Matthew 19

New Matthew Bible

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. ² And crowds of people followed him, and he healed them there. ³ 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? ⁴ 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, ⁵ and said, For this thing shall a man leave father and mother and cleave unto his wife, and the two shall be one flesh? ⁶ So then, now they are not two, but one flesh. Let not man therefore put apart that which God has joined together.

⁷ Then they said to him, Why did Moses direct to give a testimonial of divorce and to put her away? ⁸ 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. ⁹ 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.