Matthew 19
Divorce
1-2 When 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.3 One day the Pharisees were badgering him: "Is it legal for a man to divorce his wife for any reason?"
4-6 He answered, "Haven't you read in your Bible that the Creator originally made man and woman for each other, male and female?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."
7 They shot back in rebuttal, "If that's so, why did Moses give instructions for divorce papers and divorce procedures?"
8-9 Jesus 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."
10 Jesus' disciples objected, "If those are the terms of marriage, we're stuck. Why get married?"
11-12 But 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
13-15 One 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.
16 Another day, a man stopped Jesus and asked, "Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?"
17 Jesus 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."
18-19 The 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."
20 The 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."
22 That was the last thing the young man expected to hear. And so, crest-fallen, he walked away. He was holding on tight to a lot of things, and he couldn't bear to let go.
23-24 As 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."
25 The disciples were staggered. "Then who has any chance at all?"
26 Jesus 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."
27 Then Peter chimed in, "We left everything and followed you. What do we get out of it?"
28-30 Jesus 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."
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.