1When Jesus had finished saying these things, He left Galilee and went into the region of Judea beyond the Jordan.[ † ]Matthew 19:1-9Mark 10:1-12John 10:40 2Large crowds followed Him, and He healed them there.[ † ]Matthew 12:15
3Then some Pharisees came and tested Him by asking, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any reason?”
4Jesus answered, “Have you not read that from the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’[ † ]Genesis 1:27Genesis 5:2Malachi 2:15 5and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’?[ † ]Genesis 2:24Mark 10:5-9Ephesians 5:311 Corinthians 6:161 Corinthians 7:2 6So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate.”
7“Why then,” they asked, “did Moses order a man to give his wife a certificate of divorce and send her away?”[ † ]Deuteronomy 24:1-4Matthew 5:31
8Jesus replied, “Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because of your hardness of heart. But it was not this way from the beginning.[ † ]Hebrews 3:15Malachi 2:16 9Now I tell you that whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another woman commits adultery.”[ † ]Matthew 5:32Mark 10:11Luke 16:181 Corinthians 7:10
10His disciples said to Him, “If this is the case between a man and his wife, it is better not to marry.”[ † ]Proverbs 21:19
11“Not everyone can accept this word,” He replied, “but only those to whom it has been given.[ † ]1 Corinthians 7:2-7, 9, 17 12For there are eunuchs who were born that way; others were made that way by men; and still others live like eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. The one who can accept this should accept it.”[ † ]1 Corinthians 7:32
13Then little children were brought to Jesus for Him to place His hands on them and pray for them. And the disciples rebuked those who brought them.[ † ]Matthew 20:31Mark 10:13Luke 18:15 14But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not hinder them! For the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”[ † ]Matthew 18:3-4Mark 10:15Luke 18:171 Corinthians 14:201 Peter 2:2 15And after He had placed His hands on them, He went on from there.
16Just then a man came up to Jesus and inquired, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to obtain eternal life?”[ † ]Matthew 19:16-29Mark 10:17-30Luke 18:18-30Luke 10:25
17“Why do you ask Me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, keep the commandments.”[ † ]Psalms 25:8Psalms 34:8Nahum 1:7Romans 2:4Leviticus 18:5Deuteronomy 4:40Deuteronomy 6:17Deuteronomy 7:11Deuteronomy 11:22Deuteronomy 28:9Nehemiah 9:29Ezekiel 20:21Galatians 3:10
18“Which ones?” the man asked. Jesus answered, “‘Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not bear false witness,[ † ]Exodus 20:13-16Deuteronomy 5:17-20 19honor your father and mother, and love your neighbor as yourself.’”[ † ]Exodus 20:12-16Deuteronomy 5:16-20Matthew 15:4Leviticus 19:18Matthew 22:39Romans 13:9Galatians 5:14James 2:8
20“All these I have kept,” said the young man. “What do I still lack?”[ † ]Philippians 3:6-7
21Jesus told him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow Me.”[ † ]Matthew 6:20Luke 12:33Acts 2:45Acts 4:34-351 Timothy 6:18-19
22When the young man heard this, he went away in sorrow, because he had great wealth.
23Then Jesus said to His disciples, “Truly I tell you, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.[ † ]Matthew 13:22Mark 10:241 Corinthians 1:261 Timothy 6:9 24Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”
25When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, “Who then can be saved?”
26Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”[ † ]Genesis 18:14Numbers 11:23Job 42:2Isaiah 59:1Jeremiah 32:17Zechariah 8:6Luke 1:37
27“Look,” Peter replied, “we have left everything to follow You. What then will there be for us?”[ † ]Deuteronomy 33:9Matthew 4:20Luke 5:11
28Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, in the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on His glorious throne, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.[ † ]Matthew 20:21Luke 22:28-301 Corinthians 6:2Revelation 2:26 29And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or fields for the sake of My name will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life.[ † ]Matthew 6:33Mark 10:29-30Luke 18:29-30 30But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.[ † ]Matthew 20:16Matthew 21:31-32Mark 10:31Luke 13:30