Little Children Brought to Jesus
13Then children were brought to him so that he could lay his#Literally “the”; the Greek article is used here as a possessive pronoun hands on them and pray, but the disciples rebuked them. 14But Jesus said, “Allow the children, and do not forbid them to come to me, for to such belongs#Literally “for of such is” the kingdom of heaven.” 15And he laid his#*Literally “the”; the Greek article is used here as a possessive pronoun hands on them and#*Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“laid”) has been translated as a finite verb traveled on from there.
A Rich Young Man
16And behold, someone came up to him and#*Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“came up”) has been translated as a finite verb said, “Teacher, what good thing must I do so that I will have eternal life?” 17And he said to him, “Why are you asking me about what is good? There is one who is good. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments!” 18He said to him, “Which ones?” And Jesus said, “Do not commit murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, 19honor your#*Literally “the”; the Greek article is used here as a possessive pronoun father and your#*Literally “the”; the Greek article is used here as a possessive pronoun mother, and love your neighbor as yourself.” 20The young man said to him, “All these I have observed. What do I still lack?” 21Jesus said to him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give the proceeds#*Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation to the poor—and you will have treasure in heaven—and come, follow me.” 22But when#*Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“heard”) which is understood as temporal the young man heard the statement, he went away sorrowful, because he was one who had many possessions.
23And Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly I say to you that with difficulty a rich person will enter into the kingdom of heaven! 24And again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than a rich person into#Some manuscripts have “to enter into” the kingdom of God.” 25So when#*Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“heard”) which is understood as temporal the disciples heard this,#*Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation they were extremely amazed, saying, “Then who can be saved?” 26But Jesus looked at them#*Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation and#*Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“looked at”) has been translated as a finite verb said to them, “With human beings this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” 27Then Peter answered and#*Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“answered”) has been translated as a finite verb said to him, “Behold, we have left everything and followed you. What then will there be for us?” 28And Jesus said to them, “Truly I say to you that in the renewal of the world,#The words “of the world” are supplied as a clarification of “renewal” when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me—you also will 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 wife#Some manuscripts omit “or wife” or children or fields on account of my name will receive a hundred times as much, and will inherit eternal life. 30But many who are first will be last, and the last first.
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Matthew 19: LEB
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Matthew 19
19
Divorce
1-2When Jesus had completed these teachings, he left Galilee and crossed the region of Judea on the other side of the Jordan. Great crowds followed him there, and he healed them.
3One day the Pharisees were badgering him: “Is it legal for a man to divorce his wife for any reason?”
4-6He answered, “Haven’t you read in your Bible that the Creator originally made man and woman for each other, male and female? And because of this, a man leaves father and mother and is firmly bonded to his wife, becoming one flesh—no longer two bodies but one. Because God created this organic union of the two sexes, no one should desecrate his art by cutting them apart.”
7They shot back in rebuttal, “If that’s so, why did Moses give instructions for divorce papers and divorce procedures?”
8-9Jesus said, “Moses provided for divorce as a concession to your hard heartedness, but it is not part of God’s original plan. I’m holding you to the original plan, and holding you liable for adultery if you divorce your faithful wife and then marry someone else. I make an exception in cases where the spouse has committed adultery.”
10Jesus’ disciples objected, “If those are the terms of marriage, we haven’t got a chance. Why get married?”
11-12But Jesus said, “Not everyone is mature enough to live a married life. It requires a certain aptitude and grace. Marriage isn’t for everyone. Some, from birth seemingly, never give marriage a thought. Others never get asked—or accepted. And some decide not to get married for kingdom reasons. But if you’re capable of growing into the largeness of marriage, do it.”
To Enter God’s Kingdom
13-15One day children were brought to Jesus in the hope that he would lay hands on them and pray over them. The disciples shooed them off. But Jesus intervened: “Let the children alone, don’t prevent them from coming to me. God’s kingdom is made up of people like these.” After laying hands on them, he left.
16Another day, a man stopped Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?”
17Jesus said, “Why do you question me about what’s good? God is the One who is good. If you want to enter the life of God, just do what he tells you.”
18-19The man asked, “What in particular?”
Jesus said, “Don’t murder, don’t commit adultery, don’t steal, don’t lie, honor your father and mother, and love your neighbor as you do yourself.”
20The young man said, “I’ve done all that. What’s left?”
21“If you want to give it all you’ve got,” Jesus replied, “go sell your possessions; give everything to the poor. All your wealth will then be in heaven. Then come follow me.”
22That was the last thing the young man expected to hear. And so, crestfallen, he walked away. He was holding on tight to a lot of things, and he couldn’t bear to let go.
23-24As he watched him go, Jesus told his disciples, “Do you have any idea how difficult it is for the rich to enter God’s kingdom? Let me tell you, it’s easier to gallop a camel through a needle’s eye than for the rich to enter God’s kingdom.”
25The disciples were staggered. “Then who has any chance at all?”
26Jesus looked hard at them and said, “No chance at all if you think you can pull it off yourself. Every chance in the world if you trust God to do it.”
27Then Peter chimed in, “We left everything and followed you. What do we get out of it?”
28-30Jesus replied, “Yes, you have followed me. In the re-creation of the world, when the Son of Man will rule gloriously, you who have followed me will also rule, starting with the twelve tribes of Israel. And not only you, but anyone who sacrifices home, family, fields—whatever—because of me will get it all back a hundred times over, not to mention the considerable bonus of eternal life. This is the Great Reversal: many of the first ending up last, and the last first.”
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THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright © 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson. All rights reserved. Used by permission of NavPress. Represented by Tyndale House Publishers.