11Getting up, He went from there to the region of Judea and beyond the Jordan; crowdsgatheredaround Him again, and, 2according to His custom, He oncemore began to teach them.
2
Some Phariseescame up to Jesus, testing Him, and began to question Him whether it was lawful for a man to divorce a wife.
3
And He answered and said to them, "What did Mosescommand you?"
4
They said, "3Mosespermitted a man TO WRITE A CERTIFICATE OF DIVORCE AND SEND her AWAY."
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But Jesussaid to them, "4Because of your hardness of heart he wrote you thiscommandment.
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"But 5from the beginning of creation, God 6MADE THEM MALE AND FEMALE.
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"7FOR THISREASON A MAN SHALL LEAVE HIS FATHER AND MOTHER,
8
8AND THE TWO SHALL BECOME*ONEFLESH; so they are nolongertwo, but oneflesh.
9
"WhatthereforeGod has joinedtogether, let nomanseparate."
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In the house the disciples began questioning Him aboutthisagain.
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And He said to them, "9Whoever*divorces his wife and marriesanotherwomancommitsadulteryagainst her;
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and 10if she herselfdivorces her husband and marriesanotherman, she is committingadultery."
Jesus Blesses Little Children
1311And they were bringingchildren to Him so that He might touch them; but the disciplesrebuked them.
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But when Jesussaw this, He was indignant and said to them, "Permit the children to come to Me; do not hinder them; 12for the kingdom of Godbelongs to such as these.
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"Truly I say to you, 13whoever* does not receive the kingdom of Godlike a child will not enter it at all."
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And He 14took them in His arms and began blessing them, laying His hands on them.
The Rich Young Ruler
1715As He was setting out on a journey, a manran up to Him and 16kneltbefore Him, and asked Him, "GoodTeacher, what shall I do to 17inheriteternallife?"
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And Jesussaid to him, "Why do you call Me good? Noone is goodexceptGodalone.
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"You know the commandments, '18DO NOT MURDER, DO NOT COMMITADULTERY, DO NOT STEAL, DO NOT BEARFALSEWITNESS, Do not defraud, HONOR YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER.' "
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And he said to Him, "Teacher, I have kept19allthesethings from my youth up."
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Looking at him, Jesusfelt a love for him and said to him, "Onething you lack: go and sellall you possess and give to the poor, and you will have20treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me."
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But at thesewords he was saddened, and he wentawaygrieving, for he was one who ownedmuchproperty.
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And Jesus, lookingaround, said to His disciples, "21Howhard it will be for those who are wealthy to enter the kingdom of God!"
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The disciples22were amazed at His words. But Jesusansweredagain and said to them, "Children, howhard it is to enter the kingdom of God!
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"23It is easier for a camel to gothrough the eye of a needlethan for a richman to enter the kingdom of God."
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They were evenmoreastonished and said to Him, "Thenwhocan be saved?"
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Looking at them, Jesussaid, "24With people it is impossible, but not with God; for allthings are possible with God."
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25Peterbegan to say to Him, "Behold, we have lefteverything and followed You."
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Jesussaid, "Truly I say to you, 26there is noonewho has lefthouseorbrothersorsistersormotherorfatherorchildrenorfarms, for My sake and for the gospel'ssake,
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but that he will receive a hundredtimes as muchnow in the presentage, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and farms, along with persecutions; and in 27the age to come, eternallife.
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"But 28many who are first will be last, and the last, first."