1 J esus went away from the city of Capernaum. He came to the country of Judea and to the other side of the Jordan River. Again the people gathered around Him. He began to teach them as He had been doing.

He arose from there and came into the borders of Judea and beyond the Jordan. Multitudes came together to him again. As he usually did, he was again teaching them.

2 T he proud religious law-keepers came to Him. They tried to trap Him and asked, “Does the Law say a man can divorce his wife?”

Pharisees came to him testing him, and asked him, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?”

3 H e said to them, “What did the Law of Moses say?”

He answered, “What did Moses command you?”

4 T hey said, “Moses allowed a man to divorce his wife, if he put it in writing and gave it to her.”

They said, “Moses allowed a certificate of divorce to be written, and to divorce her.”

5 J esus said to them, “Because of your hard hearts, Moses gave you this Law.

But Jesus said to them, “For your hardness of heart, he wrote you this commandment.

6 F rom the beginning of the world, God made them man and woman.

But from the beginning of the creation, God made them male and female.

7 B ecause of this, a man is to leave his father and mother and is to live with his wife.

For this cause a man will leave his father and mother, and will join to his wife,

8 T he two will become one. So they are no longer two, but one.

and the two will become one flesh, so that they are no longer two, but one flesh.

9 L et no man divide what God has put together.”

What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate.”

10 I n the house the followers asked Jesus about this again.

In the house, his disciples asked him again about the same matter.

11 H e said to them, “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another is not faithful to her and is guilty of a sex sin.

He said to them, “Whoever divorces his wife, and marries another, commits adultery against her.

12 I f a woman divorces her husband and marries another, she is not faithful to her husband and is guilty of a sex sin.” Jesus Gives Thanks for Little Children

If a woman herself divorces her husband, and marries another, she commits adultery.”

13 T hey brought little children to Jesus that He might put His hand on them. The followers spoke sharp words to those who brought them.

They were bringing to him little children, that he should touch them, but the disciples rebuked those who were bringing them.

14 J esus saw this and was angry with the followers. He said, “Let the little children come to Me. Do not stop them. The holy nation of God is made up of ones like these.

But when Jesus saw it, he was moved with indignation, and said to them, “Allow the little children to come to me! Don’t forbid them, for God’s Kingdom belongs to such as these.

15 F or sure, I tell you, whoever does not receive the holy nation of God as a little child does not go into it.”

Most certainly I tell you, whoever will not receive God’s Kingdom like a little child, he will in no way enter into it.”

16 H e took the children in His arms. He put His hands on them and prayed that good would come to them. Jesus Teaches about Keeping the Law

He took them in his arms, and blessed them, laying his hands on them.

17 J esus was going on His way. A man ran to Him and got down on his knees. He said, “Good Teacher, what must I do to have life that lasts forever?”

As he was going out into the way, one ran to him, knelt before him, and asked him, “Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?”

18 J esus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? There is only One Who is good. That is God.

Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except one—God.

19 Y ou know the Laws, ‘Do not be guilty of sex sins in marriage. Do not kill another person. Do not take things from people in wrong ways. Do not steal. Do not lie. Respect your father and mother.’”

You know the commandments: ‘Do not murder,’ ‘Do not commit adultery,’ ‘Do not steal,’ ‘Do not give false testimony,’ ‘Do not defraud,’ ‘Honor your father and mother.’”

20 T he man said to Jesus, “Teacher, I have obeyed all these Laws since I was a boy.”

He said to him, “Teacher, I have observed all these things from my youth.”

21 J esus looked at him with love and said, “There is one thing for you to do yet. Go and sell everything you have and give the money to poor people. You will have riches in heaven. Then come and follow Me.”

Jesus looking at him loved him, and said to him, “One thing you lack. Go, sell whatever you have, and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me, taking up the cross.”

22 W hen the man heard these words, he was sad. He walked away with sorrow because he had many riches here on earth. The Danger of Riches

But his face fell at that saying, and he went away sorrowful, for he was one who had great possessions.

23 J esus looked around Him. He said to His followers, “How hard it is for rich people to get into the holy nation of God!”

Jesus looked around, and said to his disciples, “How difficult it is for those who have riches to enter into God’s Kingdom!”

24 T he followers were surprised and wondered about His words. But Jesus said to them again, “Children! How hard it is for those who put their trust in riches to get into the holy nation of God!

The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus answered again, “Children, how hard is it for those who trust in riches to enter into God’s Kingdom!

25 I t is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to go to heaven.”

It is easier for a camel to go through a needle’s eye than for a rich man to enter into God’s Kingdom.”

26 T hey were very surprised and wondered, saying to themselves, “Then who can be saved from the punishment of sin?”

They were exceedingly astonished, saying to him, “Then who can be saved?”

27 J esus looked at them and said, “This cannot be done by men but God can do anything.”

Jesus, looking at them, said, “With men it is impossible, but not with God, for all things are possible with God.”

28 T hen Peter began to say to Him, “We have given up everything we had and have followed You.”

Peter began to tell him, “Behold, we have left all, and have followed you.”

