19Matthew 19

Jesus Teaches about Divorce

1When Jesus finished saying these things, he left Galilee and went to the territory of Judea on the other side of the Jordan River.Select Matthew 19:1

2Large crowds followed him, and he healed them there.Select Matthew 19:2

3Some Pharisees came to him and tried to trap him by asking, “Does our Law allow a man to divorce his wife for whatever reason he wishes?”Select Matthew 19:3

4Jesus answered, “Haven't you read the scripture that says that in the beginning the Creator made people male and female?Select Matthew 19:4

5And God said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and unite with his wife, and the two will become one.’Select Matthew 19:5

6So they are no longer two, but one. No human being must separate, then, what God has joined together.”Select Matthew 19:6

7The Pharisees asked him, “Why, then, did Moses give the law for a man to hand his wife a divorce notice and send her away?”Select Matthew 19:7

8Jesus answered, “Moses gave you permission to divorce your wives because you are so hard to teach. But it was not like that at the time of creation.Select Matthew 19:8

9I tell you, then, that any man who divorces his wife for any cause other than her unfaithfulness, commits adultery if he marries some other woman.”Select Matthew 19:9

10His disciples said to him, “If this is how it is between a man and his wife, it is better not to marry.”Select Matthew 19:10

11Jesus answered, “This teaching does not apply to everyone, but only to those to whom God has given it.Select Matthew 19:11

12For there are different reasons why men cannot marry: some, because they were born that way; others, because men made them that way; and others do not marry for the sake of the Kingdom of heaven. Let him who can accept this teaching do so.”Select Matthew 19:12

Jesus Blesses Little Children

13Some people brought children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and to pray for them, but the disciples scolded the people.Select Matthew 19:13

14Jesus said, “Let the children come to me and do not stop them, because the Kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”Select Matthew 19:14

15He placed his hands on them and then went away.Select Matthew 19:15

The Rich Young Man

16Once a man came to Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what good thing must I do to receive eternal life?”Select Matthew 19:16

17“Why do you ask me concerning what is good?” answered Jesus. “There is only One who is good. Keep the commandments if you want to enter life.”Select Matthew 19:17

18“What commandments?” he asked. Jesus answered, “Do not commit murder; do not commit adultery; do not steal; do not accuse anyone falsely;Select Matthew 19:18

19respect your father and your mother; and love your neighbor as you love yourself.”Select Matthew 19:19

20“I have obeyed all these commandments,” the young man replied. “What else do I need to do?”Select Matthew 19:20

21Jesus said to him, “If you want to be perfect, go and sell all you have and give the money to the poor, and you will have riches in heaven; then come and follow me.”Select Matthew 19:21

22When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he was very rich.Select Matthew 19:22

23Jesus then said to his disciples, “I assure you: it will be very hard for rich people to enter the Kingdom of heaven.Select Matthew 19:23

24I repeat: it is much harder for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God than for a camel to go through the eye of a needle.”Select Matthew 19:24

25When the disciples heard this, they were completely amazed. “Who, then, can be saved?” they asked.Select Matthew 19:25

26Jesus looked straight at them and answered, “This is impossible for human beings, but for God everything is possible.”Select Matthew 19:26

27Then Peter spoke up. “Look,” he said, “we have left everything and followed you. What will we have?”Select Matthew 19:27

28Jesus said to them, “You can be sure that when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne in the New Age, then you twelve followers of mine will also sit on thrones, to rule the twelve tribes of Israel.Select Matthew 19:28

29And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for my sake, will receive a hundred times more and will be given eternal life.Select Matthew 19:29

30But many who now are first will be last, and many who now are last will be first.Select Matthew 19:30