Mat 19 | BSB | STEP | When Jesus had finished saying these things, He left Galilee and went into the region of Judea beyond the Jordan.

Matthew 19

Teachings about Divorce

1 When Jesus had finished saying these things, He left Galilee and went into the region of Judea beyond the Jordan. 2 Large crowds followed Him, and He healed them there. 3 Then [some] Pharisees came [and] tested Him by asking vvv, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any reason?” 4 [Jesus] answered, “vvv Have you not read that from [the] beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female’ ^{▼▼Genesis 1:27} 5 and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave [his] father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’? ^{▼▼Genesis 2:24} 6 So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, [let] man not separate.” 7 “Why then,” they asked, “ {did} Moses order [a man] to give [his wife] a certificate of divorce and send [her] away?” 8 Jesus replied, “ [It was] because of your hardness of heart [that] Moses permitted you to divorce your wives; but [it] was not this way from [the] beginning. 9 Now I tell you that whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another woman, commits adultery.” ^{▼▼SBL and BYZ include And whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery} 10 His disciples said to Him, “If this is the case between a man [and] [his] wife, it is better not to marry.” 11 “Not everyone can accept this word,” He replied, “but only [those] to whom it has been given. 12 For there are eunuchs who 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] .”

Jesus Blesses the Children

13 Then [the] little children were brought to [Jesus] for Him to place [His] hands on them and pray [for them] . And the disciples rebuked those [who brought them] . 14 But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not hinder them! For the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” 15 And after He had placed [His] hands on them, He went on from there.

The Rich Young Man

16 Just then, a man came up to [Jesus] [and] inquired, “Teacher, what good [thing] must I do to obtain eternal life?” 17 “Why do you ask Me about what is good?” [Jesus] replied, “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, keep the commandments.” 18 “Which [ones] ?” [the man] asked. Jesus answered, “‘Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not bear false witness, 19 honor [your] father and mother, and love your neighbor as yourself.’” ^{▼▼Exodus 20:12-16; Deuteronomy 5:16-20; Leviticus 19:18} 20 “vvv All these I have kept,” said the young man. “What do I still lack?” 21 Jesus told him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow Me.” 22 [When] the young man heard this, he went away in sorrow, because he had great wealth. 23 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “Truly I tell you, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24 Again I tell you, [it] is easier for a camel to pass through [the] eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” 25 When the disciples heard this {they were} greatly astonished [and] asked, “Who then can be saved?” 26 But Jesus looked at [them] [and] said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things [are] possible.” 27 “Look,” Peter replied, “we have left everything to follow You. What then will there be for us?” 28 Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, in the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on His glorious throne, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife ^{▼▼NE, WH, and NA do not include or wife} or children or fields for the sake of My name will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life. 30 But many [who are] first will be last, and [the] last [will be] first.