Matthew 19:7-17

7 They said to Him, "¹Why then did Moses command to GIVE HER A CERTIFICATE OF DIVORCE AND SEND her AWAY?"

8 He said to them, "Because of your hardness of heart Moses permitted you to divorce your wives; but from the beginning it has not been this way.

9 "And I say to you, ²whoever * divorces his wife, except for immorality, and marries another woman commits adultery ."

10 The disciples said to Him, "If the relationship of the man with his wife is like this, it is better not to marry."

11 But He said to them, "³Not all men can accept this statement, but ⁴only those to whom it has been given.

12 "For there are eunuchs who were born that way from their mother's womb; and there are eunuchs who were made eunuchs by men; and there are also eunuchs who made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. He who is able to accept this, let him accept it."

Jesus Blesses Little Children

13 ⁵Then some children were brought to Him so that He might lay His hands on them and pray; and the disciples rebuked them.

14 But Jesus said, "⁶Let the children alone, and do not hinder them from coming to Me; for ⁷the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."

15 After laying His hands on them, He departed from there.

The Rich Young Ruler

16 ⁸And someone came to Him and said, "Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may obtain ⁹eternal life?"

17 And He said to him, "Why are you asking Me about what is good? There is only One who is good; but ¹⁰if you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments."

Cross References

• 1. Deuteronomy 24:1-4; Matthew 5:31
• 2. Matthew 5:32
• 3. 1 Corinthians 7:7f
• 4. Matthew 13:11
• 5. Matthew 19:13-15: {Mark 10:13-16; Luke 18:15-17}
• 6. Matthew 18:3; Mark 10:15; Luke 18:17; 1 Corinthians 14:20; 1 Peter 2:2
• 7. Matthew 5:3
• 8. Matthew 19:16-29: {Mark 10:17-30; Luke 18:18-30;} Luke 10:25-28
• 9. Matthew 25:46
• 10. Leviticus 18:5; Nehemiah 9:29; Ezekiel 20:21

Footnotes

• [a] Or "send away"
• [b] Or "sends away"
• [c] Lit "fornication"
• [d] Some early mss read "makes her commit adultery"
• [e] Some early mss add "and he who marries a divorced woman commits adultery"
• [f] Or "Permit the children"