Matthew 19:6-16

6 So they are no longer two, but one. No human being must separate, then, what God has joined together."
7 The Pharisees asked him, "Why, then, did Moses give the law for a man to hand his wife a divorce notice and send her away?" 1
8 Jesus answered, "Moses gave you permission to divorce your wives because you are so hard to teach. But it was not like that at the time of creation.
9 I tell you, then, that any man who divorces his wife for any cause other than her unfaithfulness, commits adultery if he marries some other woman." 2
10 His disciples said to him, "If this is how it is between a man and his wife, it is better not to marry."
11 Jesus answered, "This teaching does not apply to everyone, but only to those to whom God has given it.
12 For there are different reasons why men cannot marry: some, because they were born that way; others, because men made them that way; and others do not marry for the sake of the Kingdom of heaven. Let him who can accept this teaching do so."
13 Some people brought children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and to pray for them, but the disciples scolded the people.
14 Jesus said, "Let the children come to me and do not stop them, because the Kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."
15 He placed his hands on them and then went away.
16 Once a man came to Jesus. "Teacher," he asked, "what good thing must I do to receive eternal life?"

Cross References 2

  • 1. 19.7Deuteronomy 24.1-4;Matthew 5.31.
  • 2. 19.9Matthew 5.32;1 Corinthians 7.10, 11.
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.