Mark 10:1-22

The Question of Divorce

1 He set out from there and went to the region of Judea and across the Jordan. Then crowds converged on Him again and, as He usually did, He began teaching them once more.

2 Some Pharisees approached Him to test Him. They asked, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce [his] wife?"

3 He replied to them, "What did Moses command you?"

4 They said, "Moses permitted us to write divorce papers and send her away."^[a]

5 But Jesus told them, "He wrote this commandment for you because of the hardness of your hearts.

6 But from the beginning of creation God ^[b] made them male and female. ^[c]

7 For this reason a man will leave his father and mother [ and be joined to his wife, ] ^[d]

8 and the two will become one flesh. ^[e] So they are no longer two, but one flesh.

9 Therefore what God has joined together, man must not separate."

10 Now in the house the disciples questioned Him again about this matter.

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

12 Also, if she divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery."

Blessing the Children

13 Some people were bringing little children to Him so He might touch them, but His disciples rebuked them.

14 When Jesus saw it, He was indignant and said to them, "Let the little children come to Me. Don't stop them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.

15 I assure you: Whoever does not welcome ^[f] the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it."

16 After taking them in His arms, He laid His hands on them and blessed them.

The Rich Young Ruler

17 As He was setting out on a journey, a man ran up, knelt down before Him, and asked Him, "Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?"

18 "Why do you call Me good?" Jesus asked him. "No one is good but One-God.

19 You know the commandments: Do not murder; do not commit adultery; do not steal; do not bear false witness; do not defraud; honor your father and mother. " ^[g]

20 He said to Him, "Teacher, I have kept all these from my youth."

21 Then, looking at him, Jesus loved him and said to him, "You lack one thing: Go, sell all you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, ^[h] follow Me."

22 But he was stunned^[i] at this demand, and he went away grieving, because he had many possessions.

Footnotes

• [a]. Dt 24:1,3
• [b]. Other mss omit God
• [c]. Gn 1:27; 5:2
• [d]. Other mss omit bracketed text
• [e]. Gn 2:24
• [f]. Or not receive
• [g]. Ex 20:12-16; Dt 5:16-20
• [h]. Other mss add taking up the cross, and
• [i]. Or he became gloomy