MATTHEW Chapter 19 - Divorce

When Jesus had finished saying these things

He left Galilee and went into the region of Judea

To the other side of the Jordan.

2 LARGE CROWDS FOLLOWED HIM,

AND HE HEALED THEM THERE.

3Some Pharisees came to Him to Test Him.

They asked,

'IS IT LAWFUL FOR A MAN TO DIVORCE HIS WIFE

FOR ANY AND EVERY REASON?'

4 'Haven't you read He replied.'

THAT AT THE BEGINNING THE CREATOR

MADE THEM MALE AND FEMALE,

AND SAID.

5 FOR THIS REASON

A MAN WILL LEAVE HIS FATHER AND MOTHER

AND BE UNITED TO HIS WIFE,

AND THE TWO WILL BECOME ONE FLESH?

6 SO THEY ARE NO LONGER TWO, BUT ONE.

THEREFORE WHAT GOD HAS JOINED TOGETHER,

LET MAN NOT SEPARATE.'

7 'Why then, they asked,

'Did Moses Command that a man give his wife

A Certificate of Divorce

And send her away?'

8 Jesus replied,

'MOSES PERMITTED YOU TO DIVORCE YOUR WIVES

BECAUSE YOUR HEARTS WERE HARD.

BUT IT WAS NOT THAT WAY FROM THE BEGINNING.

9 I TELL YOU THAT ANYONE WHO DIVORECES HIS WIFE,

EXCEPT FOR MARITAL UNFAITHFULNESS,

AND MARRIES ANOTHER WOMAN COMMITS ADULTERY.'

10 The Disciples said to Him,

'IF THIS IS THE SITUATION

BETWEEN A HUSBAND AND WIFE,

IT IS BETTER NOT TO MARRY.'

11Jesus replied,

'NOT EVERYONE CAN ACCEPT THIS TEACHING,

BUT ONLY THOSE TO WHOM IT HAS BEEN GIVEN.

12 FOR SOME ARE EUNUCHS

BECAUSE THEY WERE BORN THAT WAY;

OTHERS WERE MADE THAT WAY BY MEN;

AND OTHER HAVE RENOUNCEDMARRIAGE

BECAUSE OF THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN.

THE ONE WHO CAN ACCEPT THIS SHOULD ACCEPT IT.'

The Little Children And Jesus

13 Then little children were brought to Jesus

For Him to place his hands on them

And pray for them.

But the Disciples rebuked those who brought them.

14 Jesus said,

'LET THE LITTLE CHILDREN COME TO ME,

AND DO NOT HINDER THEM,

FOR THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN

BELONGS TO SUCH AS THESE.'

15 When He had placed His hands on them,

He went on from there.

The Rich Young Man

16 Now a man came up to Jesus and asked,

'TEACHER, WHAT GOOD THING MUST I DO

TO GET ETERNAL LIFE?'

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,

OBEY THE COMMANDMENTS.'

18 'WHICH ONES?' The man inquired.

Jesus replied,

'DO NOT MURDER,

DO NOT COMMIT ADULTERY,

DO NOT STEAL,

DO NOT GIVE FALSE TESTIMONY ,

19 HONOR YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER,

AND LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.'

20 'All these I have kept,' the young man said.

'WHAT DO I STILL LACK?'

21 Jesus answered,

'IF YOU WANT TO BE PERFECT,

GO, SELL YOUR POSSESSIONS

AND GIVE TO THE POOR,

AND THEN YOU WILL HAVE TREASURE IN HEAVEN.

THEN COME AND FOLLOW ME.'

22 When the young man heard this,

He went away Sad,

Because he had Great Wealth.

23 Then Jesus said to His Disciples,

'I TELL YOU THE TRUTH,

IT IS HARD FOR A RICH MAN

TO ENTER THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN.

24 AGAIN I TELL YOU,

IT IS EASIER FOR A CAMEL

TO GO THROUGH THE EYE OF A NEEDLE

THAN FOR A RICH MAN

TO ENTER THE KINGDOM OF GOD.'

25 When the Disciples heard this,

They were Greatly Astonished and asked,

'WHO THEN CAN BE SAVED?'

26 Jesus looked at them and said,

'WITH MAN THIS IS IMPOSSIBLE,

BUT WITH GOD ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE.'

27 Peter answered Him,

WE HAVE LEFT EVERYTHING TO FOLLOW YOU!

WHAT THEN WILL THERE BE FOR US?'

28 Jesus said to them,

'I TELL YOU THE TRUTHE,

AT THE RENEWAL OF ALL THINGS,

WHEN THE SON OF MAN SITS ON HIS GLORIOUS THRONE,

YOU WHO HAVE FOLLOWED ME

WILL ASLO SIT ON TWELVE THRONES,

JUDGING THE TWELVE TRIBES OF ISRAEL.

29 AND EVERYONE WHO HAS LEFT HOUSES

OR BROTHERS OR SISTERS

OR FATHER OR MOTHER

OR CHILDREN OR FIELDS

FOR MY SAKE

WILL RECEIVE A HUNDRED THIMES AS MUCH

AND WILL INHERIT ETERNAL LIFE.

30 BUT MANY WHO ARE FIRST WILL BE LAST,

AND MANY WHO ARE LAST WILL BE FIRST.

(Matthew 19)