New American Standard Bible MATTHEW 19

Concerning Divorce

1 AWhen Jesus had finished these words, He departed from Galilee and Bcame into the region of Judea beyond the Jordan; 2 and 1large crowds followed Him, and AHe healed them there.

3 Some Pharisees came to 1Jesus, testing Him and asking, “AIs it lawful for a man to 2divorce his wife for any reason at all?” 4 And He answered and said, “Have you not read Athat He who created them from the beginning ᴍᴀᴅᴇ ᴛʜᴇᴍ ᴍᴀʟᴇ ᴀɴᴅ ꜰᴇᴍᴀʟᴇ, 5 and said, ‘AFoʀ ᴛʜɪs ʀᴇᴀsoɴ ᴀ ᴍᴀɴ sʜᴀʟʟ ʟᴇᴀvᴇ ʜɪs ꜰᴀᴛʜᴇʀ ᴀɴᴅ ᴍoᴛʜᴇʀ ᴀɴᴅ ʙᴇ ᴊoɪɴᴇᴅ ᴛo ʜɪs wɪꜰᴇ, ᴀɴᴅ Bᴛʜᴇ ᴛwo sʜᴀʟʟ ʙᴇcoᴍᴇ oɴᴇ ꜰʟᴇsʜ’? 6 “So they are no longer two, but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate.” 7 They *said to Him, “AWhy then did Moses command to ɢɪvᴇ ʜᴇʀ ᴀ cᴇʀᴛɪꜰɪcᴀᴛᴇ oꜰ ᴅɪvoʀcᴇ ᴀɴᴅ sᴇɴᴅ her ᴀwᴀʏ?” 8 He *said to them, “Because of your hardness of heart Moses permitted you to 1divorce your wives; but from the beginning it has not been this way. 9 “And I say to you, Awhoever 1divorces his wife, except for 2immorality, and marries another woman 3commits adultery4.”

10 The disciples *said to Him, “If the relationship of the man with his wife is like this, it is better not to marry.” 11 But He said to them, “ANot all men can accept this statement, but Bonly those to whom it has been given. 12 “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 also eunuchs who made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. He who is able to accept this, let him accept it.”

Jesus Blesses Little Children

13 AThen some children were brought to Him so that He might lay His hands on them and pray; and the disciples rebuked them. 14 But Jesus said, “1ALet the children alone, and do not hinder them from coming to Me; for Bthe kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” 15 After laying His hands on them, He departed from there.

The Rich Young Ruler

16 AAnd someone came to Him and said, “Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may obtain Beternal life?” 17 And He said to him, “Why are you asking Me about what is good? There is only One who is good; but Aif you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments.” 18 Then he *said to Him, “Which ones?” And Jesus said, “AYoᴜ sʜᴀʟʟ ɴoᴛ coᴍᴍɪᴛ ᴍᴜʀᴅᴇʀ; Yoᴜ sʜᴀʟʟ ɴoᴛ coᴍᴍɪᴛ ᴀᴅᴜʟᴛᴇʀʏ; Yoᴜ sʜᴀʟʟ ɴoᴛ sᴛᴇᴀʟ; Yoᴜ sʜᴀʟʟ ɴoᴛ ʙᴇᴀʀ ꜰᴀʟsᴇ wɪᴛɴᴇss; 19 AHoɴoʀ ʏoᴜʀ ꜰᴀᴛʜᴇʀ ᴀɴᴅ ᴍoᴛʜᴇʀ; and BYoᴜ sʜᴀʟʟ ʟovᴇ ʏoᴜʀ ɴᴇɪɢʜʙoʀ ᴀs ʏoᴜʀsᴇʟꜰ.” 20 The young man *said to Him, “All these things I have kept; what am I still lacking?” 21 Jesus said to him, “If you wish to be 1complete, go and Asell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have Btreasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” 22 But when the young man heard this statement, he went away grieving; for he was one who owned much property.

23 And Jesus said to His disciples, “Truly I say to you, Ait is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24 “Again I say to you, Ait 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 very astonished and said, “Then who can be saved?” 26 And looking at them Jesus said to them, “AWith people this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

The Disciples’ Reward

27 Then Peter said to Him, “Behold, we have left everything and followed You; what then will there be for us?” 28 And Jesus said to them, “Truly I say to you, that you who have followed Me, in the regeneration when Athe Son of Man will sit on 1His glorious throne, Byou also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29 “And Aeveryone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother 1or children or farms for My name’s sake, will receive 2many times as much, and will inherit eternal life. 30 “ABut many who are first will be last; and the last, first.

A19:1 Matt 7:28

B19:1 Matt 19:1-9: Mark 10:1-12

119:2 Lit many

A19:2 Matt 4:23

119:3 Lit Him

A19:3 Matt 5:31

219:3 Or send away

A19:4 Gen 1:27; 5:2

A19:5 Gen 2:24; Eph 5:31

B19:5 1 Cor 6:16

A19:7 Deut 24:1-4; Matt 5:31

119:8 Or send away