Matthew 19

1  NOW WHEN Jesus had finished saying these things, He left Galilee and went into the part of Judea that is beyond the Jordan;2  And great throngs accompanied Him, and He cured them there.3  And Pharisees came to Him and put Him to the test by asking, Is it lawful and right to dismiss and repudiate and divorce one’s wife for any and every cause?4  He replied, Have you never read that He Who made them from the beginning made them male and female,5  And said, For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and shall be united firmly (joined inseparably) to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh? 6  So they are no longer two, but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man put asunder (separate).7  They said to Him, Why then did Moses command [us] to give a certificate of divorce and thus to dismiss and repudiate a wife? 8  He said to them, Because of the hardness (stubbornness and perversity) of your hearts Moses permitted you to dismiss and repudiate and divorce your wives; but from the beginning it has not been so [ordained].9  I say to you: whoever dismisses (repudiates, divorces) his wife, except for unchastity, and marries another commits adultery, and he who marries a divorced woman commits adultery. 10  The disciples said to Him, If the case of a man with his wife is like this, it is neither profitable nor advisable to marry.11  But He said to them, Not all men can accept this saying, but it is for those to whom [the capacity to receive] it has been given.12  For there are eunuchs who have been born incapable of marriage; and there are eunuchs who have been made so by men; and there are eunuchs who have made themselves incapable of marriage for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. Let him who is able to accept this accept it.13  Then little children were brought to Jesus, that He might put His hands on them and pray; but the disciples rebuked those who brought them.14  But He said, Leave the children alone! Allow the little ones to come to Me, and do not forbid or restrain or hinder them, for of such [as these] is the kingdom of heaven composed .15  And He put His hands upon them, and then went on His way.16  And behold, there came a man up to Him, saying, Teacher, what excellent and perfectly and essentially good deed must I do to possess eternal life? 17  And He said to him, Why do you ask Me about the perfectly and essentially good? There is only One Who is good [perfectly and essentially]--God. If you would enter into the Life, you must continually keep the commandments.18  He said to Him, What sort of commandments? [Or, which ones?] And Jesus answered, You shall not kill, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness, 19  Honor your father and your mother, and, You shall love your neighbor as [you do] yourself. 20  The young man said, I have observed all these from my youth; what still do I lack?21  Jesus answered him, If you would be perfect [that is, have that spiritual maturity which accompanies self-sacrificing character], go and sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have riches in heaven; and come, be My disciple [side with My party and follow Me].22  But when the young man heard this, he went away sad (grieved and in much distress), for he had great possessions.23  And Jesus said to His disciples, Truly I say to you, it will be difficult for a rich man to get into the kingdom of heaven.24  Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to go into the kingdom of heaven.25  When the disciples heard this, they were utterly puzzled (astonished, bewildered), saying, Who then can be saved [from eternal death]?26  But Jesus looked at them and said, With men this is impossible, but all things are possible with God. 27  Then Peter answered Him, saying, Behold, we have left [our] all and have become Your disciples [sided with Your party and followed You]. What then shall we receive?28  Jesus said to them, Truly I say to you, in the new age [the Messianic rebirth of the world], when the Son of Man shall sit down on the throne of His glory, you who have [become My disciples, sided with My party and] followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones and judge the twelve tribes of Israel.29  And anyone and everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands for My name’s sake will receive many [even a hundred] times more and will inherit eternal life.30  But many who [now] are first will be last [then], and many who [now] are last will be first [then].

Matthew 19

Questions About Divorce

1 Now whent Jesus finished these sayings, he left Galilee and went to the region of Judea beyond the Jordan River.t

2 Large crowds followed him, and he healed them there.
3 Then some Phariseests came to him in order to test him. They asked, “Is it lawfuls to divorce a wife for any cause?”s4 He answered, “Have you not read that from the beginning the Creator made them male and female,s5 and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and will be united with his wife, and the two will become one flesh’?s6 So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.”7 They said to him, “Why then did Moses command us to give a certificate of dismissal and to divorce her?”ss8 Jesusst said to them, “Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because of your hard hearts,t but from the beginning it was not this way.9 Now I say to you that whoever divorces his wife, except for immorality, and marries another commits adultery.”10 Thes disciples said to him, “If this is the case of a husband with a wife, it is better not to marry!”11 Het said to them, “Not everyone can accept this statement, except those to whom it has been given.

12 For there are some eunuchs who were that way from birth,t and some who were made eunuchst by others,t and some who became eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. The one who is able to accept this should accept it.”

Jesus and Little Children

13 Then little children were brought to him for him to lay his hands on them and pray.t But the disciples scolded those who brought them.t14 But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not try to stop them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”s

15 And he placed his hands on them and went on his way.t

The Rich Young Man

16 Nowt someone came up to him and said, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to gain eternal life?”17 He said to him, “Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.”18 “Which ones?” he asked. Jesus replied, “Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony,19 honor your father and mother,s and love your neighbor as yourself.”s20 The young man said to him, “I have wholeheartedly obeyedt all these laws.ts What do I still lack?”21 Jesus said to him, “If you wish to be perfect, go sell your possessions and give the moneyt to the poor, and you will have treasures in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

22 But when the young man heard this he went away sorrowful, for he was very rich.t
23 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “I tell you the truth,t it will be hard for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven!24 Again I say,t it is easier for a camels to go through the eye of a needles than for a rich person to enter into the kingdom of God.”25 Thet disciples were greatly astonished when they heard this and said, “Then who can be saved?”s26 Jesust looked at them and replied, “This is impossible for mere humans,t but for God all things are possible.”27 Then Peter saidt to him, “Look,s we have left everything to follow you!t What then will there be for us?”28 Jesust said to them, “I tell you the truth:t In the age when all things are renewed,s when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judgings the twelve tribes of Israel.29 And whoever has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as muchs and will inherit eternal life.

30 But many who are first will be last, and the last first.