Add parallel Print Page Options

Christ gives answer concerning marriage, accepts the young children, and teaches not to be full of cares, nor to love worldly riches.

19 And it came to pass, when Jesus had finished those sayings, he left Galilee, and went into the region of Judea, beyond the Jordan. And crowds of people followed him, and he healed them there. Then the Pharisees came to him, testing him and saying to him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for any reason at all? He answered and said to them, Have you not read how it was that he who made man at the beginning made them man and woman, and said, For this thing shall a man leave father and mother and cleave unto his wife, and the two shall be one flesh? So then, now they are not two, but one flesh. Let not man therefore put apart that which God has joined together.

Then they said to him, Why did Moses direct to give a testimonial of divorce and to put her away? He said to them, Moses, because of the hardness of your hearts, suffered you to put away your wives. But from the beginning it was not so. I say therefore to you, whoever puts away his wife (unless it be for fornication) and marries another, breaks wedlock. And whoever marries her who is divorced, commits adultery.

10 Then Jesus’ disciples said to him, If this is the case between man and wife, then it is not good to marry. 11 He said to them, Not everyone can receive this saying, but only those to whom it is given. 12 Some are chaste who were so born from their mother’s womb. And others are chaste who were made so by men. And others are chaste who have made themselves chaste for the kingdom of heaven’s sake. He who can receive it, let him receive it.

13 Then young children were brought to him so that he could put his hands on them and pray. And the disciples rebuked the people. 14 But Jesus said, Allow the children, and do not forbid them to come to me, for of such is the kingdom of heaven. 15 And when he had put his hands on them, he departed from there.

16 And a man came and said to Jesus, Good Teacher, what good thing should I do so that I may have eternal life? 17 He said to him, Why do you call me good? There is none good but one, and that is God. But if you would enter into life, keep the commandments. 18 The other asked him, Which? And Jesus said, Break no wedlock. Do not kill. Do not steal. Do not bear false witness. 19 Honour father and mother. And love your neighbour as yourself.

20 The young man said to him, I have observed all these things from my youth. What do I yet lack? 21 And Jesus said to him, If you would be perfect, go and sell what you have, and give it to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, and follow me.

22 When the young man heard these words, he went away grieved, for he had great wealth.

23 Then Jesus said to his disciples, Truly I say to you, it is hard for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of heaven. 24 And moreover I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.

25 When his disciples heard that, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved? 26 Jesus regarded them and said to them, With men it is not possible, but with God all things are possible.

27 Then Peter answered and said to him, Behold, we have left everything and followed you. What will we have?

28 Jesus said to them, Truly I say to you, when the Son of man sits in the seat of his majesty, you who have followed me in the new birth shall sit also upon twelve seats and judge the twelve tribes of Israel. 29 And whosoever gives up houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands for my name’s sake, the same shall receive a hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life. 30 Many that are first shall be last, and the last shall be first.

Divorce(A)

19 When Jesus had finished saying these things,(B) he left Galilee and went into the region of Judea to the other side of the Jordan. Large crowds followed him, and he healed them(C) there.

Some Pharisees came to him to test him. They asked, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife(D) for any and every reason?”

“Haven’t you read,” he replied, “that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’[a](E) and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’[b]?(F) So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.”

“Why then,” they asked, “did Moses command that a man give his wife a certificate of divorce and send her away?”(G)

Jesus replied, “Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because your hearts were hard. But it was not this way from the beginning. I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another woman commits adultery.”(H)

10 The disciples said to him, “If this is the situation between a husband and wife, it is better not to marry.”

11 Jesus replied, “Not everyone can accept this word, but only those to whom it has been given.(I) 12 For there are eunuchs who were born that way, and there are eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by others—and there are those who choose to live like eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. The one who can accept this should accept it.”

The Little Children and Jesus(J)

13 Then people brought little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them(K) and pray for them. But the disciples rebuked them.

14 Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs(L) to such as these.”(M) 15 When he had placed his hands on them, he went on from there.

The Rich and the Kingdom of God(N)

16 Just then a man came up to Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life(O)?”(P)

17 “Why do you ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, keep the commandments.”(Q)

18 “Which ones?” he inquired.

Jesus replied, “‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery,(R) you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, 19 honor your father and mother,’[c](S) and ‘love your neighbor as yourself.’[d](T)

20 “All these I have kept,” the young man said. “What do I still lack?”

21 Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect,(U) go, sell your possessions and give to the poor,(V) and you will have treasure in heaven.(W) Then come, follow me.”

22 When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth.

23 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly I tell you, it is hard for someone who is rich(X) to enter 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 someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”

25 When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, “Who then can be saved?”

26 Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”(Y)

27 Peter answered him, “We have left everything to follow you!(Z) What then will there be for us?”

28 Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne,(AA) you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.(AB) 29 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife[e] or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life.(AC) 30 But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first.(AD)

Footnotes

  1. Matthew 19:4 Gen. 1:27
  2. Matthew 19:5 Gen. 2:24
  3. Matthew 19:19 Exodus 20:12-16; Deut. 5:16-20
  4. Matthew 19:19 Lev. 19:18
  5. Matthew 19:29 Some manuscripts do not have or wife.