1He arose from there and came into the borders of Judea and beyond the Jordan. Crowds came together to him again. As he usually did, he was again teaching them.

2Pharisees came to him testing him, and asked him, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?" 3He answered, "What did Moses command you?" 4They said, "Moses allowed a certificate of divorce to be written, and to divorce her." 5But Jesus said to them, "Because of your hardness of heart, he wrote you this commandment. 6But from the beginning of the creation, he made them male and female. 7For this cause a man will leave his father and mother, and will join to his wife, 8and the two will become one flesh, so that they are no longer two, but one flesh. 9What therefore God has joined together, let no one separate."

10In the house, the disciples asked him again about the same matter. 11He said to them, "Whoever divorces his wife, and marries another, commits adultery against her. 12If she herself divorces her husband, and marries another, she commits adultery."

13They were bringing to him little children, that he should touch them, but the disciples rebuked them. 14But when Jesus saw it, he was moved with indignation, and said to them, "Allow the little children to come to me. Do not forbid them, for the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 15Truly I tell you, whoever will not receive the Kingdom of God like a little child, he will in no way enter into it." 16And he took them in his arms, laying his hands on them, and blessed them.

17As he was going out into the way, one ran to him, knelt before him, and asked him, "Good Teacher, what must I do that I may inherit everlasting life?" 18Jesus said to him, "Why do you call me good? No one is good except one--God. 19You know the commandments: 'Do not commit adultery,' 'Do not murder,' 'Do not steal,' 'Do not give false testimony,' 'Do not defraud,' 'Honor your father and mother.'" 20And he said to him, "Teacher, I have kept all these things from my youth." 21Jesus looking at him loved him, and said to him, "One thing you lack. Go, sell whatever you have, and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me, taking up the cross." 22But his face fell at that saying, and he went away sorrowful, for he was one who had great possessions.

23Jesus looked around, and said to his disciples, "How difficult it is for those who have riches to enter into the Kingdom of God." 24The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus answered again and said to them, "Children, how hard it is for those who trust in riches to enter the kingdom of God. 25It is easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye than for a rich person to enter into the Kingdom of God." 26They were exceedingly astonished, saying to him, "Then who can be saved?" 27Jesus, looking at them, said, "With humans it is impossible, but not with God, for all things are possible with God."

28Peter began to tell him, "Look, we have left everything, and have followed you." 29Jesus said, "Truly I tell you, there is no one who has left house, or brothers, or sisters, or mother, or father, or children, or land, for my sake, and for the sake of the Good News, 30but he will receive one hundred times more now in this time, houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and land, with persecutions; and in the age to come, everlasting life. 31But many who are first will be last; and the last first."

32They were on the way, going up to Jerusalem; and Jesus was going in front of them, and they were amazed; and those who followed were afraid. He again took the twelve, and began to tell them the things that were going to happen to him. 33"Look, we are going up to Jerusalem. The Son of Man will be delivered to the chief priests and the scribes. They will condemn him to death, and will deliver him to foreigners. 34They will mock him, spit on him, scourge him, and kill him. After three days he will rise again."

35James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came near to him, and said to him, "Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we will ask." 36He said to them, "What do you want me to do for you?" 37They said to him, "Grant to us that we may sit, one at your right hand, and one at your left hand, 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 that I am baptized with?" 39And they said to him, "We are able." And Jesus said to them, "You will drink the cup I drink, and you will be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with; 40but to sit at my right hand and at my left hand is not mine to give, but for whom it has been prepared."

41When the ten heard it, they began to be indignant towards James and John. 42Jesus summoned them, and said to them, "You know that they who are recognized as rulers over the nations lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. 43But it will not be so among you, but whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant. 44And whoever wants to be first among you must be slave of all. 45For the Son of Man also did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

46They came to Jericho. As he went out from Jericho, with his disciples and a large crowd, Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, a blind beggar, was sitting by the road. 47When he heard that it was Jesus the Nazarene, he began to cry out, and say, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me." 48Many rebuked him, that he should be quiet, but he shouted all the louder, "Son of David, have mercy on me." 49Jesus stood still, and said, "Call him." They called the blind man, saying to him, "Cheer up. Get up. He is calling you." 50He, casting away his coat, jumped up, and came to Jesus. 51Jesus asked him, "What do you want me to do for you?" The blind man said to him, "Rabboni, that I may see again." 52Jesus said to him, "Go your way. Your faith has made you well." And immediately he received his sight, and followed him on the road.