Matthew 19
19
Discussion about Divorce and Marriage
1When Jesus had finished saying these things, he left Galilee and went down to the region of Judea east of the Jordan River. 2Large crowds followed him there, and he healed their sick.
3Some Pharisees came and tried to trap him with this question: “Should a man be allowed to divorce his wife for just any reason?”
4 “Haven’t you read the Scriptures?” Jesus replied. “They record that from the beginning ‘God made them male and female.’#19:4 Gen 1:27; 5:2.” 5And he said, “‘This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.’#19:5 Gen 2:24. 6Since they are no longer two but one, let no one split apart what God has joined together.”
7“Then why did Moses say in the law that a man could give his wife a written notice of divorce and send her away?”#19:7 See Deut 24:1. they asked.
8Jesus replied, “Moses permitted divorce only as a concession to your hard hearts, but it was not what God had originally intended. 9And I tell you this, whoever divorces his wife and marries someone else commits adultery—unless his wife has been unfaithful.#19:9 Some manuscripts add And anyone who marries a divorced woman commits adultery. Compare Matt 5:32.”
10Jesus’ disciples then said to him, “If this is the case, it is better not to marry!”
11 “Not everyone can accept this statement,” Jesus said. “Only those whom God helps. 12Some are born as eunuchs, some have been made eunuchs by others, and some choose not to marry#19:12 Greek and some make themselves eunuchs. for the sake of the Kingdom of Heaven. Let anyone accept this who can.”
Jesus Blesses the Children
13One day some parents brought their children to Jesus so he could lay his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples scolded the parents for bothering him.
14But Jesus said, “Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to those who are like these children.” 15And he placed his hands on their heads and blessed them before he left.
The Rich Man
16Someone came to Jesus with this question: “Teacher,#19:16 Some manuscripts read Good Teacher. what good deed must I do to have eternal life?”
17 “Why ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. But to answer your question—if you want to receive eternal life, keep#19:17 Some manuscripts read continue to keep. the commandments.”
18“Which ones?” the man asked.
And Jesus replied: “‘You must not murder. You must not commit adultery. You must not steal. You must not testify falsely. 19Honor your father and mother. Love your neighbor as yourself.’#19:18-19 Exod 20:12-16; Deut 5:16-20; Lev 19:18.”
20“I’ve obeyed all these commandments,” the young man replied. “What else must I do?”
21Jesus told him, “If you want to be perfect, go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
22But when the young man heard this, he went away sad, for he had many possessions.
23Then Jesus said to his disciples, “I tell you the truth, it is very hard for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. 24I’ll say it again—it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God!”
25The disciples were astounded. “Then who in the world can be saved?” they asked.
26Jesus looked at them intently and said, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But with God everything is possible.”
27Then Peter said to him, “We’ve given up everything to follow you. What will we get?”
28Jesus replied, “I assure you that when the world is made new#19:28a Or in the regeneration. and the Son of Man#19:28b “Son of Man” is a title Jesus used for himself. sits upon his glorious throne, you who have been my followers will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29And everyone who has given up houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or property, for my sake, will receive a hundred times as much in return and will inherit eternal life. 30But many who are the greatest now will be least important then, and those who seem least important now will be the greatest then.#19:30 Greek But many who are first will be last; and the last, first.
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Matthew 19: NLT
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Matthew 19
19
Marriage and Divorce
1Now it came to pass, #Matt. 19:1–9; Mark 10:1–12; John 10:40when Jesus had finished these sayings, that He departed from Galilee and came to the region of Judea beyond the Jordan. 2#Matt. 12:15And great multitudes followed Him, and He healed them there.
3The Pharisees also came to Him, testing Him, and saying to Him, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for just any reason?”
4And He answered and said to them, “Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning #Gen. 1:27; 5:2; (Mal. 2:15)‘made them male and female,’ 5and said, #Gen. 2:24; Mark 10:5–9; Eph. 5:31‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and #(1 Cor. 6:16; 7:2)the two shall become one flesh’? 6So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate.”
