1 N ow when Jesus had finished saying these things, He left Galilee and went into the part of Judea that is beyond the Jordan;

When Jesus had finished talking, He went from the country of Galilee. He came to the part of the country of Judea which is on the other side of the Jordan River.

2 A nd great throngs accompanied Him, and He cured them there.

Many people followed Him and He healed them there.

3 A nd Pharisees came to Him and put Him to the test by asking, Is it lawful and right to dismiss and repudiate and divorce one’s wife for any and every cause?

The proud religious law-keepers came to Jesus. They tried to trap Him by saying, “Does the Law say a man can divorce his wife for any reason?”

4 H e replied, Have you never read that He Who made them from the beginning made them male and female,

He said to them, “Have you not read that He Who made them in the first place made them man and woman?

5 A nd said, For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and shall be united firmly (joined inseparably) to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh?

It says, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and his mother and will live with his wife. The two will become one.’

6 S o they are no longer two, but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man put asunder (separate).

So they are no longer two but one. Let no man divide what God has put together.”

7 T hey said to Him, Why then did Moses command to give a certificate of divorce and thus to dismiss and repudiate a wife?

The proud religious law-keepers said to Jesus, “Then why did the Law of Moses allow a man to divorce his wife if he put it down in writing and gave it to her?”

8 H e said to them, Because of the hardness (stubbornness and perversity) of your hearts Moses permitted you to dismiss and repudiate and divorce your wives; but from the beginning it has not been so.

Jesus said to them, “Because of your hard hearts Moses allowed you to divorce your wives. It was not like that from the beginning.

9 I say to you: whoever dismisses (repudiates, divorces) his wife, except for unchastity, and marries another commits adultery, and he who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.

And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for sex sins, and marries another, is guilty of sex sins in marriage. Whoever marries her that is divorced is guilty of sex sins in marriage.”

10 T he disciples said to Him, If the case of a man with his wife is like this, it is neither profitable nor advisable to marry.

His followers said to Him, “If that is the way of a man with his wife, it is better not to be married.”

11 B ut He said to them, Not all men can accept this saying, but it is for those to whom it has been given.

But Jesus said to them, “Not all men are able to do this, but only those to whom it has been given.

12 F or there are eunuchs who have been born incapable of marriage; and there are eunuchs who have been made so by men; and there are eunuchs who have made themselves incapable of marriage for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. Let him who is able to accept this accept it.

For there are some men who from birth will never be able to have children. There are some men who have been made so by men. There are some men who have had themselves made that way because of the holy nation of heaven. The one who is able to do this, let him do it.” Jesus Gives Thanks for Little Children

13 T hen little children were brought to Jesus, that He might put His hands on them and pray; but the disciples rebuked those who brought them.

Then little children were brought to Him that He might put His hands on them and pray for them. The followers spoke sharp words to them.

14 B ut He said, Leave the children alone! Allow the little ones to come to Me, and do not forbid or restrain or hinder them, for of such is the kingdom of heaven composed.

But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to Me. Do not stop them. The holy nation of heaven is made up of ones like these.”

15 A nd He put His hands upon them, and then went on His way.

He put His hands on them and went away. Jesus Teaches about Keeping the Law

16 A nd behold, there came a man up to Him, saying, Teacher, what excellent and perfectly and essentially good deed must I do to possess eternal life?

A man came to Jesus and asked, “Good Teacher, what good work must I do to have life that lasts forever?”

17 A nd He said to him, Why do you ask Me about the perfectly and essentially good? There is only One Who is good —God. If you would enter into the Life, you must continually keep the commandments.

Jesus said to him, “Why are you asking Me about what is good? There is only One Who is good. If you want to have life that lasts forever, you must obey the Laws.”

18 H e said to Him, What sort of commandments? And Jesus answered, You shall not kill, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness,

The man said to Him, “What kind of laws?” Jesus said, “You must not kill another person. You must not be guilty of sex sins. You must not steal. You must not lie.

19 H onor your father and your mother, and, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.

Show respect to your father and your mother. And love your neighbor as you love yourself.”

20 T he young man said, I have observed all these from my youth; what still do I lack?

The young man said to Jesus, “I have obeyed all these Laws. What more should I do?”

21 J esus answered him, If you would be perfect '> have that spiritual maturity which accompanies self-sacrificing character], go and sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have riches in heaven; and come, be My disciple.

Jesus said to him, “If you want to be perfect, go and sell everything you have and give the money to poor people. Then you will have riches in heaven. Come and follow Me.”

22 B ut when the young man heard this, he went away sad (grieved and in much distress), for he had great possessions.

When the young man heard these words, he went away sad for he had many riches. The Danger of Riches

23 A nd Jesus said to His disciples, Truly I say to you, it will be difficult for a rich man to get into the kingdom of heaven.

Jesus said to His followers, “For sure, I tell you, it will be hard for a rich man to get into the holy nation of heaven.

24 A gain I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to go into the kingdom of heaven.

Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to get into the holy nation of heaven.”

25 W hen the disciples heard this, they were utterly puzzled (astonished, bewildered), saying, Who then can be saved '> from eternal death]?

When His followers heard this, they could not understand it. They said, “Then who can be saved from the punishment of sin?”

26 B ut Jesus looked at them and said, With men this is impossible, but all things are possible with God.

Jesus looked at them and said, “This cannot be done by men. But with God all things can be done.”

27 T hen Peter answered Him, saying, Behold, we have left all and have become Your disciples. What then shall we receive?

Then Peter said to Him, “We have given up everything and have followed You. Then what will we have?”

28 J esus said to them, Truly I say to you, in the new age '> Messianic rebirth of the world], when the Son of Man shall sit down on the throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones and judge the twelve tribes of Israel.

Jesus said to them, “For sure, I tell you, when all the earth will be new and the Son of Man will sit on His throne in His shining-greatness, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, and judge the twelve family groups of the Jewish nation.

29 A nd anyone and everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands for My name’s sake will receive many times more and will inherit eternal life.

Everyone who has given up houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands because of Me, will get a hundred times more. And you will get life that lasts forever.

30 B ut many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first.

Many who are first will be last. Many who are last will be first.