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He arose from there and came into the borders of Judea and beyond the Jordan. Multitudes came together to him again. As he usually did, he was again teaching them. Pharisees came to him, testing him, and asked, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any reason?” He answered, “What did Moses command you?” They said, “Moses allowed a certificate of divorce to be written, and to divorce her.” He answered, “Haven’t you read that God who made them from the beginning made them male and female, and said, ‘For this cause a man shall leave his father and mother, and will be joined to his wife – and the two will become one flesh?’ …so that they are no more two, but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, don’t let man tear apart.”
They asked him, “Why then did Moses command us to give her a certificate of divorce (and divorce her)?” But Jesus said to them, “Moses, because of the hardness of your hearts wrote you this commandment… allowed you to divorce your wives… but from the beginning of the creation it has not been so. I tell you that whoever divorces his wife (except for sexual immorality) and marries another – commits adultery. And he who marries her when she is divorced – commits adultery. What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate.”
His disciples said to him, “If this is the case of the man with his wife, it is not expedient to marry.” But he said to them, “Not all men can receive this saying, but those to whom it is given. For there are eunuchs who were born that way from their mother’s womb… and there are eunuchs who were made eunuchs by men… and there are eunuchs who made themselves eunuchs for the Kingdom of Heaven’s sake. He who is able to receive it, let him receive it.”
In the house, his disciples asked him again about the same matter. He said to them, “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another… commits adultery against her. If a woman herself divorces her husband and marries another… she commits adultery.”
Then they were also bringing their little children to him that he should touch them and pray… but the disciples rebuked those who were bringing them. But when Jesus saw it, he was moved with indignation. Jesus summoned them, saying, “Allow the little children to come to me, and don’t hinder them. For God’s Kingdom belongs to ones like these! Most certainly I tell you, whoever doesn’t receive God’s Kingdom like a little child – he will in no way enter into it.” He took them in his arms, and blessed them laying his hands on them, and departed from there.
As he was going out into the way, one certain ruler ran to him, knelt before him and asked, “Good teacher, what good thing shall I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good but one – God. But, if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.” He said to him, “Which ones?” Jesus said to him, “You know the commandments, ‘do not murder,’ ‘don’t commit adultery,’ ‘don’t steal,’ ‘do not give false testimony,’ ‘do not defraud,’ ‘honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’”
The young man said, “Teacher, I have observed all these things from my youth up! What do I still lack?” When Jesus heard these things, looking at him… loved him. He said, “You still lack one thing. If you want to be perfect… go, sell whatever you have, and distribute it to the poor… then you will have treasure in heaven… then come follow me… taking up the cross.” But when the young man heard this, his face fell, and he went away very sad (for he was very rich).
Jesus looked around, seeing that he became very sad, said to his disciples, “Most certainly I say, how difficult it is for a rich man to enter into God’s Kingdom!” The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus answered again, “Children, how hard it is for those who trust in riches to enter into God’s Kingdom! Again, I tell you it is easier for a camel to go through a needle’s eye than for a rich man to enter into God’s Kingdom.” Those who heard it were exceedingly astonished at his words, saying, “Then, who then can be saved?” Looking at them, Jesus said, “The things which are impossible with men, are possible with God.”
Then Peter began to tell him, “Look, we have left everything and followed you. What then will we have?” Jesus said, “Most certainly I tell you that you who have followed me (in the regeneration, when the Son of Man will sit on the throne of his glory), you also will sit on twelve thrones… judging the twelve tribes of Israel. Most certainly I tell you… there is no one who has left houses, or brothers, or sisters, or parents, or children, or lands for my name’s sake (and for the sake of the Good News) who will not receive one hundred times more… now in this time: houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and land (with persecutions) – and in the age to come will inherit eternal life. But many will be last who are first, and who are first – will be last.
“For the Kingdom of Heaven is like a man who was the master of a household, who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. When he had agreed with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard. He went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace. He said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and whatever is right I will give you.’ So, they went their way. Again, he went out about the sixth and the ninth hour and did likewise. About the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing idle. He said to them, ‘Why do you stand here all day, idle?’ They said to him, ‘Because no one has hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and you will receive whatever is right.’ When evening had come, the lord of the vineyard said to his manager, ‘Call the laborers and pay them their wages, beginning from the last to the first.’ When those who were hired at about the eleventh hour came, they each received a denarius. When the first came, they supposed that they would receive more… and they likewise each received a denarius. When they received it, they murmured against the master of the household, saying, ‘These last have spent one hour, and you have made them equal to us (who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat)!’ But he answered one of them, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Didn’t you agree with me for a denarius? Take that which is yours and go your way. It is my desire to give to this last just as much as to you. Isn’t it lawful for me to do what I want to with what I own? Or is your eye evil, because I am good?’ So, the last will be first, and the first last. For many are called, but few are chosen.”
He took the twelve aside, and said to them, “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and all the things that are written through the prophets concerning the Son of Man will be completed. For he will be delivered up to the Gentiles… will be mocked, treated shamefully, and spit on… they will scourge and kill him… on the third day… he will rise again.” They understood none of these things. This saying was hidden from them, and they didn’t understand the things that were said.
Source Text Prioritization:
- Matthew 19:3-20:16
- Mark 10:1-31
- Luke 18:15-34
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