Matthew 19

1 And when Jesus had finished these words, he moved on from Galilee and came into the borders of Judea beyond the Jordan. 2 And large crowds followed him, and he healed them there.

3 And Pharisees came to him, testing him and saying, “Is it permitted for a man to send his wife away for any cause?” [a] 4 And he answered and said, “Have you not read that the one who created from the beginning made them male and female, [b] 5 and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two become one flesh’? [c] 6 So they are no longer two but one flesh. What God has yoked together, then, let no man separate.” †

7 They say to him, “Why then did Moses command to give a certificate of divorce and to send her away?” [d] 8 He says to them, “Moses, because of your hardness of heart, allowed you to send your wives away; but from the beginning it has not been so. 9 And I tell you that whoever sends his wife away, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery; and the one who marries a woman who has been sent away commits adultery.” [e]

10 The disciples say to him, “If that is the cause of a man with his wife, it is no advantage to marry.” [f] 11 But he said to them, “Not all make room for this word, but those to whom it has been given. 12 For there are eunuchs who were born so from their mother’s womb, and there are eunuchs who were made eunuchs by men, and there are eunuchs who made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of the heavens. Let the one who is able to make room for it make room.” †

13 Then children were brought to him, so that he might lay his hands on them and pray; but the disciples rebuked them. 14 But Jesus said, “Let the children be, and do not stop them from coming to me, for of such is the kingdom of the heavens.” 15 And laying his hands on them, he went on from there.

16 And look, someone came to him and said, “Teacher, what good thing am I to do so that I may have everlasting life?” 17 And he said to him, “Why do you ask me about what is good? There is one who is good. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commands.” [g] 18 He says to him, “Which ones?” And Jesus said, “‘You are not to murder,’ ‘You are not to commit adultery,’ ‘You are not to steal,’ ‘You are not to give false witness,’ 19 ‘Honor father and mother,’ and ‘You are to love your neighbor as yourself.’” [h]

20 The young man says to him, “All these I have kept. What do I still lack?” 21 Jesus said to him, “If you want to be complete, go, sell what belongs to you and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in the heavens; and come, follow me.” [i] † 22 But when the young man heard the word he went away grieving, for he had many possessions.

23 And Jesus said to his disciples, “Amen, I tell you, a rich man will enter the kingdom of the heavens with difficulty. 24 And 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 And when the disciples heard it they were greatly astounded and said, “Who then can be saved?” 26 And Jesus looked at them and said, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

27 Then Peter answered and said to him, “Look, we have left everything and followed you. What then will there be for us?” 28 And Jesus said to them, “Amen, I tell you that you who have followed me, in the rebirth, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of his glory, will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. [j] 29 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or fields for the sake of my name will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit everlasting life. 30 But many who are first will be last, and last first.”