29 J esus said, “For sure, I tell you, there are those who have given up houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands because of Me, and the Good News.

Jesus said, “Most certainly I tell you, there is no one who has left house, or brothers, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or land, for my sake, and for the sake of the Good News,

30 T hey will get back one hundred times as much now at this time in houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands. Along with this, they will have very much trouble. And they will have life that lasts forever in the world to come.

but he will receive one hundred times more now in this time, houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and land, with persecutions; and in the age to come eternal life.

31 M any who are first will be last. Many who are last will be first.” Jesus Tells of His Death the Third Time

But many who are first will be last; and the last first.”

32 T hey were on their way to Jerusalem. Jesus walked in front of them. Those who followed were surprised and afraid. Then Jesus took the twelve followers by themselves. He told them what would happen to Him.

They were on the way, going up to Jerusalem; and Jesus was going in front of them, and they were amazed; and those who followed were afraid. He again took the twelve, and began to tell them the things that were going to happen to him.

33 H e said, “Listen, we are going to Jerusalem. The Son of Man will be handed over to the religious leaders of the Jews and to the teachers of the Law. They will say that He must be put to death. They will hand Him over to the people who are not Jews.

“Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem. The Son of Man will be delivered to the chief priests and the scribes. They will condemn him to death, and will deliver him to the Gentiles.

34 T hey will make fun of Him and will beat Him. They will spit on Him and will kill Him. But three days later He will be raised from the dead.” James and John Ask Jesus Something Hard

They will mock him, spit on him, scourge him, and kill him. On the third day he will rise again.”

35 J ames and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Jesus. They said, “Teacher, we would like to have You do for us whatever we ask You.”

James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came near to him, saying, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we will ask.”

36 H e said to them, “What would you like to have Me do for you?”

He said to them, “What do you want me to do for you?”

37 T hey said to Him, “Let one of us sit by Your right side and the other by Your left side when You receive Your great honor in heaven.”

They said to him, “Grant to us that we may sit, one at your right hand, and one at your left hand, in your glory.”

38 J esus said to them, “You do not know what you ask. Can you take the suffering I am about to take? Can you be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?”

But Jesus said to them, “You don’t know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?”

39 T hey said to Him, “Yes, we can.” Jesus said to them, “You will, for sure, suffer the way I will suffer. You will be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with.

They said to him, “We are able.” Jesus said to them, “You shall indeed drink the cup that I drink, and you shall be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with;

40 B ut to sit on My right side or on My left side is not for Me to give. It will be given to those for whom it has been made ready.”

but to sit at my right hand and at my left hand is not mine to give, but for whom it has been prepared.”

41 T he other ten followers heard it. They were angry with James and John.

When the ten heard it, they began to be indignant towards James and John.

42 J esus called them to Him and said, “You know that those who are made leaders over the nations show their power to the people. Important leaders use their power over the people.

Jesus summoned them, and said to them, “You know that they who are recognized as rulers over the nations lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them.

43 I t must not be that way with you. Whoever wants to be great among you, let him care for you.

But it shall not be so among you, but whoever wants to become great among you shall be your servant.

44 W hoever wants to be first among you, must be the one who is owned and cares for all.

Whoever of you wants to become first among you, shall be bondservant of all.

45 F or the Son of Man did not come to be cared for. He came to care for others. He came to give His life so that many could be bought by His blood and be made free from sin.” Healing of the Blind Man

For the Son of Man also came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

46 T hen they came to the city of Jericho. When He was leaving the city with His followers and many people, a blind man was sitting by the road. He was asking people for food or money as they passed by. His name was Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus.

They came to Jericho. As he went out from Jericho, with his disciples and a great multitude, the son of Timaeus, Bartimaeus, a blind beggar, was sitting by the road.

47 H e heard that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by. He began to speak with a loud voice, saying, “Jesus, Son of David, take pity on me!”

When he heard that it was Jesus the Nazarene, he began to cry out, and say, “Jesus, you son of David, have mercy on me!”

48 M any people spoke sharp words to the blind man telling him not to call out like that. But he spoke all the more. He said, “Son of David, take pity on me.”

Many rebuked him, that he should be quiet, but he cried out much more, “You son of David, have mercy on me!”

49 J esus stopped and told them to call the blind man. They called to him and said, “Take hope! Stand up, He is calling for you!”

Jesus stood still, and said, “Call him.” They called the blind man, saying to him, “Cheer up! Get up. He is calling you!”

50 A s he jumped up, he threw off his coat and came to Jesus.

He, casting away his cloak, sprang up, and came to Jesus.

51 J esus said to him, “What do you want Me to do for you?” The blind man said to Him, “Lord, I want to see!”

Jesus asked him, “What do you want me to do for you?” The blind man said to him, “Rabboni, that I may see again.”

52 J esus said, “Go! Your faith has healed you.” At once he could see and he followed Jesus down the road.

Jesus said to him, “Go your way. Your faith has made you well.” Immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus on the way.