1Now it happened, when Jesus had finished these words, that He departed from Galilee and went to the borders of Judea beyond the Jordan.

2And large crowds followed Him and there He healed them.

Jesus denies divorce

3The Pharisees also came to Him to test Him, saying to Him, “Is it permissible for a man to divorce his wife for just any cause?”

4So in answer He said to them: “Have you never read that the Creator at the beginning made them a male and a female?

5And He said, ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall be turned into one flesh.’ ²⁸¹

6So then, they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore, what God joined together let not man separate!”

7They say to Him, “Why then did Moses command to give a certificate of divorce and to dismiss her?” ²⁸²

8He says to them: “Because of your hard-heartedness Moses permitted you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it has not been so.

9And I say to you that whoever divorces his wife, except for fornication, and marries another commits adultery; and whoever marries a divorcee commits adultery.” ²⁸³

10His disciples say to Him, “If that's the situation of a man with his wife, it is better not to marry!” ²⁸⁴

11So He said to them: “Not all can assimilate this word, but those to whom it has been given. ²⁸⁵

12For there are eunuchs who were born that way, from their mother's womb; and there are eunuchs who were castrated by men; and there are eunuchs who castrated themselves for the sake of the kingdom of the heavens. He who is able to assimilate it, let him assimilate.” ²⁸⁶

Jesus blesses children

13Then little children were brought to Him, that He might lay hands on them and pray; but the disciples rebuked them.

14So Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not forbid them, for of such is the kingdom of the heavens.”

15And after laying hands on them He moved on from there.

It is difficult for a rich person to enter the Kingdom

16And then, a certain one came and said to Him, “Good teacher, what good thing must I do so that I may have eternal life?”

17But He said to him: “Why do you call me good? No one is good except One, God. ²⁸⁷But if you want to enter into the life, keep the commandments.”

18He says to Him, “Which ones?” ²⁸⁸So Jesus said: “ ‘You shall not murder,’ ‘You shall not commit adultery,’ ‘You shall not steal,’ ‘You shall not give false witness,’

19‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ ”

20The young man says to Him: “I have kept all these things since my youth. ²⁸⁹What do I still lack?”

21Jesus said to him, “If you want to be perfect, go sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come follow me.”

22So upon hearing that word the young man went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. ²⁹⁰

23Then Jesus said to His disciples: “Assuredly I say to you that only with difficulty will a rich person enter into the kingdom of the heavens.

24And again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter into the kingdom of God.” ²⁹¹

25Upon hearing it His disciples were really flabbergasted saying, “Who then can be saved?”

26So looking at them Jesus said, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

It pays to serve Jesus

27Then Peter answered and said to Him: “See, we have left all and followed you. So what will we have?”

28So Jesus said to them: “Assuredly I say to you that in the Regeneration, ²⁹²when the Son of the Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. ²⁹³

29And, everyone who left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife ²⁹⁴or children or fields for my name's sake will receive a hundredfold, and will inherit life eternal.

30But many ‘first’ will be last, and ‘last’ first.