Teaching About Divorce

1And standing up, He went from there to the region of Judea and beyond the Jordan; crowds gathered around Him again, and, according to His custom, He once more began to teach them.

2And some Pharisees came up to Jesus, testing Him, and began to question Him whether it was lawful for a man to [†]divorce a wife. 3And He answered and said to them, “What did Moses command you?” 4And they said, “Moses permitted a man TO WRITE A CERTIFICATE OF DIVORCE AND [†]SEND her AWAY.” 5But Jesus said to them, “[†]Because of your hardness of heart he wrote for you this commandment. 6But from the beginning of creation, God MADE THEM MALE AND FEMALE. 7FOR THIS REASON A MAN SHALL LEAVE HIS FATHER AND MOTHER[†], 8AND THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH; so they are no longer two, but one flesh. 9What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate.”

10And in the house the disciples began questioning Him about this again. 11And He said to them, “Whoever [†]divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against her; 12and if she herself [†]divorces her husband and marries another man, she is committing adultery.”

Jesus Blesses Little Children

13And they were bringing children to Him so that He might touch them; but the disciples rebuked them. 14But when Jesus saw this, He was indignant and said to them, “Permit the children to come to Me; do not hinder them; for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 15Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it at all.” 16And He took them in His arms and began blessing them, laying His hands on them.

The Rich Young Ruler

17And as He was setting out on a journey, a man ran up to Him and knelt before Him, and began asking Him, “Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” 18And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone. 19You know the commandments, ‘DO NOT MURDER, DO NOT COMMIT ADULTERY, DO NOT STEAL, DO NOT BEAR FALSE WITNESS, Do not defraud, HONOR YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER.’” 20And he said to Him, “Teacher, I have kept all these things from my youth up.” 21And looking at him, Jesus loved him and said to him, “One thing you lack: go and sell all you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” 22But at these words [†]he was saddened, and he went away grieving, for he was one who owned much property.

23And Jesus, looking around, said to His disciples, “How hard it will be for those who are wealthy to enter the kingdom of God!” 24And the disciples were amazed at His words. But Jesus answered again and said to them, “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 man to enter the kingdom of God.” 26And they were even more astonished, saying to [†]Him, “[†]Then who can be saved?” 27Looking at them, Jesus said, “With people it is impossible, but not with God; for all things are possible with God.”

28Peter began to say to Him, “Behold, we have left everything and followed You.” 29Jesus said, “Truly I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or farms, for My sake and for the gospel’s sake, 30[†]except one who will receive one hundred times as much now in [†]the present age—houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and farms, along with persecutions—and in the age to come, eternal life. 31But many who are first will be last, and the last, first.”

Jesus Again Foretells His Death and Resurrection

32And they were on the road going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking on ahead of them; and they were amazed, and those who followed were fearful. And again He took the twelve aside and began to tell them what was going to happen to Him: 33“Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and the scribes; and they will condemn Him to death and will deliver Him over to the Gentiles. 34And they will mock Him and spit on Him, and flog Him and kill Him, and three days later He will rise again.”

A Request for Status

35Then James and John, the two sons of Zebedee, came up to Jesus, saying to Him, “Teacher, we want You to do for us whatever we ask of You.” 36And He said to them, “What do you want Me to do for you?” 37And they said to Him, “[†]Grant that we may sit, one on Your right and one on Your left, in Your glory.” 38But Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?” 39And they said to Him, “We are able.” And Jesus said to them, “The cup that I drink you shall drink; and you shall be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized. 40But to sit on My right or on My left, this is not Mine to give; but it is for those for whom it has been prepared.”

41And hearing this, the ten began to feel indignant with James and John. 42And calling them to Himself, Jesus said to them, “You know that those who are recognized as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them; and their great men exercise authority over them. 43But it is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant; 44and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be slave of all. 45For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His [†]life a ransom for many.”

Bartimaeus Regains His Sight

46Then they came to Jericho. And as He was leaving Jericho with His disciples and a large crowd, a blind beggar named Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, was sitting by the road. 47And when he heard that it was Jesus the Nazarene, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” 48And many were sternly telling him to be quiet, but he kept crying out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” 49And Jesus stopped and said, “Call him here.” So they called the blind man, saying to him, “Take courage, get up! He is calling for you.” 50And throwing off his outer garment, he jumped up and came to Jesus. 51And Jesus answered him and said, “What do you want Me to do for you?” And the blind man said to Him, “[†]Rabboni, I want to regain my sight!” 52And Jesus said to him, “Go; your faith has [†]saved you.” Immediately he regained his sight and began following Him on the road.