The Question of Divorce

1Hea set out from there and went to the region of Judeab and across the Jordan.c Then crowds converged on him again, and as was his custom he taughtd them again.

2Some Phariseesa came to testb him, asking, “Is it lawfulc for a man to divorced his wife? ”e

3He replied to them, “What did Mosesa command you? ”

4They said, “Moses permitted us to write divorce papersa and send her away.”b

5But Jesus told them, “He wrote this command for you because of the hardness of your hearts.a 6But from the beginninga of creationb GodA made them male and female.c d 7For this reason a man will leavea his father and motherA 8and the two will become one flesh.a b So they are no longer two, but one flesh. 9Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.”a

10When they were in the house again, the disciples questioned him about this matter. 11He said to them, “Whoever divorces his wifea and marriesb another commits adulteryc against her. 12Also, if she divorces her husbanda and marries another, she commits adultery.”

Blessing the Children

13Peoplea were bringing little childrenb to him in order that he might touch them, but the disciples rebukedc them. 14When Jesus saw it, he was indignanta and said to them, “Let the little children come to me.b Don’t stopc them, because the kingdom of Godd belongs to such as these. 15Truly I tell you,a whoever does not receivea b the kingdom of God like a little childc will never enter it.” 16After taking them in his arms, he laid his hands ona them and blessedb them.

The Rich Young Ruler

17Asa he was setting out on a journey,b a man ran up, knelt downc before him, and asked him, “Goodd teacher,e what must I do to inheritf eternal life? ”g

18“Why do you call me good? ” Jesus asked him. “No one is good except God alone.a 19You know the commandments: Do not murder;a do not commit adultery;b do not steal;c do not bear false witness;d do not defraud;e honorf your father and mother.”g h

20He said to him, “Teacher,a I have kept all these from my youth.”

21Looking at him, Jesus loved hima and said to him, “You lack one thing: Go, sell all you have and give to the poor,b and you will have treasurec in heaven.d Then come,A follow me.”e 22But he was dismayed by this demand, and he went away grieving,a because he had many possessions.b

Possessions and the Kingdom

23Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for those who have wealtha to enter the kingdom of God! ”b

24The disciples were astonished at his words. Again Jesus said to them, “Children,a how hard it isA to enter the kingdom of God! 25It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a richa person to enter the kingdom of God.”

26They were even more astonished, saying to one another, “Then who can be saved? ”a

27Looking at them, Jesus said, “With man it is impossible,a but not with God, because all things are possible with God.”

28Petera began to tell him, “Look, we have left everything and followed you.”

29“Truly I tell you,”a Jesus said, “there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or fatherA or children or fields for my sake and for the sake of the gospel,b 30who will not receive a hundred timesa more, now at this timeb — houses, brothers and sisters, mothers and children, and fields, with persecutionsc — and eternal lifed in the age to come.e 31But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”a

The Third Prediction of His Death

32Theya were on the road, going up to Jerusalem,b and Jesus was walking ahead of them. The disciples were astonished, but those who followed him were afraid.c Taking the Twelve aside again, he began to tell them the things that would happen to him.d 33“See, we are going up to Jerusalem. The Son of Mana will be handed over to the chief priests and the scribes,b and they will condemn him to death. Then they will hand him over to the Gentiles,c 34and they will mock him, spit on him, flogA him, and kill him, and he will risea after three days.”b

Suffering and Service

35Jamesa and John,b the sons of Zebedee,c approached him and said, “Teacher,d we want you to do whatever we ask you.”

36“What do you want me to do for you? ” he asked them.

37They answered him, “Allow us to sit at your right and at your left in your glory.”a

38Jesus said to them, “You don’t know what you’re asking.a Are you able to drink the cupb I drink or to be baptized with the baptismc I am baptized with? ”d

39“We are able,” they told him.

Jesus said to them, “You will drink the cup I drink, and you will be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with.a 40But to sit at my right or left is not mine to give; instead, it is for those for whom it has been prepared.”

41When the ten disciples heard this, they began to be indignant with James and John.a 42Jesus called them over and said to them, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it overa them, and those in high positions act as tyrants over them. 43But it is not so among you.a On the contrary, whoever wants to become great among you will be your servant,b 44and whoever wants to be first among you will be a slave to all.a 45For even the Son of Mana did not come to be served, but to serve,b and to give his lifec as a ransomd for many.”a e

A Blind Man Healed

46Theya came to Jericho.b And as he was leaving Jericho with his disciples and a large crowd, Bartimaeus (the son of Timaeus), a blindc beggar,d was sitting by the road.e 47When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth,a he began to cry out, “Jesus, Son of David,b have mercyc on me! ”d 48Many warned him to keep quiet, but he was crying out all the more, “Have mercy on me,a Son of David! ”

49Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.”

So they called the blind man and said to him, “Have courage!a Get up; he’s calling for you.” 50He threw off his coat,a jumped up, and came to Jesus.

51Then Jesus answered him, “What do you wanta me to do for you? ”

“Rabboni,”a b the blind man said to him, “I want to see.”

52Jesus said to him, “Go, your faith has saved you.”a Immediately he could see and began to follow Jesus on the road.