Matthew Chapter 19
Jesus in Perea;
Teaching About Divorce
1 When Jesus finished, he left Galilee and went into the regions of Judaea on the other side of the Jordan. 2 Big crowds followed him, and he healed them there.
3 Pharisees came to him, testing him, “Is it lawful to divorce a wife for any reason whatever?”
4 He answered, “You’ve read, haven’t you, that ever since the beginning the Creator ‘has made them male plus female’? [Gen 1:27; 5:2] 5 So ‘a man is to leave his parents and unite with his wife, and they are to become one physical unit’ [Gen 2:24]. 6 So, they’re no longer two but one. What God has united, people are not to separate.”
7 They said, “So why did Moses command ‘a husband to divorce his wife in writing?” [Deut 24:1]
8 “Because of your hardheartedness, Moses let you divorce your wives, but ever since the beginning it’s not been that way. 9 Whoever divorces his wife—except for sexual immorality—and marries someone else, is committing adultery.”
10 His disciples saidp, “If that’s the way it is, it’s better not to get married.”
11 Jesus said, “Not everybody can live that way—just the ones who have that gift. 12 Some are eunuchs from birth, some are made eunuchs by men, and others have conducted themselves like ‘eunuchs’ for the kingdom of heaven’s sake. Let him accept it that can accept it.”
Mt 19:1-12
Jesus and the Little Children
13 At the time, people were bringing their kids so Jesus could lay hands on them and pray. But the disciples fussed at them.
14 Jesus said, “Let the kids alone. Don’t get in their way. The kingdom of heaven is made up of people like them.”
15 He laid hands on them and left.
Mt 19:13-15
The Rich Young Ruler
16 A man came and said, “Rabbi, what good can I do to have eternal life?”
17 He said, “Why are you asking me about what’s good? There’s only One that’s good. But if you want to enter eternal life, keep the commandments.”
18 “Which ones?”
Jesus said, “‘Do not commit murder, commit adultery, steal, or lie’; 19 ‘honor father and mother,’ ‘Love your neighbor as yourself’” [Ex 20:12-16; Deut 5:16-20].
20 The young man saidp, “I’ve kept all of those. What do I still need to do?”
21 “If you want to be perfect, go sell what you own and give it to the poor, and you’ll have wealth in heaven. Come with me.”
22 When he heard that, he went away discouraged because he owned lots of things.
Mt 19:16-22
The Peril of Wealth
23 Jesus told his disciples, “Wealthy people have a hard time getting into the kingdom of heaven. 24 It’s easier for a camel to get through a needle’s eye than for someone rich to get into God’s kingdom.”
25 That really surprised them, “Then who can be saved?”
26 Jesus looked at them and said, “With people it’s not possible, but with God everything’s possible.”
27 Peter responded, “We’ve left everything to follow you. What will we have?”
28 Jesus told them, “In the next age when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you that have followed me will sit on twelve thrones and judge the twelve tribes of Israel. 29 Anybody that has left houses, brothers, sisters, father, mother, children, or fields for my sake will receive 100 times as much and inherit eternal life. 30 Many first will be last; and last, first.
Mt 19:23-30