Matthew 19; Mark 10

Matthew 19

1 When Jesus finished saying these things, he left Galilee. He went into the area of Judea on the other side of the Jordan River.

2 Large crowds followed him. He healed them there.

3 Some Pharisees came to put him to the test. They asked, "Does the Law allow a man to divorce his wife for any reason at all?"

4 Jesus replied, "Haven't you read that in the beginning the Creator 'made them male and female'?(Genesis 1:27)

5 He said, 'That's why a man will leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife. The two will become one.'(Genesis 2:24)

6 They are no longer two, but one. So a man must not separate what God has joined together."

7 They asked, "Then why did Moses command that a man can give his wife a letter of divorce and send her away?"

8 Jesus replied, "Moses let you divorce your wives because you were stubborn. But it was not this way from the beginning.

9 Here is what I tell you. Anyone who divorces his wife and gets married to another woman commits adultery. A man may divorce his wife only if she has not been faithful to him."

10 The disciples said to him, "If that's the way it is between a husband and wife, it is better not to get married."

11 Jesus replied, "Not everyone can accept the idea of staying single. Only those who have been helped to live without getting married can accept it.

12 Some men are not able to have children because they were born that way. Some have been made that way by other people. Others have made themselves that way in order to serve the kingdom of heaven. The one who can accept living that way should do it."

13 Some people brought little children to Jesus. They wanted him to place his hands on the children and pray for them. But the disciples told the people to stop.

14 Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me. Don't keep them away. The kingdom of heaven belongs to people like them."

15 Jesus placed his hands on them. Then he went on from there.

16 A man came up to Jesus. He asked, "Teacher, what good thing must I do to receive eternal life?"

17 "Why do you ask me about what is good?" Jesus replied. "There is only One who is good. If you want to enter the kingdom, obey the commandments."

18 "Which ones?" the man asked. Jesus said, " 'Do not commit murder. Do not commit adultery. Do not steal. Do not give false witness.

19 Honor your father and mother.'(Exodus 20:12-16; Deuteronomy 5:16-20) And 'love your neighbor as you love yourself.' "(Leviticus 19:18)

20 "I have obeyed all those commandments," the young man said. "What else do I need to do?"

21 Jesus answered, "If you want to be perfect, 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."

22 When the young man heard this, he went away sad. He was very rich.

23 Then Jesus said to his disciples, "What I'm about to tell you is true. It is hard for rich people to enter the kingdom of heaven.

24 Again I tell you, it is hard for a camel to go through the eye of a needle. But it is even harder for the rich to enter God's kingdom."

25 When the disciples heard this, they were really amazed. They asked, "Then who can be saved?"

26 Jesus looked at them and said, "With man, that is impossible. But with God, all things are possible."

27 Peter answered him, "We have left everything to follow you! What reward will be given to us?"

28 "What I'm about to tell you is true," Jesus said to them. "When all things are made new, the Son of Man will sit on his glorious throne. Then you who have followed me will also sit on 12 thrones. You will judge the 12 tribes of Israel.

29 Everyone who has left houses or families or fields because of me will receive 100 times as much. They will also receive eternal life.

30 But many who are first will be last. And many who are last will be first.

Mark 10

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.

2 Some Pharisees came to put him to the test. They asked, "Does the Law allow a man to divorce his wife?"

3 "What did Moses command you?" he replied.

4 They said, "Moses allowed a man to write a letter of divorce and send her away."

5 "You were stubborn. That's why Moses wrote you this law," Jesus replied.

6 "But at the beginning of creation, God 'made them male and female.'(Genesis 1:27)

7 'That's why a man will leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife.

8 The two of them will become one.'(Genesis 2:24) They are no longer two, but one.

9 So a man must not separate what God has joined together."

10 When they were in the house again, the disciples asked Jesus about this.

11 He answered, "What if a man divorces his wife and gets married to another woman? He commits adultery against her.

12 And what if she divorces her husband and gets married to another man? She commits adultery."

13 People were bringing little children to Jesus. They wanted him to touch them. But the disciples told the people to stop.

14 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.

15 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."

16 Then he took the children in his arms. He put his hands on them and blessed them.

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?"

18 "Why do you call me good?" Jesus answered. "No one is good except God.

19 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)

20 "Teacher," he said, "I have obeyed all those commandments since I was a boy."

21 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."

22 The man's face fell. He went away sad, because he was very rich.

23 Jesus looked around. He said to his disciples, "How hard it is for rich people to enter God's kingdom!"

24 The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said again, "Children, how hard it is to enter God's kingdom!

25 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!"

26 The disciples were even more amazed. They said to each other, "Then who can be saved?"

27 Jesus looked at them and said, "With man, that is impossible. But not with God. All things are possible with God."

28 Peter said to him, "We have left everything to follow you!"

29 "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?

30 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.

31 But many who are first will be last. And the last will be first."

32 They were on their way up to Jerusalem. Jesus was leading the way. The disciples were amazed. Those who followed were afraid. Again Jesus took the Twelve to one side. He told them what was going to happen to him.

33 "We are going up to Jerusalem," he said. "The Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will sentence him to death. Then they will hand him over to people who are not Jews.

34 The people will make fun of him and spit on him. They will whip him and kill him. Three days later he will rise from the dead!"

35 James and John came to Jesus. They were the sons of Zebedee. "Teacher," they said, "we would like to ask a favor of you."

36 "What do you want me to do for you?" he asked.

37 They replied, "Let one of us sit at your right hand in your glorious kingdom. Let the other one sit at your left hand."

38 "You don't know what you're asking for," Jesus said. "Can you drink the cup of suffering I drink? Or can you go through the baptism of suffering I must go through?"

39 "We can," they answered. Jesus said to them, "You will drink the cup I drink. And you will go through the baptism I go through.

40 But it is not for me to say who will sit at my right or left hand. These places belong to those they are prepared for."

41 The other ten disciples heard about it. They became angry at James and John.

42 Jesus called them together. He said, "You know about those who are rulers of the nations. They hold power over their people. Their high officials order them around.

43 Don't be like that. Instead, anyone who wants to be important among you must be your servant.

44 And anyone who wants to be first must be the slave of everyone.

45 Even the Son of Man did not come to be served. Instead, he came to serve others. He came to give his life as the price for setting many people free."

46 Jesus and his disciples came to Jericho. They were leaving the city. A large crowd was with them. A blind man was sitting by the side of the road begging. His name was Bartimaeus. Bartimaeus means Son of Timaeus.

47 He heard that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by. So he began to shout, "Jesus! Son of David! Have mercy on me!"

48 Many people commanded him to stop. They told him to be quiet. But he shouted even louder, "Son of David! Have mercy on me!"

49 Jesus stopped and said, "Call for him." So they called out to the blind man, "Cheer up! Get up on your feet! Jesus is calling for you."

50 He threw his coat to one side. Then he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus.

51 "What do you want me to do for you?" Jesus asked him. The blind man said, "Rabbi, I want to be able to see."

52 "Go," said Jesus. "Your faith has healed you." Right away he could see. And he followed Jesus along the road.