1Jesus left there and went into the territory of Judea along the other side of the Jordan River. Crowds gathered around him again, and he taught them as he usually did.

2Some Pharisees came to test him. They asked, "Can a husband divorce his wife?" 3Jesus answered them, "What command did Moses give you?" 4They said, "Moses allowed a man to give his wife a written notice to divorce her." 5Jesus said to them, "He wrote this command for you because you're heartless. 6But God made them male and female in the beginning, at creation. 7That's why a man will leave his father and mother and will remain united with his wife, 8and the two will be one. So they are no longer two but one. 9Therefore, don't let anyone separate what God has joined together."

10When they were in a house, the disciples asked him about this. 11He answered them, "Whoever divorces his wife and marries another woman is committing adultery. 12If a wife divorces her husband and marries another man, she is committing adultery."

13Some people brought little children to Jesus to have him hold them. But the disciples told the people not to do that. 14When Jesus saw this, he became irritated. He told them, "Don't stop the children from coming to me. Children like these are part of the kingdom of God. 15I can guarantee this truth: Whoever doesn't receive the kingdom of God as a little child receives it will never enter it." 16Jesus put his arms around the children and blessed them by placing his hands on them.

17As Jesus was coming out to the road, a man came running to him and knelt in front of him. He asked Jesus, "Good Teacher, what should I do to inherit eternal life?" 18Jesus said to him, "Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. 19You know the commandments: Never murder. Never commit adultery. Never steal. Never give false testimony. Never cheat. Honor your father and mother." 20The man replied, "Teacher, I've obeyed all these commandments since I was a boy." 21Jesus looked at him and loved him. He told him, "You're still missing one thing. Sell everything you have. Give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then follow me!" 22When the man heard that, he looked unhappy and went away sad, because he owned a lot of property.

23Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, "How hard it will be for rich people to enter the kingdom of God!" 24The disciples were stunned by his words. But Jesus said to them again, "Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! 25It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God." 26This amazed his disciples more than ever. They asked each other, "Who, then, can be saved?" 27Jesus looked at them and said, "It's impossible for people [to save themselves], but it's not impossible for God to save them. Everything is possible for God."

28Then Peter spoke up, "We've given up everything to follow you." 29Jesus said, "I can guarantee this truth: Anyone who gave up his home, brothers, sisters, mother, father, children, or fields because of me and the Good News 30will certainly receive a hundred times as much here in this life. They will certainly receive homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields, along with persecutions. But in the world to come they will receive eternal life. 31But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first."

32Jesus and his disciples were on their way to Jerusalem. Jesus was walking ahead of them. His disciples were shocked [that he was going to Jerusalem]. The others who followed were afraid. Once again he took the twelve apostles aside. He began to tell them what was going to happen to him. 33"We're going to Jerusalem. There the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and the scribes. They will condemn him to death and hand him over to foreigners. 34They will make fun of him, spit on him, whip him, and kill him. But after three days he will come back to life."

35James and John, sons of Zebedee, went to Jesus. They said to him, "Teacher, we want you to do us a favor." 36"What do you want me to do for you?" he asked them. 37They said to him, "Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory." 38Jesus said, "You don't realize what you're asking. Can you drink the cup that I'm going to drink? Can you be baptized with the baptism that I'm going to receive?" 39"We can," they told him. Jesus told them, "You will drink the cup that I'm going to drink. You will be baptized with the baptism that I'm going to receive. 40But I don't have the authority to grant you a seat at my right or left. Those positions have already been prepared for certain people."

41When the other ten apostles heard about it, they were irritated with James and John. 42Jesus called the apostles and said, "You know that the acknowledged rulers of nations have absolute power over people and their officials have absolute authority over people. 43But that's not the way it's going to be among you. Whoever wants to become great among you will be your servant. 44Whoever wants to be most important among you will be a slave for everyone. 45It's the same way with the Son of Man. He didn't come so that others could serve him. He came to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many people."

46Then they came to Jericho. As Jesus, his disciples, and many people were leaving Jericho, a blind beggar named Bartimaeus, son of Timaeus, was sitting by the road. 47When he heard that Jesus from Nazareth [was passing by], he began to shout, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" 48The people told him to be quiet. But he shouted even louder, "Son of David, have mercy on me!" 49Jesus stopped and said, "Call him!" They called the blind man and told him, "Cheer up! Get up! He's calling you." 50The blind man threw off his coat, jumped up, and went to Jesus. 51Jesus asked him, "What do you want me to do for you?" The blind man said, "Teacher, I want to see again." 52Jesus told him, "Go, your faith has made you well." At once he could see again, and he followed Jesus on the road.