MatthewChapter 19

Tap any verse to comment or suggest a better wording.

¹Jesus finished saying these things. Then he left Galilee. He went into the area of Judea on the other side of the Jordan. ²Large crowds followed him, and he healed them there. ³Some Pharisees came to test him. They asked, "Does the law allow a man to divorce his wife for any reason at all?" ⁴Jesus answered, "Haven't you read the Scriptures? From the beginning the Creator 'made them male and female.' ⁵And he said, 'For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife. And the two will become one flesh.' ⁶So they are not two anymore. They are one flesh. So no one should separate what God has joined together." ⁷"Then why did Moses order a man to give his wife a paper of divorce and send her away?" they asked. ⁸Jesus answered, "Moses let you divorce your wives because your hearts were hard. But it was not this way from the beginning. ⁹I tell you that whoever divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery. The only exception is when she has been guilty of sexual sin." ¹⁰His disciples said to him, "If that is how it is between a man and his wife, it is better not to marry." ¹¹"Not everyone can accept this teaching," he answered. "Only those who have been given it can. ¹²Some men are eunuchs because they were born that way. Others were made that way by men. And still others live like eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. The one who can accept this should accept it."a ¹³Then people brought little children to Jesus. They wanted him to place his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples scolded the people who brought them. ¹⁴But Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me. Don't stop them! The kingdom of heaven belongs to people like these." ¹⁵He placed his hands on them. Then he went on from there. ¹⁶Just then a man came up to Jesus. He asked, "Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?" ¹⁷"Why do you ask me about what is good?" Jesus answered. "There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, obey the commandments." ¹⁸"Which ones?" the man asked. Jesus answered, "'Do not murder. Do not commit adultery. Do not steal. Do not tell lies about others in court. ¹⁹Honor your father and mother. And love your neighbor as yourself.'" ²⁰"I have obeyed all these," the young man said. "What else do I need?" ²¹Jesus told him, "If you want to be perfect, go and sell what you own. Give the money to the poor. Then you will have treasure in heaven. Then come and follow me." ²²When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he was very rich. ²³Then Jesus said to his disciples, "I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. ²⁴Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." ²⁵When the disciples heard this, they were completely amazed. They asked, "Then who can be saved?" ²⁶Jesus looked at them and said, "With people this is impossible. But with God all things are possible." ²⁷"Look," Peter answered, "we have left everything to follow you. So what will we get?" ²⁸Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, all things will be made new. Then the Son of Man will sit on his glorious throne. And you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones. You will judge the twelve tribes of Israel. ²⁹Some have left homes or brothers or sisters for me. Some have left father or mother or wife or children or fields for me. Everyone who has done this will get a hundred times as much. And they will receive eternal life. ³⁰But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.