Jesus' Teaching about Divorce

(Mark 10:1-12)

1And it came to pass, when Jesus finished these words, he removed from Galilee, and did come to the borders of Judea, beyond the Jordan, 2and great multitudes followed him, and he healed them there.

3And the Pharisees came near to him, tempting him, and saying to him, ‘Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause?’ 4And he answering said to them, ‘Did ye not read, that He who made [them], from the beginning a male and a female made them, 5and said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and cleave to his wife, and they shall be — the two — for one flesh? 6so that they are no more two, but one flesh; what therefore God did join together, let no man put asunder.’ 7They say to him, ‘Why then did Moses command to give a roll of divorce, and to put her away?’ 8He saith to them — ‘Moses for your stiffness of heart did suffer you to put away your wives, but from the beginning it hath not been so. 9‘And I say to you, that, whoever may put away his wife, if not for whoredom, and may marry another, doth commit adultery; and he who did marry her that hath been put away, doth commit adultery.’

10His disciples say to him, ‘If the case of the man with the woman is so, it is not good to marry.’ 11And he said to them, ‘All do not receive this word, but those to whom it hath been given; 12for there are eunuchs who from the mother’s womb were so born; and there are eunuchs who were made eunuchs by men; and there are eunuchs who kept themselves eunuchs because of the reign of the heavens: he who is able to receive [it] — let him receive.’

Jesus Blesses the Children

(Mark 10:13-16; Luke 18:15-17)

13Then were brought near to him children that he might put hands on them and pray, and the disciples rebuked them. 14But Jesus said, ‘Suffer the children, and forbid them not, to come unto me, for of such is the reign of the heavens;’ 15and having laid on them [his] hands, he departed thence.

The Rich Young Man

(Mark 10:17-31; Luke 18:18-30)

16And lo, one having come near, said to him, ‘Good teacher, what good thing shall I do, that I may have life age-during?’ 17And he said to him, ‘Why me dost thou call good? no one [is] good except One — God; but if thou dost will to enter into the life, keep the commands.’ 18He saith to him, ‘What kind?’ And Jesus said, ‘Thou shalt not kill, thou shalt not commit adultery, thou shalt not steal, thou shalt not bear false witness, 19honour thy father and mother, and, thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.’ 20The young man saith to him, ‘All these did I keep from my youth; what yet do I lack?’ 21Jesus said to him, ‘If thou dost will to be perfect, go away, sell what thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven, and come, follow me.’ 22And the young man, having heard the word, went away sorrowful, for he had many possessions;

23and Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Verily I say to you, that hardly shall a rich man enter into the reign of the heavens; 24and again I say to you, it is easier for a camel through the eye of a needle to go, than for a rich man to enter into the reign of God.’ 25And his disciples having heard, were amazed exceedingly, saying, ‘Who, then, is able to be saved?’ 26And Jesus having earnestly beheld, said to them, ‘With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.’

27Then Peter answering said to him, ‘Lo, we did leave all, and follow thee, what then shall we have?’ 28And Jesus said to them, ‘Verily I say to you, that ye who did follow me, in the regeneration, when the Son of Man may sit upon a throne of his glory, shall sit — ye also — upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel; 29and every one who left houses, or brothers, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or fields, for my name’s sake, an hundredfold shall receive, and life age-during shall inherit; 30and many first shall be last, and last first.