1 And when Jesus had finished these discourses, He departed from Galilee, and came into the borders of Judea, beyond Jordan:
2 and great multitudes followed Him, and there He healed them.
3 And the pharisees came to Him to ensnare Him, and asked Him, whether it was lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause?
4 And He answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that He, who made them at first, made them male and female, and said, For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother,
5 and be joined to his wife, and they two shall be one flesh:
6 so that they are no longer two, but one flesh. And therefore what God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.
7 They say unto Him, Why then did Moses order a bill of divorce to be given, and so to put her away?
8 He answered them, Moses because of your hardheartedness, permitted you to put away your wives; but it was not so from the beginning:
9 and I tell you, that whosoever putteth away his wife, except for whoredom, and marrieth another, committeth adultery; and he that marrieth her so put away committeth adultery.
10 His disciples say unto Him, if the case of a man with his wife be thus, it is not adviseable to marry:
11 but He said unto them, All men cannot receive this saying of yours, but those only who have the gift of continence:
12 for there are some eunuchs, who were born so from their mother's womb; and there be some, who were made eunuchs by men; and there are eunuchs, who have made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. He that can receive this saying, let him receive it.
13 Then were brought to Him little children, that He might put his hands upon them, and bless them: and the disciples rebuked them;
14 but Jesus said, Suffer the children to come to me, and do not hinder them: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.
15 And when He had laid his hands on them, he departed thence.
16 And behold, there came one to Him, and said, Good master, what good shall I do, that I may have eternal life?
17 And He said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou desirest to enter into life, keep the commandments.
18 He saith unto Him, Which? And Jesus answered, Thou shalt do no murther, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Honour thy father and mother;
19 and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thy self.
20 The young man saith unto Him, All these have I kept from my youth: wherein am I yet deficient?
21 Jesus replied, If thou wouldst be perfect, go, sell thy estate, and give it to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven; and come and follow me.
23 Then said Jesus to his disciples, Verily I tell you, that a rich man shall with difficulty enter into the kingdom of heaven:
24 and again I tell you, It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.
25 His disciples, when they heard this, were exceedingly struck, and said, Who then can be saved?
26 But Jesus looking upon them said unto them, With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.
27 Then Peter replied and said unto Him, Behold we have quitted all and have followed thee; what then shall we have?
28 And Jesus said unto them, Verily I tell you, that ye who have followed me, in the regeneration, when the son of man shall sit on the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon the twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel:
29 yea and every one who hath left houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, shall receive an hundred-fold, and shall inherit eternal life.
30 But many that are first shall be last, and the last first.