¹When Jesus had finished these words , he departed from Galilee and came into the borders of Judea beyond the Jordan .

²Great multitudes followed him , and he healed them there .

³Pharisees came to him , testing him and saying , “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any reason?”

⁴He answered , “Haven’ t you read that he who made them from the beginning made them male and female ,[#Genesis 1:27]

⁵and said , ‘ For this cause a man shall leave his father and mother , and shall be joined to his wife ; and the two shall become one flesh ’?[#Genesis 2:24]

⁶So that they are no more two , but one flesh . What therefore God has joined together , don’ t let man tear apart.”

⁷They asked him , “Why then did Moses command us to give her a certificate of divorce and divorce her ?”

⁸He said to them , “ Moses , because of the hardness of your hearts , allowed you to divorce your wives , but from the beginning it has not been so .

⁹I 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 .”

¹⁰His disciples said to him , “If this is the case of the man with his wife , it is not expedient to marry .”

¹¹But he said to them , “ Not all men can receive this saying , but those to whom it is given .

¹²For 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 .”

¹³Then little children were brought to him that he should lay his hands on them and pray ; and the disciples rebuked them .

¹⁴But Jesus said , “Allow the little children , and don’ t forbid them to come to me ; for the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to ones like these .”

¹⁵He laid his hands on them , and departed from there .

¹⁶Behold , one came to him and said , “Good teacher , what good thing shall I do , that I may have eternal life ?”

¹⁷He said to him , “ Why do you call me good ? No one is good but one , that is , God . But if you want to enter into life , keep the commandments .”[#19:17 So MT and TR. NU reads “Why do you ask me about what is good?”]

¹⁸He said to him , “Which ones ?”

Jesus said , “‘ You shall not murder .’ ‘ You shall not commit adultery .’ ‘ You shall not steal .’ ‘ You shall not offer false testimony .’

¹⁹‘ Honour your father and your mother .’ And , ‘ You shall love your neighbour as yourself .’”[#Exodus 20:12-16; Deuteronomy 5:16-20; #Leviticus 19:18]

²⁰The young man said to him , “All these things I have observed from my youth. What do I still lack ?”

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

²²But when the young man heard this , he went away sad , for he was one who had great possessions .

²³Jesus said to his disciples , “Most certainly I say to you , a rich man will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven with difficulty.

²⁴Again 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.”

²⁵When the disciples heard it , they were exceedingly astonished , saying , “Who then can be saved ?”

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

²⁷Then Peter answered , “Behold , we have left everything and followed you . What then will we have ?”

²⁸Jesus said to them , “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 .

²⁹Everyone who has left houses , or brothers, or sisters, or father , or mother , or wife , or children , or lands, for my name ’s sake , will receive one hundred times , and will inherit eternal life .

³⁰But many will be last who are first , and first who are last .