Mark 10:1-31

Then Jesus left that place. He went into the area of Judea and across the Jordan River. Again, crowds came to him. And Jesus taught them as he always did. Some Pharisees came to Jesus and tried to trick him. They asked, “Is it right for a man to divorce his wife?” Jesus answered, “What did Moses command you to do?” They said, “Moses allowed a man to write out divorce papers and send her away.” Jesus said, “Moses wrote that command for you because you refused to accept God’s teaching. But when God made the world, ‘he made them male and female.’ ‘So a man will leave his father and mother and be united with his wife. And the two people will become one body.’ So the people are not two, but one. God has joined the two people together. So no one should separate them.” Later, the followers and Jesus were in the house. They asked Jesus again about the question of divorce. He answered, “Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman is guilty of adultery against her. And the woman who divorces her husband and marries another man is also guilty of adultery.” Some people brought their small children to Jesus so he could touch them. But his followers told the people to stop bringing their children to him. When Jesus saw this, he was displeased. He said to them, “Let the little children come to me. Don’t stop them. The kingdom of God belongs to people who are like these little children. I tell you the truth. You must accept the kingdom of God as a little child accepts things, or you will never enter it.” Then Jesus took the children in his arms. He put his hands on them and blessed them. Jesus started to leave, but a man ran to him and fell on his knees before Jesus. The man asked, “Good teacher, what must I do to get the life that never ends?” Jesus answered, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. You know the commands: ‘You must not murder anyone. You must not be guilty of adultery. You must not steal. You must not tell lies about your neighbor in court. You must not cheat. Honor your father and mother.’” The man said, “Teacher, I have obeyed all these commands since I was a boy.” Jesus looked straight at the man and loved him. Jesus said, “There is still one more thing you need to do. Go and sell everything you have, and give the money to the poor. You will have a reward in heaven. Then come and follow me.” He was very sad to hear Jesus say this, and he left. The man was sad because he was very rich. Then Jesus looked at his followers and said, “How hard it will be for those who are rich to enter the kingdom of God!” The followers were amazed at what Jesus said. But he said again, “My children, it is very hard to enter the kingdom of God! And it will be very hard for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God. It would be easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle!” The followers were even more amazed and said to each other, “Then who can be saved?” Jesus looked straight at them and said, “For people this is impossible. But for God all things are possible.” Peter said to Jesus, “We left everything to follow you!” Jesus said, “I tell you the truth. Everyone who has left his home, brothers, sisters, mother, father, children, or fields for me and for the Good News will get a hundred times more than he left. Here in this world he will have more homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and fields. And with those things, he will also suffer for his belief. But in the age that is coming he will have life forever. Many who are first now will be last in the future. And those who are last now will be first in the future.”