Jesus Teaches About Divorce
1 Jesus left that place and went into the area of Judea and across the Jordan River. Again crowds of people came to him. As usual, he taught them.
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Some Pharisees came to put him to the test. They asked, "Does the Law allow a man to divorce his wife?"
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"What did Moses command you?" he replied.
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They said, "Moses allowed a man to write a letter of divorce and send her away."
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"You were stubborn. That's why Moses wrote you this law," Jesus replied.
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"But at the beginning of creation, God 'made them male and female.'(Genesis 1:27)
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'That's why a man will leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife.
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The two of them will become one.'(Genesis 2:24) They are no longer two, but one.
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So a man must not separate what God has joined together."
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When they were in the house again, the disciples asked Jesus about this.
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He answered, "What if a man divorces his wife and gets married to another woman? He commits adultery against her.
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And what if she divorces her husband and gets married to another man? She commits adultery."
Little Children Are Brought to Jesus
13 People were bringing little children to Jesus. They wanted him to touch them. But the disciples told the people to stop.
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When Jesus saw this, he was angry. He said to his disciples, "Let the little children come to me. Don't keep them away. God's kingdom belongs to people like them.
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What I'm about to tell you is true. Anyone who will not receive God's kingdom like a little child will never enter it."
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Then he took the children in his arms. He put his hands on them and blessed them.
Jesus and the Rich Young Man
17 As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him. He fell on his knees before Jesus. "Good teacher," he said, "what must I do to receive eternal life?"
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"Why do you call me good?" Jesus answered. "No one is good except God.
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You know what the commandments say. 'Do not commit murder. Do not commit adultery. Do not steal. Do not give false witness. Do not cheat. Honor your father and mother.' "(Exodus 20:12-16; Deuteronomy 5:16-20)
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"Teacher," he said, "I have obeyed all those commandments since I was a boy."
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Jesus looked at him and loved him. "You are missing one thing," he said. "Go and sell everything you have. Give the money to those who are poor. You will have treasure in heaven. Then come and follow me."
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The man's face fell. He went away sad, because he was very rich.
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Jesus looked around. He said to his disciples, "How hard it is for rich people to enter God's kingdom!"
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The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said again, "Children, how hard it is to enter God's kingdom!
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Is it hard for a camel to go through the eye of a needle? It is even harder for the rich to enter God's kingdom!"
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The disciples were even more amazed. They said to each other, "Then who can be saved?"
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Jesus looked at them and said, "With man, that is impossible. But not with God. All things are possible with God."
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Peter said to him, "We have left everything to follow you!"
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"What I'm about to tell you is true," Jesus replied. "Has anyone left home or family or fields for me and the good news?
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They will receive 100 times as much in this world. They will have homes and families and fields. But they will also be treated badly by others. In the world to come they will live forever.
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But many who are first will be last. And the last will be first."