Matthew 19

Questions About Divorce

1When Jesus had finished saying these things, he departed from Galilee and came into the region of Judea beyond the Jordan. 2Large crowds followed him, and he healed them there.

3Then 1the Pharisees came up to Jesus and tested him by asking 2him, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any reason?” 4He answered 3them, “Have you not read that he who 4made them from the beginning ‘made them male and female,’ 5and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’? 6So then, 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 her a certificate of divorce and send her away?” 8He said to them, “Because of your hardness of heart Moses allowed you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so. 9I tell you that whoever divorces his wife, except for fornication, and marries another commits adultery. 5And whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.” 106

His disciples said to him, “If such is the case of a man with his wife, it is better not to marry.” 11But Jesus said to them, “Not all men can accept this statement, but only those to whom it is given. 12For there are eunuchs who were born that way from their mother's womb, and there are eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by men, and there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. Whoever is able to accept this should accept it.”

Let the Little Children Come to Me

13Then little children were brought to Jesus so that he might lay his hands on them and pray, but the disciples rebuked those who brought them. 14Yet Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” 15And after laying his hands on them, he departed from there.

The Rich Young Man

16And behold, a man came 7and said to him, “8Good Teacher, what good thing must I do to have eternal life?” 17Jesus said to him, “Why 9do yoʋ call me good? No one is good except God alone. But if yoʋ wish to enter life, keep the commandments.” 18The man said to him, “Which ones?” Jesus said, “ ‘Yoʋ shall not murder, yoʋ shall not commit adultery, yoʋ shall not steal, yoʋ shall not give false testimony, 19honor yoʋr father and yoʋr mother,’ and, ‘Yoʋ shall love yoʋr neighbor as yoʋrself.’ ” 20The young man said to him, “I have kept all these commandments 10from the time I was a young boy; what do I still lack?” 21Jesus said to him, “If yoʋ wish to be perfect, go sell what yoʋ have and give to the poor, and yoʋ will have treasure in heaven; then come follow me.” 22But when the young man heard this, he went away sorrowful, for he had many possessions.

23Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly I say to you, only with difficulty will a rich person enter the kingdom of heaven. 24Again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” 25When 11his disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and said, “Who then can be saved?” 26Jesus looked at them and said to them, “With men it is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” 27Then Peter said to him in response, “Behold, we have left everything and followed yoʋ; what then will there be for us?” 28Jesus said to them, “Truly I say to you, when all things are made new and the Son of Man sits on his throne of glory, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29And everyone who has left houses, brothers, sisters, father, mother, 12wife, children, or fields, for my name's sake, will receive 13a hundred times more and will inherit eternal life. 30But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first.