1 When Jesus had finished these words,
he departed from Galilee and came into
the borders of Judea beyond the Jordan.
2 Great multitudes followed him, and he
healed them there.
3 Pharisees came to him, testing him and
saying, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his
wife for any reason?”
4 He answered, “Haven’t you read that he
who made them from the beginning made
them male and female,*
5 and said, ‘For this cause a man shall
leave his father and mother, and shall be
joined to his wife; and the two shall become
one flesh’?*
6 So that they are no more two, but one
flesh. What therefore God has joined together,
don’t let man tear apart.”
7 They asked him, “Why then did Moses
command us to give her a certificate of
divorce and divorce her?”
8 He said to them, “Moses, because of the
hardness of your hearts, allowed you to divorce
your wives, but from the beginning
it has not been so.
9 I tell you that whoever divorces his
wife, except for sexual immorality, and
marries another, commits adultery; and
he who marries her when she is divorced
commits adultery.”
10 His disciples said to him, “If this is
the case of the man with his wife, it is not
expedient to marry.”
11 But he said to them, “Not all men can
receive this saying, but those to whom it is
given.
12 For there are eunuchs who were born
that way from their mother’s womb, and
there are eunuchs who were made eunuchs
by men; and there are eunuchs who
made themselves eunuchs for the Kingdom
of Heaven’s sake. He who is able to
receive it, let him receive it.”
13 Then little children were brought to
him that he should lay his hands on them
and pray; and the disciples rebuked them.
14 But Jesus said, “Allow the little children,
and don’t forbid them to come to me;
for the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to ones
like these.” 15 He laid his hands on them, and departed
from there.
16 Behold, one came to him and said,
“Good teacher, what good thing shall I do,
that I may have eternal life?”
17 He said to him, “Why do you call me
good?† No one is good but one, that is, God.
But if you want to enter into life, keep the
commandments.”
18 He said to him, “Which ones?”
Jesus said, “ ‘You shall not murder.’ ‘You
shall not commit adultery.’ ‘You shall not
steal.’ ‘You shall not offer false testimony.’
19 ‘Honor your father and your mother.’*
And, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’”
20 The young man said to him, “All these
things I have observed from my youth.
What do I still lack?”
21 Jesus said to him, “If you want to be
perfect, go, sell what you have, and give
to the poor, and you will have treasure in
heaven; and come, follow me.”
22 But when the young man heard this,
he went away sad, for he was one who had
great possessions.
23 Jesus said to his disciples, “Most certainly
I say to you, a rich man will enter
into the Kingdom of Heaven with difficulty.
24 Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel
to go through a needle’s eye than for a rich
man to enter into God’s Kingdom.”
25 When the disciples heard it, they were
exceedingly astonished, saying, “Who then
can be saved?”
26 Looking at them, Jesus said, “With
men this is impossible, but with God all
things are possible.”
27 Then Peter answered, “Behold, we
have left everything and followed you.
What then will we have?”
28 Jesus said to them, “Most certainly I
tell you that you who have followed me, in
the regeneration when the Son of Man will
sit on the throne of his glory, you also will
sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve
tribes of Israel.
29 Everyone who has left houses, or
brothers, or sisters, or father, or mother, or
wife, or children, or lands, for my name’s
sake, will receive one hundred times, and
will inherit eternal life.
30 But many will be last who are first, and
first who are last.
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