Study Desk

^(a)When Jesus had finished these words, He departed from Galilee and ^(b)came into the region of Judea beyond the Jordan;

and ^[a]large crowds followed Him, and ^(c)He healed them there.

Some Pharisees came to ^[b]Jesus, testing Him and asking, "^(d)Is it lawful for a man to ^[c]divorce his wife for any reason at all?"

And He answered and said, "Have you not read ^(e)that He who created them from the beginning made them male and female ,

and said, ‘^(f) For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and ^(g) the two shall become one flesh '?

So they are no longer two, but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate."

They *said to Him, "^(h)Why then did Moses command to give her a certificate of divorce and send her away ?"

He *said to them, "Because of your hardness of heart Moses permitted you to ^[d]divorce your wives; but from the beginning it has not been this way.

And I say to you, ⁽ⁱ⁾whoever ^[e]divorces his wife, except for ^[f]immorality, and marries another woman ^[g]commits adultery^[h]."

The disciples *said to Him, "If the relationship of the man with his wife is like this, it is better not to marry."

But He said to them, "^(j)Not all men can accept this statement, but ^(k)only those to whom it has been given.

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."

^(l)Then some children were brought to Him so that He might lay His hands on them and pray; and the disciples rebuked them.

But Jesus said, "^[i](m)Let the children alone, and do not hinder them from coming to Me; for ⁽ⁿ⁾the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."

After laying His hands on them, He departed from there.