Matthew 19
1 When Jesus had finished these words, he departed from Galilee and came into the borders of Judea beyond the Jordan.
At the conclusion of this teaching, Jesus withdrew from Galilee, and went into that district of Judea which is on the other side of the Jordan.
2 Great multitudes followed him, and he healed them there.
Great crowds followed him, and he cured them there.
3 Pharisees came to him, testing him and saying, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any reason?”
Presently some Pharisees came up to him, and, to test him, said, ‘Has a man the right to divorce his wife for every cause?’
4 He answered, “Haven’t you read that he who made them from the beginning made them male and female,
‘Haven’t you read,’ replied Jesus, ‘that at the beginning the Creator “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’?
and said – “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother, and be united to his wife, and the man and his wife will become one”?
6 So that they are no more two, but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, don’t let man tear apart.”
So that they are no longer two, but one. What God himself, then, has yoked together people must not separate.’
7 They asked him, “Why then did Moses command us to give her a certificate of divorce and divorce her?”
‘Why, then,’ they said, ‘did Moses direct that a man should serve his wife with a notice of separation 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.
‘Moses, owing to the hardness of your hearts,’ answered Jesus, ‘permitted you to divorce your wives, but that was not so at the beginning.
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.”
But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of some serious sexual sin, and marries another woman, is guilty of adultery.’
10 His disciples said to him, “If this is the case of the man with his wife, it is not expedient to marry.”
‘If that,’ said the disciples, ‘is the position of a man with regard to his wife, it is better not to marry.’
11 But he said to them, “Not all men can receive this saying, but those to whom it is given.
‘It is not everyone,’ replied Jesus, ‘who can accept this teaching, but only those who have been enabled to do so.
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.”
Some men are incapable of marriage because they were born that way, or have been made so by other people, while there are others who stay single for the sake of the kingdom of Heaven. Accept this if you can.’
13 Then little children were brought to him that he should lay his hands on them and pray; and the disciples rebuked them.
Then some little children were brought to Jesus, for him to place his hands on them, and pray; but the disciples found fault with those who had brought 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.”
Jesus, however, said, ‘Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for it is to the childlike that the kingdom of heaven belongs.’
15 He laid his hands on them, and departed from there.
So he placed his hands on them, and then went on his way.
16 Behold, one came to him and said, “Good teacher, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?” (aiōnios g166)
A man came up to Jesus, and said, ‘Teacher, what good thing must I do to obtain eternal life?’ (aiōnios g166)
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.”
‘Why ask me about goodness?’ answered Jesus. ‘There is but One who is good. If you want to enter the 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.’
‘What commandments?’ asked the man. ‘These,’ answered Jesus, – ‘“You must not kill. You must not commit adultery. You must not steal. You must not say what is false about others.
19 ‘Honour your father and your mother.’ And, ‘You shall love your neighbour as yourself.’”
Honour your father and your mother.” And “You must love your neighbour as you love yourself.”’
20 The young man said to him, “All these things I have observed from my youth. What do I still lack?”
‘I have observed all these,’ said the young man. ‘What is still wanting in me?’
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.”
‘If you wish to be perfect,’ answered Jesus, ‘go and sell your property, and give to the poor, and you will have wealth in heaven; then come and follow me.’
22 But when the young man heard this, he went away sad, for he was one who had great possessions.
On hearing these words, the young man went away distressed, for he 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.
At this, Jesus said to his disciples, ‘I tell you that a rich person will find it hard to enter the kingdom of heaven!
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.”
I say again, it is easier for a camel to get through a needle’s eye than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven!’
25 When the disciples heard it, they were exceedingly astonished, saying, “Who then can be saved?”
On hearing this, the disciples exclaimed in great astonishment, ‘Who then can possibly be saved?’
26 Looking at them, Jesus said, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
But Jesus looked at them, and said, ‘With people this is impossible, but with God everything is possible.’ Then Peter turned and said to Jesus,
27 Then Peter answered, “Behold, we have left everything and followed you. What then will we have?”
‘But we – we 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.
‘I tell you,’ answered Jesus, ‘that at the new creation, when the Son of Man takes his seat on his throne of glory, you who followed me will be seated on twelve thrones, as judges of 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. (aiōnios g166)
Everyone who has left houses, or brothers, or sisters, or father, or mother, or children, or land, for my sake, will receive many times as much, and will gain eternal life. (aiōnios g166)
30 But many will be last who are first, and first who are last.
But many who are first now will then be last, and those who are last will be first.
