Study Desk

^(C1)Setting out from there, Jesus ^(*)went to the region of Judea and beyond the Jordan; crowds ^(*)gathered to Him again, and, ^(C2)as He was accustomed, He once more began to teach them.

And some Pharisees came up to Jesus, testing Him, and began questioning Him whether it was lawful for a man to ^(F1)divorce his wife.

And He answered and said to them, "What did Moses command you?"

They said, "^(C1)Moses permitted a man to write a ^(F1)certificate of divorce and ^(F2)send his wife away."

But Jesus said to them, "^(F1)(C1)Because of your hardness of heart he wrote you this commandment.

"But ^(C1)from the beginning of creation, God ^(C2)CREATED THEM MALE AND FEMALE.

"^(C1)FOR THIS REASON A MAN SHALL LEAVE HIS FATHER AND MOTHER^(F1),

^(C1)AND THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH; so they are no longer two, but one flesh.

"Therefore, what God has joined together, no person is to separate."

And in the house the disciples again began questioning Him about this.

And He ^(*)said to them, "^(C1)Whoever ^(F1)divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against her;

and ^(C1)if she herself ^(F1)divorces her husband and marries another man, she is committing adultery."

^(C1)And they were bringing children to Him so that He would touch them; but the disciples rebuked them.

But when Jesus saw this, He was indignant and said to them, "Allow the children to come to Me; do not ^(F1)forbid them, ^(C1)for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.

"Truly I say to you, ^(C1)whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it at all."

And He ^(C1)took them in His arms and began blessing them, laying His hands on them.

^(C1)As He was setting out on a journey, a man ran up to Him and ^(C2)knelt before Him, and asked Him, "Good Teacher, what shall I do so that I may ^(C3)inherit eternal life?"

But Jesus said to him, "Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone.

"You know the commandments: '^(C1)DO NOT MURDER, DO NOT COMMIT ADULTERY, DO NOT STEAL, DO NOT GIVE FALSE TESTIMONY, Do not defraud, HONOR YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER.'"

And he said to Him, "Teacher, I have kept ^(C1)all these things from my youth."

Looking at him, Jesus showed love to him and said to him, "One thing you lack: go and sell all you possess and give to the poor, and you will have ^(C1)treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me."

But he ^(F1)was deeply dismayed by ^(F2)these words, and he went away grieving; for he was one who owned much property.

And Jesus, looking around, ^(*)said to His disciples, "^(C1)How hard it will be for those who are wealthy to enter the kingdom of God!"

And the disciples ^(C1)were amazed at His words. But Jesus responded again and ^(*)said to them, "Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God!

"^(C1)It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God."

And they were even more astonished, and said to Him, "^(F1)Then who can be saved?"

Looking at them, Jesus ^(*)said, "^(C1)With people it is impossible, but not with God; for all things are possible with God."

^(C1)Peter began to say to Him, "Behold, we have left everything and have followed You."

Jesus said, "Truly I say to you, ^(C1)there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or farms, for My sake and for the gospel's sake,

^(F1)but that he will receive a hundred times as much now in ^(F2)the present age, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and farms, along with persecutions; and in ^(C1)the age to come, eternal life.

"But ^(C1)many who are first will be last, and the last, first."