7They said to Him, #Deut. 24:1–4; Matt. 5:31“Why then did Moses command to give a certificate of divorce, and to put her away?”
8He said to them, “Moses, because of the #Heb. 3:15hardness of your hearts, permitted you to divorce your #Mal. 2:16wives, but from the beginning it was not so. 9#(Matt. 5:32); Mark 10:11; Luke 16:18; 1 Cor. 7:10And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery; and whoever marries her who is divorced commits adultery.”
10His disciples said to Him, #(Prov. 21:19)“If such is the case of the man with his wife, it is better not to marry.”
Jesus Teaches on Celibacy
11But He said to them, #(1 Cor. 7:2, 7, 9, 17)“All cannot accept this saying, but only those to whom it has been given: 12For there are eunuchs who were born thus from their mother’s womb, and #(1 Cor. 7:32)there are eunuchs who were made eunuchs by men, and there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven’s sake. He who is able to accept it, let him accept it.”
Jesus Blesses Little Children
13#Matt. 20:31; Mark 10:13; Luke 18:15Then little children were brought to Him that He might put His hands on them and pray, but the disciples rebuked them. 14But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for #Matt. 18:3, 4; Mark 10:15; Luke 18:17; (1 Cor. 14:20; 1 Pet. 2:2)of such is the kingdom of heaven.” 15And He laid His hands on them and departed from there.
Jesus Counsels the Rich Young Ruler
16#Matt. 19:16–29; Mark 10:17–30; Luke 18:18–30Now behold, one came and said to Him, #Luke 10:25“Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?”
17So He said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is #Ps. 25:8; 34:8; Nah. 1:7; (Rom. 2:4)good but One, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, #Lev. 18:5; Deut. 4:40; 6:17; 7:11; 11:22; 28:9; Neh. 9:29; Ezek. 20:21; (Gal. 3:10)keep the commandments.”
18He said to Him, “Which ones?”
Jesus said, #Ex. 20:13–16; Deut. 5:17–20“‘You shall not murder,’ ‘You shall not commit adultery,’ ‘You shall not steal,’ ‘You shall not bear false witness,’ 19#Ex. 20:12–16; Deut. 5:16–20; Matt. 15:4‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, #Lev. 19:18; Matt. 22:39; (Rom. 13:9; Gal. 5:14; James 2:8)‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ ”
20The young man said to Him, “All these things I have #(Phil. 3:6, 7)kept from my youth. What do I still lack?”
21Jesus said to him, “If you want to be perfect, #Matt. 6:20; Luke 12:33; Acts 2:45; 4:34, 35; 1 Tim. 6:18, 19go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”
22But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.
With God All Things Are Possible
23Then Jesus said to His disciples, “Assuredly, I say to you that #(Matt. 13:22); Mark 10:24; 1 Cor. 1:26; (1 Tim. 6:9)it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24And again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”
25When His disciples heard it, they were greatly astonished, saying, “Who then can be saved?”
26But Jesus looked at them and said to them, “With men this is impossible, but #Gen. 18:14; Num. 11:23; Job 42:2; Is. 59:1; Jer. 32:17; Zech. 8:6; Luke 1:37with God all things are possible.”
27Then Peter answered and said to Him, “See, #Deut. 33:9; Matt. 4:20; Luke 5:11we have left all and followed You. Therefore what shall we have?”
28So Jesus said to them, “Assuredly I say to you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, #Matt. 20:21; Luke 22:28–30; (1 Cor. 6:2; Rev. 2:26)you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29#(Matt. 6:33); Mark 10:29, 30; Luke 18:29, 30And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My name’s sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life. 30#(Matt. 20:16; 21:31, 32); Mark 10:31; Luke 13:30But many who are first will be last, and the last first.
The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.